Learn bioconstruction and reconnect with nature in a peaceful homestead.
Minas Gerais
I am a volunteer work enthusiast, cycle activist and Critical Mass participant, cyclotourist and Warm Shower host, backpacker, Leave No Trace Instructor and owner of a small outdoor gear company.
Recently I left the big city (São Paulo) to fulfill the dream of co-creating a more sustainable way of living in an area of 13 hectares. I believe that living and working in a community is a form of well-being and social support, it is an opportunity to make connections and continuous learning.
My goals:
1- Implement an agroforestry system in pasture areas and construct a small house at a very low cost using only recycled materials from the region, such as pallets, eucalyptus, clay, and grass.
2- Use the acquired experience to collaboratively develop a bioconstruction model that can be distributed free of charge to the local community. This will allow the community to learn from our mistakes and successes, replicate the acquired knowledge and, thus, promote local sustainable development.
3- Construct a large Indigenous Hollow that includes a wood stove and oven, dry toilet, and a lot of hammocks. This structure will serve as accommodation for volunteers, NGOs and act as a base for experiential education expeditions.
4- Host volunteers to develop technologies that address challenges faced by the local community. Then make all solutions available for free through an online database.
5- Co-create eco-pedagogical spaces to educate young people and children about bioconstruction and permaculture.
Now we are starting to work on your site implement an agroforestry. The idea is to plant seeds and seedlings inside the forest, optimizing land use, reconciling environmental preservation with food production, conserving the soil and reducing pressure for land use for agricultural production. We don't want to be a traditional farm, but a forest that produces organic food.
The accommodation is a charming house with 4 bedrooms, a small lake, surrounded by grass with some fruit trees and a breath-taking view. We are also one of the bases for the expeditions of an NGO that works with experiential education.
This is a region situated between two national parks with hundreds of hiking and cycling trails, waterfalls and small cheese producers. There are buses and taxis connecting the accommodation to the city of Itamonte (7 km away). Just 5 minutes by bike we can get organic food such as: vegetables, fruits, milk, butter and various types of cheese.
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
# Enjoy meet local people;
# Can help teach my portuguese language;
# Learn about the local culture;
# Enjou showing travellers some trails and waterfalls;
# We have a bicycle available for travelers;
# Enjoy helpers who can cook a tradition meal;
# And much more like some skill of Mountain Guide, Brazilian cooking recipes, Cycle Tourism, Bioconstruction, etc...
We need help with: bioconstruction project, help make the foundation of bioconstruction, help with wood treatment ( Shou Sugi Ban Tecnic) , collaborate in the kitchen, help clean the house, take care of the garden, plant trees, help with the documentation of bioconstruction, etc...
From Rio de Janeiro: Buy a ticket to São Lourenço (MG). There are daily buses that leave from the Rio de Janeiro bus station to São Loureço (MG) and stop in Itamonte (MG). (Sampaio bus company)
From São Paulo: Buy a ticket to Itanhandu. There are daily buses that leave from Tiete bus station in São Paulo to Itanhamdu (MG). (Cometa bus company) From Itanhandu there are different local bus to Itamonte (MG).
If you need more information, please don't hesitate to ask.
Really looking forward to hearing from you guys!
Abraços,
Palmas
Ps. We prefer to receive those vaccinated against Covid and not receive vapers or closet smokers.
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Learning opportunities
Forestry
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Methods or systems
Holistic management
Permaculture
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
13
Hectares
|
32.1
Acres
Alexandre
Member since 2021
Languages spoken:
English, Portuguese, Spanish
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 2 days
Minas Gerais
São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
My past WWOOFers
Rufus
April 2026
•
Berlin, Germany
Reviews
Rufus
Germany
•
April 2026
I was a little bit nervous before arriving, given that I was the only volunteer. One week later I left as a friend with a lot of newly acquired experiences and knowledge:
Palmas really took time to introduce me to his garden, his philosophy of reducing ecological footprint while carefully trying to spread awareness within the community and his refreshing attitude towards time: be it cutting the grass, buying milk from the neighbors or baking bread - no need to rush. Still, we woke up pretty early and had a clear idea on what we wanted to achieve. If your up for building connection to an inspiring human being and this very beautiful place without a lot of additional social encounters, I’m sure you will have a wonderful time!!
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Julia
Germany
•
October 2022
A nossa estadia no Sitio Passarin com Palmas foi maravilhosa. Palmas e uma pessoa Inspirador e caloroso e ensinou muitas coisas novas. Conseguimos obter uma visão valiosa da sua vida e da comunidade deste lugar. Desde a preparação da comida típica até à plantação de plântulas e à utilização dos frutos, pudemos aprender muito. E podemos descobrir paisagem com várias cachoeiras e floresta densa também. As impressões que pudemos recolher vamos guardar para sempre! Muito obrigado por isto! Juba e Pimenta :)
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Anais
Brazil
•
March 2022
Alex is a very welcoming person, he is very curious and active.
We spend unforgettable moments exchanging recipes and good conversations.
Thanks to his skills and his pedagogy, I learned several things about nature, plants, how to live in a simple way, and about the bioconstruction.
I really loved my experience and I really recommend people to spend time in the sítio.
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