At Nowhere Desk we cultivate both soil and soul — growing local beans while nurturing presence, connection, and purpose.

Country: Portugal
IDG HUB: IDG Porto Community Hub – Maria do Céu Bastos
Link to website: https://www.nowhere-desk.com/
Link to presentation: Nowhere Desk

This project started in 2021, but it is only really taking shape this year. What began as the idea of transforming a rural property in northern Portugal has grown into Nowhere Desk — a hub where the Inner Development Goals are lived in practice. Through silence and reflection, regenerative farming of local bean varieties, vegetables and fruit trees, as well as community meals, we connect inner growth with outer regeneration.
Over the past two years, we have engaged locals, remote workers, and international networks, offering workshops on permaculture, and collaborative leadership. Instead of being just visitors, people become active contributors — co-creating events, caring for the land, and strengthening community ties.
Our key learning: when inner development is rooted in nature and community, it blossoms into real transformation for people and the planet.

Nowhere Desk lives “Bridging Polarities.” We link inner growth with outer regeneration, tradition with innovation, silence with dialogue, and the individual with the collective. From cultivating local beans to hosting Silent Book Clubs and community workshops, we show how opposites can reinforce one another.

Our project mostly relates to four core IDG skills. First, Inner Compass (Being), as we cultivate presence and clarity through silence, reflection, and immersion in nature. Second, Systems Thinking (Thinking), which we apply through regenerative agriculture, teaching participants to see cycles, feedback, and interdependence in both soil and society. Third, Co-creation Skills (Collaborating), as events and workshops are designed and led together with participants, fostering shared leadership. And finally, Trust and Connection (Relating), which emerge naturally in community meals, dialogue circles, and partnerships between locals, remote workers, and international visitors. These skills form the foundation of Nowhere Desk, where inner growth and outer regeneration reinforce each other.