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 […]

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 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 […]

 Free-range chickens are those that are allowed to roam freely outdoors instead of being confined to a small cage or enclosure. These chickens are able to engage in natural behaviors like scratching for insects, dust bathing, and socializing with other chickens. They have access to fresh air, sunshine, and a varied diet, which can result […]

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 […]

When Dan and I dreamt of leaving the rat race for a simpler life. We had a vision of what this simplified way of living would look like. Already, even if the house plans were not finalised, and we didn’t even have land. I could see myself preserving more tomatoes than we could ever eat […]

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 […]

As a novice gardener, there is indeed much to learn on the road to self-sufficiency when starting a simple life. But I guess the first step to take when challenging yourself with learning new skills is to know the level you are at and educate yourself to realise you know even less than you first […]

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, […]

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 […]