The builders have arrived! First week of our Portugal farm rebuild - EP139

We mark an exciting milestone, as the builders finally arrive, and work begins on the rebuild of our 100-year-old Portuguese farm. While the steel reinforcement cages for the foundations are being assembled, we keep out of the builders' way by tackling a few long-overdue jobs around the farm. We clear overgrown branches at Bramble Corner, finally finish fitting the pool skirt, smarten up the area outside our bedroom with fresh gravel, and make a batch of delicious yellow plum jam. Jane also cooks some fantastic courgette (zucchini) fritters, using fresh produce from the garden. By the end of the week, the site is really beginning to take shape, as the foundation positions are set out, bedding gravel is laid, and Phil lends a hand by removing the last section of an old wall, and digging out part of a foundation trench that the excavator couldn't quite reach. It's only the first week of construction, but after months of planning, permissions and preparation, it feels great to see the rebuild finally getting underway. If you enjoy renovation projects, rural life in Portugal, self-build adventures, gardening, sustainable living and following a dream one step at a time, we'd love to have you along for the journey. 👍 If you enjoy the video, please give it a Like 💬 We'd love to hear from you in the comments 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss next week's episode, when the foundations really begin to take shape #Portugal #PortugalFarm #FarmRenovation #SelfBuild #BuildingProject #CountryLife #RuralPortugal #OffGridLiving #Renovation #Homestead #DIY #LifeInPortugal #ExpatLife #BuildingInPortugal #HotkeysPortugal Episode 139 - More Film About Buildings and Food - with apologies to Talking Heads, and their 1978 album 00:00 Welcome to Portugal 00:42 Ironwork 02:26 Bramble corner 04:30 Apple tree 06:37 Pool skirt 08:54 Wood clearing 10:46 Apple ivy 12:43 Weeding 14:06 Jam 15:08 Water valve 17:49 Zucchini fritters 21:51 Gravel 23:19 Taste test 24:25 Digging out 29:02 Foundations We have an extensive back catalogue, and have collected our experiences into themed playlists, such as: 📆 For the 2026 story so far    • 2026 Building at Last   🍏 To follow our work on all things food    • Produce   🚜 For our work on the land    • Land management   🏠 The Tiny House, old and new, is at    • Tiny House   Music this week features licensed material from uppbeat.io: 🎵 'Dawn Chaser' by Justin Lee https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/dawn-... License code: 8ALGKSJCQFGUKHR1 🎵 'Doorways' by The Lakes https://uppbeat.io/t/the-lakes/doorways License code: TQXXUXPPQ1UIPSDQ 🎵 'Hopeful Horizons' by Justin Lee https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/hopef... License code: BNAOH8AVJOLUNBQM 🎵 'While I Lay Beside You' by Galapaghost https://uppbeat.io/t/galapaghost/whil... License code: FR5F8EKNNBVM2NLO If you would like to contribute to our tool shopping list, then the best place is through Buy Me A Coffee at: buymeacoffee.com/hotkeysportugal