Update

The Hive is now in its 3rd year, although its a very ambitious project we have managed to achieve more than could be expected. With only two payments left next year and 6 different people invested in the project we have reached 80% of the running and capital project costs; the majority (cash and responsibility) having come from myself.

Having had time away and a suitable distance from the project this summer, i realise that the biggest challenge is encouraging the right people to get involved and allow me to step back as it was never my intention at this point 3 years on to still be the person making the decisions. This is the thing that needs to be changed the most, to create an environment that encourages other people's ideas and input in a consensus manner.

In light of this shortfall, over the coming months it is our intention to strongly encourage people to visit or support the project in any way they are capable - fundraising, sorting out legal structure, teaching, permaculture design, community building, gardening, promoting, administrating and more - by opening up the project to support involvement by others.

A good example which has support within the local network is the idea of showing good practise in woodland management, to this end we are agreeable to set aside the largest article owned by The Hive for this purpose and assist with ideas and volunteers in creating a native community tree nursery. In the process it is hoped to set up a legal structure to ensure the longterm management of the woodland is guaranteed.

A key objective to achieve is having permanent Portuguese residents with similar interests involved at grass roots to help overcome the barriers in communicating with the broader community, with preference being a Portuguese couple. To this aim we are happy to make available and support the permaculture design as an example of how the rest of the village could bee. There also appears to be local support for having the first house completed quickly with offers of materials, volunteers and skilled labour within our immediate community.

We are putting this out there for other people to come up with their own ideas and solutions to help achieve these goals. Consider how you could be involved no matter where you are. Please get in touch.