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The Garden, season IV

Welcome to the last refuge of the real - our earnest attempt to build a world more compelling than the screen you're looking at. apply here: in.thegarden.pt. curated by character most stay a few weeks to a few months. arrive any Tuesday leave any Sunday.


some people come to the garden to do deep work & embody in wild nature. some just to play together in a dream world. and some a bit of both.

We're immersed in nature, and right out the gate is hours of forested hiking.

There's one lake, two springs, hot, sauna, pool, gym, dance studio, jam space, call rooms, and much more

The estate is a compound in private nature which rents for €4-10k a night for events. These residencies are offered at subsidized rate thanks to support from our community.

the container is held loosely but still held. you are obliged to make your own meaning

let's become harder to simulate.

Workshipping the robot god
Workshipping the robot god
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Installation at SYNESTHESIA
Installation at SYNESTHESIA
Effigy at Somewhere
Effigy at Somewhere

🧲 Your Attractors & Passions

(this is just a fun, meaningless thing to click. You are, naturally, welcome to find intrinsic meaning in your actions.)
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This is an ephemeral, co-created happening on 9 hectares of private paradise.

This is not a spiritual community™. it it an invitation for you to be your youest you and do the work only you can do in this world.

Living experiments this year: silent mornings, tech free sundays [outside of private rooms and call rooms], no visible phones in public, and removing (almost) all mirrors.

Our target is ~20-50 humans on-site at a time. The land is vast. We expect a ramp-up as the season begins but every week is different. Our capacity is 150 beds for events, so expect plenty of space & privacy. This is new. This is forming. Fourth season is taking off & fifth year of the project. Some edges are still rough. Much of it is co-created. Most of the core operations are run by a local & international paid team. This will not be a perfect journey. This is life. We invite your agency & participation <3

some weeks have themes. you are not obliged to participate in any way

May 12: the season begins
May 26-31: The Art of Nature: forest regeneration

Jun 3-14: state of the art[ist] III (nerd week. multiple arrival days possible)

Jun 23-28 : Roots: somatic movement & butoh Jul 14-19: Voice & Vision

July 21-26: Not two, Not one: contact improvisation

Aug 18-30: OFFLINE RESEARCH FORTNIGHT
Oct 31st: season ends, go live elsewhere


p.s. we are hiring! p.p.s. if you want to organize a gathering, festival, or retreat here, it's possible. We are best suited for 40-300 people.
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Would you like to join the mischief? This experience is by application only.

map
map
Bandwidth is split to ensure stability.
Bandwidth is split to ensure stability.

We are remote work friendly & all biorhythms are welcome.

The estate was chosen for its total privacy, close proximity to Porto Airport and amenities, fiber-optic internet, and exquisite nature. While there is some fantastic infrastructure here, please understand that we are building the ship as we are sailing it & this is a paradise in progress.

We want The Garden to be a space that is socially sustainable & are exploring what the minimum viable stack of communal practices, rituals, and responsibilities are. Some examples include:


Authentic Unrelating: While you are wearing headphones or earbuds in a public space, it signals to everyone to ghost you — no eye contact or conversation.

Expressing Your Desires™: If you want a common space be more tidy, proclaim it loudly, put on some music, and inspire a 5 minute clean-up party like a good citizen.

Hippies™ forming a traditional shape

Or, if more words are your thing, read our vision & values metadoc & agreements.

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🖤 FAQ:

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if you made it this far, you are our kind of curious. apply here :)

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