Meet the people behind Moinhos

Moinhos is our home. For most of the year, it's simply where we live.

Moinhos do Dão wasn't created as a holiday destination. It's our home.

Most days are wonderfully ordinary. We tend the garden, care for the animals, repair old stone walls, preserve the harvest, and slowly restore this historic valley—one project, one season, one year at a time.

The farm sets the pace. Some days unfold exactly as planned. Others change completely before breakfast.

  • A young woman with long brown hair smiling at the camera, standing next to a flowering bush with large red roses and white flowers, in front of a stone wall with a faded sign.

    Jess

    Runs the kitchen & garden

  • A man smiling in front of a wall with red roses and green foliage.

    Lukas

    Looks after the water channels, plans things & flies drones

  • A middle-aged man with a gray beard and short hair sitting on a wooden bench against a plain cream-colored wall, wearing a brown polo shirt and white pants, looking thoughtfully into the distance.

    Leo

    Active learning how everything works

  • A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair in a sleeveless, black-and-white polka dot dress, standing in front of a stone wall with blooming red roses and green leaves.

    Lena

    Looks after the trees and does a bit of everything

  • A young man with short black hair sitting on a bench in a beige room with minimal decor, wearing a gray polo shirt and cream-colored pants, looking to the side with a calm expression.

    Martin

    Looks after the animals & sorts out whatever needs sorting

  • Freya

    Keeps an eye on everyone

  • Two dogs, one black and tan with a gold and white beaded collar lying on the ground, and one black and white puppy sitting on a patterned orange and red blanket in a garden with green foliage and colorful flowers in the background.

    Gary

    Provides moral support & cuddles

  • A white and brown cat sleeping on a wooden platform inside a cage with wire mesh, with a green sign labeled 'Hentrance' in front of the cage.

    Rita

    Keeps the mice under control

  • Two white chickens with red combs and wattles on dark soil.

    Chicks

    Lay eggs & make farm sounds

Two people standing outdoors under a large tree, working with a long tool or equipment on a wooden picnic table, with one person wearing a red helmet with ear protection, and the other wearing orange gloves. The area has rocks and fallen leaves on the ground, and a small building with a tiled roof is visible in the background.

There is always something to fix, build, grow or figure out. A wall that needs rebuilding, vegetables waiting to be planted, a harvest to bring in, or an old machine that has suddenly decided to stop working.

You don't have to know how. You start with something small, watch, ask questions and give it a try. The next day, you might know a little more.

Over time, these small things add up. You become part of how the place works and learn simply by being here.

That's how the farm grows, too.

One project at a time.

Sharing everyday life

When people come to Moinhos, we don't put on a show.

Some mornings we might be planting beans.

Another day we're repairing an old water channel or collecting apples.

You're welcome to join in, ask questions, or simply spend the afternoon reading by the river. There are no expectations—only an open invitation to experience life here at your own pace.

A table set with bowls of salad, tortilla pie, shredded cheese, and various dishes. There are glasses, plates, and a wooden serving paddle, with a flower in an orange vase in the foreground.

Around the Table

Food is a big part of life at Moinhos.

The seasons decide what's on the menu. We grow vegetables, pick herbs just before cooking, gather fruit when it's ripe and preserve the harvest so it can be enjoyed long after the season has passed.

Some days that means baskets of tomatoes, fresh bread and lunch in the shade. Other days it's making jam, bottling passata or drying herbs for winter.

Meals are simple, seasonal and meant to be shared.

Two men sitting on rocks by a small pond outside a stone house with small windows and a tiled roof, surrounded by greenery.

Why we share this place

We like having people here. Not because everything is finished or perfectly organised, but because we enjoy sharing the reality of life at Moinhos.

You don't have to do anything in particular. You can join us in the garden, help with a meal, learn something new, or simply sit by the river.

We don't have everything figured out. That's part of it. You get to see how things actually work — the good bits, the messy bits, and everything in between.

A woman and a young child are on a swing hanging from a tree in a grassy, wooded area. The woman is holding onto the swing's ropes while the child sits in her lap, both smiling and enjoying the moment. There are trees and greenery in the background.

If you visit, you'll find us somewhere on the property.

In the vegetable garden.
Carrying a wheelbarrow.
Making lunch.
Fixing something.
Looking after the animals.
Or sitting down with a coffee for five minutes before getting back to it.

You are welcome to join us.

See you around

Come and say hello