Organic market garden and holistic farm care internship in Portugal

Located in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, near the coastal town of Lagos, this residential farm internship offers an immersive experience in regenerative agriculture. Interns live on site and take part in daily farm activities rooted in permaculture and organic growing practices. The program combines hands on work with practical learning about sustainable food systems and land stewardship. Life on the farm is community oriented, with shared meals, teamwork, and personal development woven into everyday routines. It’s ideal for those seeking meaningful work, outdoor living, and a deeper connection to nature.

About the work exchange program

Applications for the May 2026 internship will open in February 2026!

The internship takes place at Quinta Vale da Lama, a 43-hectare regenerative organic farm in southwestern Portugal, near the coastal town of Lagos. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains of the western Algarve, the farm provides an immersive environment for learning and living sustainably. The six-month residential program combines practical work, structured training, and community life, giving interns a deep understanding of regenerative farming and permaculture.

Key features include:

• Hands-on training in organic market gardening and holistic farm care.
• Participation in a full Permaculture Design Course (PDC) during the internship.
• Experience with composting, soil fertility, irrigation, and ecosystem regeneration systems such as alley cropping and food forests.
• Daily life in Lama Village, the residential community on the farm, fostering teamwork, shared responsibilities, and personal growth.
• Opportunities to develop and implement a project that integrates practical and theoretical learning.
• Interns leave with practical skills, personal development, and experience working in an international, collaborative farm community.

Requirements

• Genuine interest in sustainable agriculture, regenerative farming, and outdoor work.
• Willingness to work in all weather conditions and perform physically demanding tasks.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Openness to communal living, shared responsibilities, and group activities.
• Commitment to the full six-month duration of the internship.

Your tasks

• Planning, planting, and maintaining the organic market garden.
• Harvesting, washing, and preparing produce for markets or direct supply.
• Managing soil fertility, compost systems, and irrigation.
• Working with agroforestry, food forests, and other holistic farm care systems.
• Assisting with infrastructure, animal care, and other seasonal farm tasks.

In addition to practical farm work, interns are expected to engage in individual study, group activities, and a personal project, which is developed and implemented over the last three months of the internship.

What’s in it for You?

• Shared accommodation and 3 vegetarian meals a day
• Structured training, mentorship, and learning opportunities in sustainable agriculture
• The chance to complete a personal project that contributes to the farm and your portfolio
• Experience living in a supportive, international farm community that encourages personal and professional growth

Interns gain hands-on experience and knowledge in organic and regenerative farming while living in a beautiful rural setting in the Algarve.

By the end of the internship, you will have valuable skills in permaculture, organic growing, and ecosystem regeneration, along with lasting connections and a stronger sense of self-reliance.

Video

Map

Accommodation offer

You might need to book a cheap accommodation on your way to Algarve, Portugal. If you book your stay through our website, you support hopperjobs.com to list more great and free job opportunities worldwide. Click here for booking!

Flight offer

You’ll probaly need to book a cheap flight to Algarve, Portugal. If you book your flight through our website, you support hopperjobs.com to list more great and free job opportunities worldwide. Click here for booking!

Contact