Dear Friends of Off-Grid,
This is an appeal to be part of something unique, special and exciting. We, the organisers of Off-Grid Festival, have decided to raise the funds to buy an amazing Off-Grid festival and community living site in Portugal. Taking on this site is a huge leap for our community and an amazing opportunity to be part of a major ecological and holistic project in development. We see the farm developing as a co-operatively owned event and community site. More on this to follow soon.
We have, as of 23rd December, paid a €15000 deposit on the site with an agreement to pay the rest in short order.
Dolmens Farm from the air
THE PROJECT
The Seminario
Vale Das Lobas (meaning Valley of the Wolves) is a remarkable rural regeneration and peace project in the heart of Portugal. VdL was set up in 2009 as a 100 hectare community venture that includes affordable eco-housing, permaculture and forest gardening, campsite, restaurant, biodiversity centre and organic chestnut farm.
The centerpiece of the community is the amazing Seminario, which is complemented by a historic chapel, and which is being transformed into a conference/retreat/medicine centre and spa hotel. The whole of VdL is situated on the site of ancient ruins with an incredible spiritual history. Various plots have been sold and are for sale, with planning permissions for eco-homes and other structures.
For more details on Vale Das Lobas, please visit their website:
THE SITE
The Dolmen at Dolmen Farm
Dolmen Farm is a 20+ acre site situated at 800m altitude incorporating 4 hectares of fields and meadows and 4 hectares of forest, along with wells and springs. The farm, alongside it’s sister, Dolmen Cottage, acts as the gateway to the ancient ‘Dolmen De Cortico’, an important sacred site. The site has permission for an Off-Grid home, workshop space plus the right to rebuild the existing cottage and barn. Most excitingly, the Local Authority have agreed to permit the site to be used for camps, gatherings and small festivals, as well as other leisure purposes including a village of yurts, tipis, treehouses or other temporary structures. Dolmen Farm forms a key part of the Vale Das Lobas project, with the closest neighbors including another micro-project, Shamans’ Retreat, run by the past owner of Pacha Mamas Chai Tipi, as seen at many of our events. The plan is for the farm to host a range of festivals, gatherings, camps and retreats across the year.
For details on Dolmen Farm, visit:
http://valedaslobas.com/dolmen-farm/
THE SITUATION
We have now put down a 15000 Euro deposit on the land (£11,000), which will cost just 95000 Euros in total to purchase. Vale Das Lobas were in need of urgent funds and in danger of losing certain parts of the project if this was not achieved, however thanks to your support, this has now happened. Our purchase of Dolmen Farm will preserve both this wonderful pristine site, and the integrity of the project as a whole.
Land at Dolmens Farm
In order to raise the rest of the funds, we will be approaching our networks, social investors, other event organisers, etc, to come together and buy this land in full over the next months. We have some key investors on side already – ready to underwrite the purchase – which is great news and means we can be extremely confident about the rest of the purchase happening in the agreed time.
Once we raise the required funds, we will be aiming to complete a full purchase of the property by Spring 2016 and begin planning a programme of events, activities and more, with you, our supporters.
We believe that by working together as a community, we are stronger and can, by small steps, make a difference. By using the power of our collective imagination and resources, we can ensure projects like Vale Das Lobas can grow, prosper and spread across the world, forming a mycelium-like network of interconnected nodes, sharing a message of Peace.
THE FUNDS
You can make a donation/investment at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, you can email us info.offgridevents@gmail.com to discuss other investments, donations or for more information.
Anybody donating to this appeal will be investing in the purchase of this site and will, in time, be issued ‘Eco Bonds’ or Community Shares that will pay a return on the funds you have put in. Due to the timescales, we cannot at this stage provide details of this scheme nor likely interest. By supporting us at this juncture, you are effectively donating the funds at your own risk and on a trust basis. We will do all possible to honor that trust and ensure that your support is well rewarded and that a wonderful thing can happen.