A place to weave humans into a profound connection with the wisdom of the landscape. A place for creativity kindness and soul
We are a collective of people, who fell in love with the diversity of nature and unique ancient rhythms of the valley of the Gardunha mountains in Central Portugal.
In June 2025 we came to learn that 24 hectares of wild land was for sale, and to developers that would turn the natural haven into an land of intensive farming.
We listened in and heard the call that this land would be the perfect home to create a Rural School of Arts. A school that is unique in the land-based teaching that it offers, and its holistic approach to craft and health. A School housed within a People’s Forest, that will come to offer local people of all heritages the opportunity to be nourished by and learn the stories of their landscape for generations to come. A place to welcome people from all over the world in service to human to earth vitality.
The wild land
As a thriving ecosystem is currently home to a range of old native trees, a river, ruins and an abundance of natural life. The land is a key resource for maintaining the rhythm and abundance of the whole area. Once bought the land will be donated to an association for it to be forever held in service to the vision, local ecosystem and community.
Story from our hearts
We have the teachers, the tenders and the skills for this vision. We have until Spring 2026 to raise the funds to purchase the land that will make this dream a reality.
A Story from the tree
What we share here was heard from the loud cries of a cork oak tree standing like a shepherd at the edge of the wild land. Over 20 years of listening to land and place and creating art, architecture and land projects attuned us to hear the call.
We first heard the call that something with the land upon which it stood was changing. After we investigated this with the local mayor we discovered that the land that had been held in the same family for over a hundred years was being prepared for sale. Prepared to be presented to developers to create an intensive cherry farm that would remove the natural landscape of native trees and rocks, creating a project that would affect the natural water table and river system, in fact the entire ecosystem. We got the phone number of the owners and called them, they explained the plan. With the trees in our hearts we said “WE will buy it”. Clear as clear.
The tree then explained that the land was here to become a Rural School of Arts and become a People’s Forest, a place that welcomes humans to be part of an enriching landscape for generations to come. All of this we wrote down and carrying these messages in our hearts we went to meet with the owners. They presented their ideas for the sale and we suggested “What if it was to become a Rural School of Arts? ”
Deeply moved the family replied that it was always their fathers dream to create an art school, the father being friends with the poet Eugénio de Andrade.
“You have heard the energy of the land they said.”
The tree became quiet, knowing that its work as the messenger was done. We gathered as a collective in service to what we heard.
“The word, as you once said, comes
moist from the woods: we must plant it;
it comes moist from the earth: we must save it,
it comes with the swallows”
Eugénio de Andrade
Founding circle
Isik Sayarer, fell in love with the land of the valley for its vast skies and sense of time. Listening to its teachings and incorporating its wisdom into her work and life. Isik has spent 20 years as an artist creating experiences and stories with communities and individuals. Stories and teachings that invite a deeper sense of belonging to each other and the world we inhabit. Stories that open the heart to enchantment wonder and myth.
www.altantepepath.com
Craig Bamford, welcomed this landscape as home, being called to the wild edges, the rocks, eagles and sense of time out of time. Craig has spent his life as a maker exploring form and sacred place, in wood, metal and also through his work as an architect. Craig’s ongoing enquires into healing forms and harmonic spaces is informed through a listening to a sense of place and the wisdom of the ancestors.
www.sasaworks.co.uk
Bruno Ramos was drawn into this adventure through the calling of people who belong to the nurturing circle of his soul. Bruno has more than 30 years of experience in communication,
socio-cultural activities, and regional development in rural contexts. He believes in individual and social emancipation, as well as in intermediate levels of autonomy. The encounters on the land of the Wild Island resonated deeply within him and offered a very clear vision of the path to follow.
White Stone Association is a not-for-profit organisation that organises amongst other offerings Mount of Oaks; a neighbouring permaculture farm. Emma Leite and Barbara Cowan are the permanent residents of Mount of Oaks following a monastic way of life since 2006 alongside all the animals, plants and trees. They are teachers and practitioners of natural building, permaculture principles and regenerative practices, herbal remedies, prayer and intercultural dialogue. Carrying the excitment about all the collaborations, that will remain in the memory of this landscape long after we depart!
www.mountofoaks.org
Francisco Amaral (Chico’s), arrival in the valley felt like a home coming. Rooted in this land Chico listens to its whispers and walks in service of co-creating a collective vision — where the seeds of ethics, community, and love grow from local action into global transformation. For the last 15 years this pilgrimage of life has taken him on a journey decolonizing his roots in Environmental Engineering through teachings in Permaculture, Deep Ecology, Community, and Spiritual Practice
Katarina Sidova, grew up with her grandparents in a small village in Slovakia, surrounded by beautiful mountains, forming a deep love for land, forests and animals. Climbing trees & getting her hands dirty in the soil is when she is happiest. Katarina’s organisational skills and love of connecting people brings her joy. Being together in nature and connecting to create, is when magic can happen again and again.
Elaine Mclaughlin has a saying;
"I IS Land and land is us". Something our ancestors knew the importance of and something to return to, as humanity moves further and further away from who we are. Elaine brings her life's learning, her humour, her poetry and her childish wild spirit to help this magical project thrive. Feeling the call of this place to support us to remember this connection and weave new threads.
Anthony Ussher is a lover of the simple pleasures and beauty of life. Pleasures that for him come back over and over again to the health of the soil. If the soil is in harmony and thriving then our whole body system and the world thrives. Anthony as a soil tender, kitchen alchemist and land tender brings vitality and healing through his many offerings.
