About
TRUE NORTH AT SOUTH WEST
Monte Orada is an old sanctuary, a place for contemplation and connection with nature and water. It is a place to get inspired to redesign life's attitudes on Earth and manifest that awakening.
Orada was started on the vision that nature, health and sustainability are fundamental insights to Transition out of the toxicity of modern times.
We focus on organic farming, conscious nutrition, meditation and permaculture. We are space holder context, a force for innovative possibilities, new mindsets, not a guesthouse, hotel or a restaurant.
We are nestled in the heart of a nature sanctuary in the woods of Odemira, Alentejo, South West Portugal, bordering Algarve.
History
TRUE NORTH AT SOUTH WEST
Monte da Orada dates back to at least the XII century, it was known as the "Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Orada" (Our Lady of Orada Sanctuary). The name Orada can mean both "prayed for" and "prayer" and in some old municipal records spelled as "Ourada" (Golden one).
Its water fountain was considered sacred for its baths and it was a mandatory stop on the route to Monchique and Algarve, it was a known stop of the general and cannonized mystic Saint Nuno of Santa Maria (aka Santo Condestável, D. Nuno Alvares Pereira). The cult of Orada peaked in the XIV century, but there are signs of pre-Christian (pagan) origins.
When you come to visit, you will be the judge of that, hopefully it will be part of your personal history.
Our Mission
TRUE NORTH AT SOUTH WEST
One day in the future mother earth will be fully respected, for its diversity, beauty, abundance and divinity. Monte da Orada aims to bring that future closer in a sustainable and long-lasting manner, locally and throughout the region.
Our ongoing initiatives are:
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To reconvert eucalyptus forests into fire-proof mixed native forests;
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To slow down the desertification by promoting water storage in the landscape and monitoring local creeks and water lines;
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To educate and showcase the best Permacultural practices to restore topsoil and technologies;
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To inspire young families to return and commit to the land in a non-extractionist approach.
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To wide hunt-free territories as wildlife shelters;
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To host Scientific flora and fauna observation shelters;
Our Vision
TRUE NORTH AT SOUTH WEST
For this farm is to honor its tradition and continue to offer a place of spiritual re-encounter with oneself through nature, healthy food and mindful contemplation of beauty and simplicity.
Our personal growth vision and purpose are to inspire an awakening and transition into an increasingly conscious mindset, spirituality, and sustainable existence, reconnecting with the Source (Nature & Purpose), through a nourishing context of possibilities:
Yoga practice, meditation, fasting or juicing, conscious organic gardening and nourishing vegetarian food, contact plant wisdom, gazing at breathtaking starry skies, swimming, hiking, forest baths, sauna, massages and sharing experiences with like-minded people from all over the world.
Who we Are
TRUE NORTH AT SOUTH WEST
We are a family living in this amazing valley and we invite you to enjoy this natural sanctuary we live in. We try to live in community spirit, caring for our food gardens and seeds, hosting volunteers, workers and visitors, so there is always a warm and alternative international vibe in the air.
We, the hosts, have two kids, we are well traveled psychotherapists, we are into Permaculture and Conscious Nutrition, searching purity and worshiping Nature.
We are easygoing, we like to socialize as much as enjoying privacy, and engage in paradigm shift talks and most important we want you to feel totally at ease to follow your rhythm.
JULIANA ESTEVEZ
Mission
Born in Brazil, between the madness of São Paulo and the clean air of her family farm, living between extreme paradoxes until the age of 22, when graduated in clinical psychology.
While In Portugal started a long journey first studying and later teaching, different subjects: psychological astrology, body psychotherapy, and then her great passion, the Analytical Psychology of Carl Jung. Founded the first Jungian school in the country, lectured and kept her practice for 15 years. Having found the love of her life, and have had 2 beautiful children, profound changes began to shake her foundations and decided to leave the artificiality of the city to the source of all archetypes: Nature. In nature she fell in love with seeds, trees and water. The cycles she had studied so deeply in the past became alive and filled with colors, smells, sensations.
Magical plants that interact with consciousness became her new source of knowledge, and the books gave way to an inspiring inner landscape. Extremist. Ambitious. Her non-goal is Enlightenment. Trusts ecstasy as a personal method. Only rest when exhausted. Does not fear chaos. Permaculture, Mythology, Community and Friendship are her foundations.
Wisdom, Commitment and Abundance are her bright principles.
Núbia and Luca growing in the paradise of Orada is her legacy.
David is her passion and her haven. "Unfuck" the (inner and outer) world is her mission.
Orada is (her) Home.
DAVID RAFAEL
Geared with MacGiver-like resourcefulness since youth, left for Amsterdam in 1997 as Indiana Jones only to escape Academia and ended up riding the corporate Internet/Telecom bubble as a troubleshooter.
Dry and blue of seeking meaning within Corporate realms decided to study Psychology in parallel as an escape clause for a rainy day. Worked as a translator for a short while and loved it. In 2005 moved to Brussels HQ of British Telecom as the last nail in his corporate coffin intending to regain key global accounts as a Service Account Mgr only to succeed, burn-out and returned back to his mother soil in 2007.
Best move ever: married the best Jungian Analyst ever, became a group psychotherapist, specialized in Psychodrama therapy, coined and structured Kosmicare (psychedelic harm reduction festival standard) at Boom Festival.
In 2013 moved to SW Portugal countryside, raising 2 free-range kids, doing couples therapy, took over a dormant retreat farm and gave it life taking permaculture and re-encountering with Nature as key values to showcase a transitional lifestyle as inspiration to resettle into nature sustainably and co-exist with the forces of conscious manifestation - as a translator again.
Currently fine-tuning his off-grid nano-nation as a long-term contribution to 'unfuck' the word.
Has dreams, long-term - kids.
THE TEAM
Laura Nielen
Laura was Born in Amsterdam and raised in the beautiful Italian Alps. Despite graduating with a degree in Architecture, she soon escaped the office lifestyle for a long and transformative journey to India.
Having the opportunity to dive deeper into the ancient knowledge of yoga, meditation, and spirituality, she returns home with an entirely new set of priorities and life meaning.
It has never been more important to create and hold spaces that can inspire, nourish, and touch people in a world that keeps getting louder and louder.
It was the universe that brought her to Orada's sanctuary, and as a natural host and caring person, she will do her best to make your stay a memorable one.
Jacob Rigaux
South France was Jacob's birthplace. Despite having over 10 years of experience as a cook, he has found a new passion as a host and keeper of meaningful places.
The desire to create and nurture spaces that touch and enhance everyone's growth became his priority. Following his mother's unsettling yet wonderful path of searching for new perspectives and realities, he seeks an understanding of the society, the mind, and mother nature.
Catarina Couto
Catarina is Brazilian. For the past 13 years she has been vegetarian, changing 2 years ago to the vegan lifestyle. Since a younger age she loves cooking. She studied Gastronomy and Nutrition in UniCam.
She has 10 years of professional experience that included teaching Vegan Gastronomy, Menu design and kitchen consultancy, which culminated in landing in her dream job as head-chef at Orada.
Her cooking and organizational skills are impeccable, she manages with an impressive sense of responsibility a kitchen that never stops for 300 days a year.
She a Nature lover and an enthusiastic cyclist. In the SWCoast she found life's bliss.
Camila Serra
Nature and adventure sports lover, Camila was born in Brazil and in Alentejo she found her Natural habitat between the SW mountains and sea. Although she studied sports, in nutrition she found a more complete way to share knowledge about conscious health.
Her steady and calm presence brings an harmonizing vibe to the hectic kitchen. She is the first face you see in the morning, serving us a delicious and creative breakfast that sets the pace for the day.
Gabriela Araújo
Born in Brazil, Gabriela moved to Portugal 6 years ago.
From a lineage of Alchemist cooks, she brings the heart to Orada´s Kitchen.
Her tiny hands have fed thousands of people! Spoiling every guest to their hearts delight,
she devotes herself to preparing beautiful buffet tables that bring AW moments to our guests.
Her food is soulful, delicious and colorful. She calls it Spiritual kitchen. We agree.
Dafne Schvets
Dafne is an Argentinian living in Portugal since the early 90's, coming from a line of artists in the family, she followed that same path, eventually changing it for a different type of creativity, the art of cooking.
Her love for plants and their properties is her biggest passion, together with holistic nutrition and the way that food can heal, makes all sense to her. Her love of cooking for others grew with her, looking at her grandmother's hands doing what she knew best, cooking and caring.