Volunteers join the Agriao Forest project on the Azores, Portugal; project started April 2026.
Praktikum/ volunteering beim Wiederaufbau einer nachhaltigen Farm-Community auf den Azoren (Portugal) / subtropisches Klima
Welcome to the “Agriao Forest” project, a becoming eco‑village and artist‑in‑residence space on the Azores. From the beginning we understand this place as a consciously political project: clearly left, anti‑racist, feminist and queer‑friendly, committed to climate justice and collective liberation. We (mostly white, cis and living with a lot of privilege) are not “experts”, but in an ongoing process of learning and unlearning. We invite people who come here to share this curiosity and to be willing to reflect, listen, make mistakes, give and receive feedback, and practice non‑violent and accountable ways of living together.
My name is Fiete, I am an architect based in Berlin. After a long time of searching, a large piece of forest next to the ocean has now been saved from commerce and exploitation. What you hear and see are the trees in the wind, the waves, the birds, the bees, not much more. It is a truly peaceful spot that offers a high level of privacy, nature and distance from noisy roads, barking dogs and neighbours. The view over the ocean from many spots of this land is simply breathtaking and will rewire your neurons.
Step by step we aim to develop a mindful and sustainable community, to build spaces for artists, academics, activists and others so they have a base to engage in socio‑communal work and at the same time focus on their own projects and ideas. We understand this forest as an opportunity to leave joyful, creative, socio‑ecological footprints in the world and, through this individual & collective intervention, maybe make some sort of difference.
The project has just started in April this year. So far we have build a communal open air kitchen on a wooden platform with a big table. As well as a dry toilet and shower (soon with hot water). Currently we can offer accommodations such as professional bell tents and mainly caravans.
There is a lot to do, but we want to keep the process relaxed and not lose the joy of creating together. The path is part of the goal; we are under no pressure to achieve big results overnight, and often less is also more.
Possible areas of engagement include syntropic agroforestry, permaculture, reforestation, planting fruit trees, beekeeping, animal care (chickens, horses, goats, pigs – not for consumption), community‑building processes, designing and creating physical spaces for short‑term visitors and future long‑term residents, and building a library. I personally work around the topics of sustainable architecture and ‘free spaces’ in a wider frame (insta: Insola.berlin).
You are also welcome to explore other topics and forms of engagement that make sense to you.
Create your own space to facilitate your project. Our minds and ears are open; we are curious about your ideas, thoughts and perspectives, and happy to share, support and collaborate. As there is a lot of physical space, there is also space for diverse ideas and different ways of intervention and engagement.
The diet is mainly vegan. Eggs, milk, cheese and fish from time to time are also on our diet plan…
The food costs we would like to share if that’s an acceptable model for you.
As public transport is a difficult question on this island, by may we will buy a used car that everyone can use. …and of cause it can also be used for rides to the black beaches and waterfalls around the island, not only for project related activities. The costs for gasoline we usually share among all that use the car.
Equally welcome are people who want to focus on other areas such as body–mind work, reading, painting, dancing, writing, working on a dissertation, meditation or simply having quiet time for themselves. If this is your focus, you are warmly invited.
You can freely choose your main areas of engagement and how much time you want to invest in them. This might be an unconventional approach compared to other projects, but we prefer that you follow what truly motivates you instead of fixed mandatory working hours defined only by us. Of course, it can also be a combination of both.
Climate: The Azores have a mild, subtropical climate, which was a major reason for choosing this place. Summers are usually not too hot (around 27 °C), winters not too cold (around 15 °C). The best months are from may to Oktober ; January, February & March can be stormy and rainy and may limit outdoor activities a little. The Gulf Stream provides a stable, pleasant climate all year long, with only small variations between day and night. Please research the Azorean climate a bit more to see if it fits your expectations. Generally it is very favourable for human well‑being, for growing a wide range of fruits and vegetables, and for outdoor activities – passion fruit, avocado, papaya, bananas and many others thrive here.
It is wonderful if you already have experience related to any of our topics, but it is definitely not a requirement.
Some more practical information: There is an interesting historic hiking trail passing by the forest that leads to a beautiful beach called “Praia do Fogo” (about 30 minutes walking or 15 minutes by e‑bike). A 10‑minute car ride brings you to the hot thermal springs of Furnas. The next supermarket is in Povoação, about a 15‑minute drive away, and the next surf beach is approximately 20 minutes by car.
How to get here: Most people arrive by plane, often with a connection via Lisbon (for example with TAP Airlines). There are also some direct flights from New York.
If the notion of this endeavour resonates with you – both the place and the political and learning process around it – we invite you to get in touch.
All the best, The “Agriao Forest” Crew
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