We are Karo and Ben from Germany and the USA, united by our passion for sustainable, self-sufficient living close to nature. We’ve created a home for ourselves, our daughters, and our friends, centered around small-scale farming and different ongoing projects that expand and maintain our gardens and infrastructure while nurturing the land.
Our home is an old Portuguese farm that we are carefully restoring. Over time, we envision it as a thriving, biodynamic farm with an orchard, vegetable gardens, medicinal herbs, greenhouses, cisterns, bees, animals, and a woodshop. We aspire to build welcoming spaces for family, friends, guests, and volunteers, including a guesthouse, a renovated stone building, treehouses, and someday even an underground “hobbit-house. In these projects, we look for ways in which the land and natural rhythm of nature can inform our process of creating and building. We thus get inspiration from within and from our surroundings, and also from each other.
Living independently off-grid is essential to us, and we invest deeply in this pursuit as it is incredibly fun and educational, and makes so much sense to us, especially in turbulent and uncertain times such as these. As independent as we may get, however, nothing can replace being part of the growing local community. Here, the sharing of experiences, the exchange of skills, knowledge, tools, and surplus are as vital a part of sustainable life as it is be self-reliant, not to mention to celebrate all that is worth celebrating here.
Beyond our farm projects, we are passionate about food processing, cooking, dancing, swimming, travel, carpentry, fine woodworking, meditation, music, personal development, singing, and exploring medicinal practices. The experience of living this way continues to empower and humble us, offering endless lessons and guiding us down an ever-surprising, magical path. We value the balance between social connections and solitude, enjoying the natural flow between community life and moments of quiet reflection.
Our farm is an inspiring retreat filled with hidden glades, winding paths, and thoughtfully designed spaces that bring Mediterranean living to life. Here, people can gather to experience the rejuvenating power of nature, whether relaxing in a sauna with a view of lush greenery, sharing a glass of wine in the herb garden, or exploring treehouses and suspension bridges. This is a place to disconnect from the everyday, recharge, and unlock creativity in a serene environment.
Our goal is to cultivate an authentic space that celebrates simple living and the joy of connection. With features like saunas, secluded nooks, and enchanting mini-gardens, we offer a haven for relaxation, inspiration, and social gatherings—a place where work and leisure seamlessly intertwine. We create unique, energy-boosting daytime experiences that invite creativity, without the need for an overnight stay.
We are not a tropical forest or river oasis, but a sun-kissed Mediterranean landscape. We are not a mass-production farm, but one that treasures small, distinctive flavors. We are not an overnight tourist destination, but rather a tranquil daytime retreat for peace, connection, and renewal.
If our vision resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you.