Essência Women’s Natural Building Retreat

We invite you to a unique 7-day women-only natural building workshop on the beautiful land of Essencia in Alentejo, Portugal. This immersive experience, guided by the skilled builders of the Women’s Natural Building Collective (WNBC), combines ancient building techniques and modern practices through which you will gain deep understanding, and hands-on experience. All the while celebrating the feminine—in a safe, supportive environment.

What is Natural Building? Natural building is so much more than just building with natural materials; it is about reconnecting with our ancestral roots and our natural environment. It’s about building beautiful, durable, healthy and spiritually uplifting buildings as well as building relationships with people and the planet along the way. It’s about observing and respecting the world around us, consciously using local, renewable and sustainable materials to create buildings that work in harmony with our mind, body and soul, and the environment they inhabit. Building a structure with natural materials is an empowering, humbling and inspiring experience, and building with only women creates a sacred, safe and supported sisterhood.

Why Women Only? We have nothing against men—we enjoy working and collaborating alongside, and we also run mixed-gender courses. Over the years, we have noticed, however, how differently women respond on a site when men are present, especially when power tools and machines are introduced. By creating a women-only space, we aim to eliminate these dynamics, providing a safe and supportive environment where women feel free to experiment, learn, and grow. When women gather with intention, shared goals, and a connection to the earth, the results are extraordinary. Our workshops are more than just about building—they are a celebration of the goddess within us all.

What You’ll Learn This hands-on workshop focuses on building a volunteer house, using a variety of natural building methods and techniques. You’ll gain practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and the confidence to carry these practices into your own life.

Practical Skills

• Learn about ecological house design and implementation
• Testing clay sub-soils to create the perfect earth mix
• Making adobe bricks
• Learn about the stages of construction
• Mixing and applying cob, using different techniques
• Mixing and applying slip straw
• Working safely with power tools
• Learning basic woodwork
• Creating glass bottle artworks

Theoretical Learning

• Ecological House Design: how to design energy efficient homes in connection with your climate
• Natural Building Theory: How it all works and why
• Building techniques across the globe: what techniques are being used, where and why?

Beyond Building: Celebrating the Feminine Alongside all of this we want to integrate and celebrate the feminine energy between us, to share, laugh, dance, cry (if we want to) and explore the different layers of ourselves. We will have additional (optional) morning and evening activities; movement, women's circles, meditation, dance, singing (not to mention the Sauna) to celebrate all that we are and all that we can be.

About the Women’s Natural Building Collective (WNBC) The WNBC is a group of passionate, experienced women builders based in Southern Portugal. We design and construct unique, natural structures while empowering other women with the skills to build their own homes. We share a passion for building, for celebrating and honoring the feminine, and a deep calling to do what we can to protect our planet in a hope to create a more balanced and beautiful future.

Meet the host - Essência Nature Retreat Feel welcomed on the beautiful land of Essência. Where nature is carrying us into remembering how to contribute to paradise on earth. Essência is an off-grid regenerative eco-village and holistic healing center, where a conscious community of passionate life lovers is emerging. We felt the call to co-create with Women Natural Building Collective (WNBC) to build a new safe and sacred space on our land. We share the deep passion for our planet and feel honored to create a mission together. We are excited to build and create a beautiful space on our land while empowering women to expand their building skills for the future.

Essência’s Vision is where we want to be A world of unity Remembrance and reliance A holy nest where people share, sing, dance and laugh Where we live our optimal health, experience our full potential and paradise on earth

Our Mission is what we do about it Create a safe, heart-aligned and sacred spaces in nature where we can purify, regenerate and grow joyfully An experience designed to enable integrity and consciousness expansion From self-responsibility and mastery to freedom A place with activities and a supportive environment to discover and become who I am Come in my power and fulfil of my personal mission on Earth for my highest good and the highest good of all

We develop an eco-community with 22 residents plus guests who come to rest, heal, learn and love

Food: In Essência we value organic and vegan food to keep mother earth and ourselves pure. Our cooks will prepare delicious healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner for you to enjoy during this week of using your physical strength.

• If you have any allergies please let us know in advance so we can accommodate your needs

Accommodation: In Essência we have different options for accommodation:

Farmhouse Stay: We welcome you in our cozy farmhouse with an open kitchen and living room. There are 6 rooms with each a private bathroom. It’s possible to rent a private room, share a room with another person or have a slightly bigger room with 3 beds. Please get in touch with Niv our booking manager to book your room preference - Ola@essencia.life Private double room - €590 Sharing double room - €330 Private triple room - €660 Sharing triple 2 people - €330 Sharing triple 3 people - €220

Glamping Tent: Live closer to nature and rent one of our glamping bell tents. Inside the glamping tents there are king size or twin setup beds with frames, organic mattresses with duvet, and carpets for the feeling of home. We have 2 compost toilets on the land and have an outdoor shower to clean yourself after a hard day of work. Please get in contact with Niv Ola@essencia.life if you wish to stay in the glamping tent, prices are: Private glamping tent €288 Sharing glamping tent €144

Camper Van: We offer free van spots for this natural wonen retreat. If you wish to bring your own campervan we welcome you to camp on our land. We have a few parking spaces available and can show you some nice areas. Please contact Niv (Ola@essencia.life) if you wish to stay in your camper van during the retreat

Personal Tent: We offer free camping spots for this natural wonen retreat. Take your own personal tent and find a nice spot surrounded by forest, birds and peace.

Common area: Weather you stay in the Glamping tent, your campervan or personal tent, we have some common areas which we share with the community. We have 2 compost toilets and an outdoor shower to clean off after a busy day getting muddy. Please let Niv know (Ola@essencia.life) if you wish to stay in your own tent during the retreat

Price Overview: Total cost of the retreat with your own tent or camper van is €801,- Total cost with glamping tent: between €945-1089 Total cost with a room in the guest house €1021 - €1391 This price includes the healthy nutritious meals each day, theory classes about natural building, tuition, camping facilities, sauna nights, morning movement practices, sharing circles, specialist facilitators, and a comprehensive course handout

We ask for a deposit to secure your place on the retreat: €400 (non-refundable)