Learn to cook from scratch using freshly harvested ingredients straight from our regenerative farm. Over the course of three in-depth workshops, you’ll master simple but delicious recipes using whole, nutrient-dense foods — no chemicals, no shortcuts.
Discover how your food is grown. You’ll get your hands in the soil, harvest your own ingredients, and learn to recognize regenerative agricultural practices that heal the land and nourish the body.
Relax in a beautifully restored old mill house turned boutique holiday villa — complete with private pool, tennis court, and elegant, modern rooms with a warm Portuguese touch. The perfect balance between rustic and refined.
14:00 – Check-in at the hotel
Guests arrive and are warmly welcomed by Sophie. Settle into your room, stretch your legs, or sip something refreshing.
16:00 – Unwind & relax
Take a stroll, read a book, enjoy the swimming pool, or have a coffee in the garden.
19:00 – Bonfire Welcome Dinner
A tasting menu prepared by The Farming Chefs using fresh farm ingredients.
Includes an introduction to the retreat schedule and a relaxed talk on regenerative farming and how it connects to the meals we’ll create.
21:30 – Wind Down
Return to your room to rest and recharge.
08:30 – Breakfast with local ingredients
09:00 – Depart for the farm
A scenic 25-minute drive.
09:30 – Farm Experience: Soil, Seeds & Stories
Tour the garden and explore composting, soil health, and companion planting. Get a short lecture on the benefits of regenerative farming and how it relates to flavour.
13:00 – Long Table Lunch on the Farm
A fresh and simple meal with just-harvested ingredients, eaten outdoors in the shade.
Savor the flavors and chat about how the land shapes the food.
14:30 – Gardening workshop and Seed Sharing
Workshop doing some seasonal gardening with explanation by Filipe. Closing with an opportunity to take home a selection of seeds you can choose from our local seed bank.
16:00 – Back to the hotel
Rest, swim, journal, or explore the local area at your own pace.
19:30 – Dinner at the hotel
Family style dinner at the vila under the stars.
08:30 – Breakfast with local ingredients
09:00 – Depart for the farm
A scenic 25-minute drive.
09:30 – Cooking Workshop: Garden to Plate
Begin with a harvest walk, then prepare seasonal dishes together using what you’ve picked. Learn techniques like vegetable butchery, natural flavor building, and plating with flair.
14:00 – 4- Course Farm to Table Lunch made by the group
Sit down together to enjoy the vibrant dishes you’ve created.
Local wines, and relaxed conversation complete the afternoon.
rest of the afternoon free to rest and enjoy the vila
20:00 – Simple salad and soup at the Vila
08:30 – Breakfast with local ingredients
10:00 – Fermentation & Condiment Making
Learn how to craft gut-friendly ferments and additive-free condiments. Everyone takes home jars of their own creations.
14:00 – BBQ with own made condiments
19:30 – Final Feast: Flavour pairing workshop
Flavour pairing session with an array of local and home made ingredients. The group creates their own festive bites to enjoy during out last evening feast.
10:00 – Slow Breakfast
Farm-made jams, herbal teas, and fresh bread served in a relaxed setting.
11:30 – Sharing Circle & Goodbye Gifts
Reflect together on your journey. You’ll receive a small recipe book with dishes from the retreat and access to an online community to stay in touch.
12:30 Departure
Nestled in the serene Beira Baixa region of Portugal, Vila Maneio is a beautifully restored water mill offering a unique blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. Located approximately 8 km from Penamacor, near the pristine landscapes of the Serra da Malcata Natural Reserve, this exclusive holiday villa provides an idyllic retreat for those seeking tranquility and a deep connection with nature.
Vila Maneio boasts a private pool and a tennis court, inviting guests to relax and engage in leisurely activities amidst the natural beauty of the Portuguese countryside. The villa’s warm and elegantly appointed rooms offer a cozy sanctuary, seamlessly blending traditional architecture with contemporary amenities.
The villa’s rich history as a former water mill adds to its unique character, allowing guests to experience a piece of Portugal’s heritage while enjoying modern comforts. The meticulous restoration preserves the mill’s original charm, providing an authentic and memorable stay.
Option 1: fly to the airport and then take flix bus from there to the closest big town Castelo Branco: then take the taxi (60 euro) to the farm
Option 2: fly to the airport, and rent a car there and drive to the farm
Option 3: fly to the airport and then take the taxi from there (this is expensive, as it is a 2.40 hour drive and comes to 280 euro)
Price & Accommodation Options 2026 (5 DAY RETREAT)
Shared Room* (2 people): €1200 p.p.
Private Single Room*: €1350 p.p.
*all beds are single, unless you let us know you want to share your bed.
Price & Accommodation Options 2027 (5 DAY RETREAT)
Shared Ensuite Room* (2 people): €1870 p.p.
Private Ensuite Room*: €2155 p.p.
*You will have an ensuite room with a double bed, unless you are sharing and prefer two single (in which case you need to notify us in advance about that preference)
Nearest Airports:
Lisbon or Porto
We lost so much.
Our pastures are destroyed, many of our old olive trees, the young orchards, the irrigation systems, our most important tools, water pumps, and power setup—either melted or destroyed.
Our food and hay stores, the fences, and many of the stable buildings are either damaged or lost entirely.
What took years to build was reduced to ash in a single afternoon.
Ready to Recharge and Enjoy Real Food in Nature?
Cook, connect, and grow in the heart of our regenerative farm.
Real food. Deep rest. Lifelong memories.
