Self guided walking holiday Portugal, Sintra region

Planet

Organic farming/gardening, recycling and upcycling, low energy appliances, environmentally freindly cleaning products, low water flow shower heads, organic cotton sheets and towels is how we strive to protect our environement and keep our carbon footprint low.

We strive to make our efforts known to our guests and ask them to support our endeavors. We supply refillable dispensers for soap, shampoo and shower gel whcih is made from organic and natural ingredients. The message on these refillable containers is "turn the water off while you use me". We encourage guests to forego hiring a car and suggest walking and public transport.

The first guesthouse is also an organic farm with sheep and chickens. Guests are encouraged to view and learn about the daily work involved. We have a greywater system so all the shower and sink water runs back into the land. We collect rainwater. We partially heat with wood and are saving to have a solar/geo-thermal heating system installed.

We opened 9 years ago as an organic, vegan/vegetarian, locavore B&B (even our sheets, towels, bathrobes and slippers are made of organic cotton) (and we are life long, whole foods, Food for Life, vegetarians) So for 9 years we have doing this: our food is organic and as much as possible local from organic small farmers. We shop at the small local stores etc. Most everything recycled and composted. No single use plastic etc etc Long time members of Slow Food etc etc

We do not fly, we give no-car guests complimentary bus passes and arrange walking tours for them etc

No polyester...only cotton and wool textiles...beds made of recycled antique doors etc. etc.

Currently waiting for installation of solar panels and we are saving for an electric car.

People

We purchase local, regional and organically grown foods, we shop in the small local shops and support our village by attending local events etc.

We hire local, young people and offer training as well as paying fair wages. We suggest guests go to the small, family run local restaurants and shops. We tell guests about local festivals, fairs and cultural events and we go out of our way to introduce guests to the traditions and culture of this area.

The weekly farmers market is a popular event with local farmers, woodworkers, bakers, cheesemakers, basket-weavers and flower-growers offering their goods. Visiting this market gives guests a real insight into how people of the region sustain themselves and of what grows here as well as which traditonal crafts have survived the march of time. Buying things here is a great way for our guests to support the local economy.

We volunteer at a local organic community farm and participate in their fundraising events and we also donate leftover food to several local families in need.