Spirala Ecovillage

Key facts

• Country: Portugal
• Region: Castelo Branco District
• Founded: 2020
• Members: 15
• Land size: 10.4 hectares
• Governance model: Decisions are made collectively by the community members, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.
• Economy model: Spirala operates as a non-profit organization, reinvesting a significant portion of its revenue into the land to preserve and regenerate the surrounding environment and its biodiversity.
• Status: active
• Website: https://spiralaecovillage.com/

About

Spirala Ecovillage is an ecological camping site and venue for healing, growth, and celebration of life, nestled in the peaceful Portuguese countryside. It offers a space to reconnect with nature and oneself, emphasizing simple and harmonious living.

Full description

Spirala Ecovillage, established in 2020, is a community-driven project located in the Castelo Branco District of Portugal. The initiative began with a group of friends aiming to create a grounded, conscious venue that fosters connections among individuals and with nature. Inspired by the slower pace of countryside life, Spirala offers guests a space to slow down, reconnect, and explore life at a more thoughtful, deliberate rhythm.

The community spans 10.4 hectares of land and features eco-friendly facilities built from local, natural materials, including compost toilets, off-grid showers, and a communal kitchen. These facilities are designed to support a low-impact, sustainable lifestyle. While operating relatively off-grid, Spirala provides some modern conveniences, such as electricity, drinking water, and Wi-Fi, ensuring a balanced experience of nature and comfort. The land is home to a natural swimming pond, serving as a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including snakes, turtles, frogs, and fish.

Spirala's mission is to create an international community that fosters deep connections and provides a space for personal and collective recovery and engagement with nature. The community consists of 15 households, with 5 permanent residents and 10 others supporting the project from abroad. The community is open to expanding and invites individuals and families to join their inspiring, earthy, and loving environment.

The community hosts various events, workshops, and festivals, such as the MUD festival, natural-building seminars, and Syntropic Agroforestry workshops. These activities align with their belief in the importance of living in harmony with nature and provide opportunities for deeper physical and emotional engagement with the space.

Spirala is a non-profit-driven organization, with a significant portion of its revenue reinvested into the land to preserve and regenerate the surrounding environment and its biodiversity. The community is dedicated to promoting regenerative practices that restore and rejuvenate the natural environment, collaborating with local and international innovators to develop and implement cutting-edge regenerative techniques.

Visitors are welcome to stay for a few days, participate in workshops or festivals, or stay long-term. Accommodations include caravans, bell tents, and traditional tents, all fully equipped for a comfortable stay. The shared kitchen is vegan or vegetarian, and Wi-Fi is available in the central building and its immediate proximity. The community emphasizes simple, ecological, fair, and hearty accommodations in a beautiful space, aiming to live harmoniously with each other and the surrounding neighbors and nature.

Research summary

Spirala Ecovillage, located in Portugal, is a vibrant intentional community co-founded by Nitzan, who sought to create a sustainable lifestyle that embodies a deep connection with nature and collaborative living. This community is built upon a foundation of shared values and a transparent governance model, which Nitzan highlights as crucial for its sustainability. He notes that the spirit of cooperation and clear communication is essential in decision-making processes, especially when facing conflicts and fostering a sense of belonging among members. Nitzan emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus on the land and adopting a holistic approach to community life, which includes self-care and personal growth.

Themes

• governance
• conflict
• belonging

Quotes from members

If the land does not benefit, you do something wrong.

Nitzan

We need more simple life, close to nature, in a peaceful place.

Nitzan

It requires a lot of patience and a lot of humbleness, to know that you can live in much better conditions and still choose these conditions for a while because you believe in the purpose.

Nitzan

Timeline

2020

Founded by a group of friends as a multicultural campsite hub in Castelo Branco District, Portugal, on 10.4 hectares of land.

2024

Project reborn with a new focus on land care, ecological infrastructure, and serving as a rooted campsite and gathering space.

Research insights (31)

• Emotional intelligence and flexibility are emphasized as essential tools for managing interpersonal tensions, leading to more mature relationships within the community. (Nitzan) [conflict]
• Decision-making processes incorporate both democratic discussions and structured leadership roles, allowing for flexibility while addressing conflicts and tensions. (Nitzan) [governance]
• The community has established a legal constitution that outlines values and decision-making processes, contributing to conflict resolution and shared governance. (Nitzan) [governance]
• The community views its stewardship of the land not as ownership, but as a guardianship role, emphasizing the importance of the land benefiting from their actions and ensuring sustainable living practices. (Nitzan) [joining]
• The entry process for newcomers is designed to ensure that they resonate with the community's values, allowing them to spend time on-site and reflect on their fit before committing as shareholders. (Nitzan) [belonging]
• The community operates on a mutual aid model where financial contributions are shared among members and decisions about resource allocation are made collectively to avoid burdensome debts and foster sustainability. (Nitzan) [money]
• Members are encouraged to address their doubts and tensions openly, allowing for a collective processing of emotions and conflicts, which fosters a culture of authenticity and mutual support. (Nitzan) [conflict]
• The community has developed a legally binding constitution that outlines their values, decision-making processes, and conflict resolution mechanisms, which is essential for maintaining harmony among members. (Nitzan) [governance]
• New members are invited to integrate into the community through a reflective process and practical engagement, including experiencing the everyday life of the community before formally joining. (Nitzan) [joining]
• Nitzan emphasizes that personal relationships and intimate connections are core to the community’s identity, driving them to work closely and collaboratively for a shared vision of sustainable living. (Nitzan) [belonging]
• The community operates on a collective financial model where newcomers are expected to contribute as shareholders of the community, thus eliminating private ownership. (Nitzan) [money]
• The community prioritizes flexibility and emotional maturity in conflict resolution, encouraging members to communicate openly about feelings rather than allowing issues to escalate. (Nitzan) [conflict]
• Nitzan believes that decision-making authority is distributed among community members, with a democratic approach in the early stages emphasizing participation and consensus. (Nitzan) [governance]
• The community has established a written constitution that outlines their values, decision-making processes, and methods for conflict resolution, thus ensuring a structured approach to governance from the start. (Nitzan) [governance]
• Cultural practices within the community, such as collective meditation and shared meals, are designed to build trust and connection, enhancing the emotional bonds between members. (Nitzan) [culture]
• The community utilizes a structured onboarding process for new members, requiring them to align with existing values and motivations before fully integrating into community life. (Nitzan) [joining]
• Nitzan emphasized the importance of creating a robust community culture that fosters intimacy and connection among members, which is essential for effective collaboration and shared purpose. (Nitzan) [belonging]
• The community's financial viability hinges on attracting more members, as initial investments and funding models are inadequate for long-term sustainability without additional income streams. (Nitzan) [money]
• Conflict is addressed through a flexible and mature approach, emphasizing emotional resilience and the importance of personal growth through sensitive interactions within the group's dynamics. (Nitzan) [conflict]
• The community established a legal constitution to outline their values and decision-making processes, aiming to prevent conflicts and ensure mutual respect among members. (Nitzan) [governance]
• To work with these feelings without taking it personally too much, with the understanding that it is part of the process.
• It requires a lot of patience and a lot of humbleness, to know that you can live in much better conditions and still choose these conditions for a while because you believe in the purpose.
• We need more simple life, close to nature, in a peaceful place.
• If the land does not benefit, you do something wrong.
• joining
• belonging
• culture
• money
• conflict
• governance
• Nitzan shares his journey to create a sustainable community at Spirala eco-village, highlighting his quest for a lifestyle that reconnects him with nature and supports collaborative living. He emphasizes the importance of a strong foundation of shared values, transparent governance, and clear financial models to ensure the sustainability of the community. Throughout the interview, Nitzan discusses the challenges of decision-making, managing conflicts, and fostering belonging within the group, stressing the need for flexibility and open communication when navigating interpersonal dynamics. He reflects on personal growth, the importance of maintaining a focus on the land, and cultivating a holistic approach to both community and self-care.

Interviews (1)

• If the Land Does Not Benefit, You Are Doing Something Wrong with Nitzan