Get to know Tras-os-Montes

Trás-os-Montes is a region located in northeastern Portugal, bordering Spain to the north and east. Did you know? The name Trás-os-Montes means “beyond the mountains” and refers to the region’s location beyond the Marão and Montesinho mountain ranges. Trás-os-Montes is known for its rugged landscapes, traditional way of life, and unique cultural heritage. The region […]

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Getting to know Mason – are cocker spaniels good homesteader dogs?

Owning a Cocker Spaniel on a homestead can be a rewarding experience for both the dog and its owners who chose a simple life. Cocker Spaniels are known for their friendly and affectionate nature, making them great family pets. They are also intelligent and trainable, which can be helpful when living on a homestead. However, there are […]

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Get to know Elroy and the Tras-Os-Mastiff breed

Get to know Elroy and the Tras-Os-Mastiff dog breed – adorable – loyal and powerful (Elroy our Tras-os-Montes Mastiff at 5 1/2 months) The Trás-os-Montes Mastiff is a large and powerful breed of dog that originated in Portugal in the Tras-os-Montes region. Also known as the Transmontano Mastiff, this breed was originally used for herding […]

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Get to know Tras-os-Montes

Trás-os-Montes is a region located in northeastern Portugal, bordering Spain to the north and east. Did you know? The name Trás-os-Montes means “beyond the mountains” and refers to the region’s location beyond the Marão and Montesinho mountain ranges. Trás-os-Montes is known for its rugged landscapes, traditional way of life, and unique cultural heritage. The region […]

Getting to know Mason – are cocker spaniels good homesteader dogs?

Owning a Cocker Spaniel on a homestead can be a rewarding experience for both the dog and its owners who chose a simple life. Cocker Spaniels are known for their friendly and affectionate nature, making them great family pets. They are also intelligent and trainable, which can be helpful when living on a homestead. However, there are […]

Get to know Elroy and the Tras-Os-Mastiff breed

Get to know Elroy and the Tras-Os-Mastiff dog breed – adorable – loyal and powerful (Elroy our Tras-os-Montes Mastiff at 5 1/2 months) The Trás-os-Montes Mastiff is a large and powerful breed of dog that originated in Portugal in the Tras-os-Montes region. Also known as the Transmontano Mastiff, this breed was originally used for herding […]

It’s about the journey – uphill and down!

With the growing season upon us, it’s fair to say that our simple life suddenly got a little complicated. Indeed, having the responsibility to feed my family from our garden, start a business to support us and entertain tourists with a lush garden is no small feat for a novice gardener like me. But I’m […]

Planning for a greenhouse or High Tunnel (PolyTunnel)

One of the great appeals when starting a simple life is growing food. If you are like us and you’re contemplating an off-grid or semi-off-grid living situation, you are undeniably browsing the web to get your teeth into anything homesteading-related. This goes from learning how to start seedlings, how to create rich compost or even […]

Don’t overcomplicate things – yet I did!

As we started planning for our public garden, one piece of advice that kept on popping up in the comment section of our videos was “Sindy, don’t overcomplicate this, just get planting” now that I’m in the landscaping phase of our public garden. I can see why folks said this. Indeed, as a novice gardener, […]

Our business strategy: why are we setting up a public garden?

When Dan and I moved to North Portugal to start our simple life, we had a vision. Initially, we dreamt of flower farming and a self-sustainable life. Because to us, nothing is more relaxing than surrounding ourselves with beauty and nothing is more beautiful than seeing a smile on someone’s face when handed a glorious […]