Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Portugal, Tamera, also known as the Village of Lovers, is more than just an intentional community it is a living experiment in sustainable living, peace research, and the transformation of human relationships. Founded in 1995, this ecovillage brings together people from different backgrounds and cultures who share a deep commitment to building a new model of cooperation, trust, and regenerative living. What makes Tamera truly unique is its focus on love, sexuality, and partnership as foundational elements in creating a culture of peace. Through daily practice, communal learning, and innovative ecological design, Tamera continues to attract global attention as a hopeful vision for the future.
The Origins and Vision of Tamera
The Village of Lovers was co-founded by German peace workers Sabine Lichtenfels and Dieter Duhm, along with a small group of activists. Their aim was to develop a healing biotope a model community where trust among people and harmony with nature could be restored. The founders believed that systemic violence in the world stems largely from broken relationships, including the fear, jealousy, and separation often found in love and partnership. Tamera set out to build a village where truth in love, sexual freedom, and communal solidarity would form the core of social life.
Located near the town of Odemira in the Alentejo region, Tamera occupies around 330 acres of land, which has been transformed into a thriving permaculture landscape. The community is home to around 200 residents, including long-term members, students, volunteers, and guests who participate in its programs.
Core Values and Principles
Tamera is guided by a set of core values that shape daily life and long-term vision. These include:
- Trust-building: Creating transparency and emotional honesty in relationships
- Nonviolence: A commitment to resolving conflicts through dialogue and understanding
- Love and sexuality: Exploring new forms of partnership beyond jealousy and possessiveness
- Community living: Sharing resources and responsibilities in a cooperative environment
- Ecological sustainability: Restoring the land and creating closed-loop systems for water, energy, and food
Daily Life in the Village of Lovers
Life in Tamera is shaped by a rhythm of communal activities, personal practice, and collective work. Days often begin with morning circles where members gather to share thoughts, updates, and reflections. These circles help foster openness and accountability within the group. Much of the day is then spent working in various areas such as agriculture, cooking, building, or administration.
Residents participate in regular forums and gatherings where personal and group issues are addressed. These spaces, often deeply emotional and vulnerable, allow members to process their experiences and build deeper understanding. The process of communication is considered essential to transforming both inner and outer conflict.
Healing Love and Eros
One of Tamera’s most distinguishing features is its approach to love and sexuality. Known as the Village of Lovers, Tamera believes that transforming human relationships especially in the realm of eros is crucial for building a peaceful society. The community encourages the exploration of open relationships, polyamory, and new models of family that go beyond traditional roles.
This does not mean anything goes. On the contrary, great care is taken to develop emotional maturity, clear agreements, and conscious communication around intimacy. Tamera holds that sexuality, when freed from fear and manipulation, can be a healing and life-affirming force. The idea is not to promote one way of loving, but to create a culture where truth, freedom, and care can coexist.
Regenerative Living and Ecological Design
In addition to its social experiments, Tamera is a leading model for ecological sustainability. The community has developed a sophisticated water retention landscape, which harvests rainwater and prevents erosion in the dry Mediterranean climate. Through swales, ponds, and carefully designed land contours, Tamera has turned degraded land into fertile ground.
Food is grown organically in permaculture gardens, and many of the community’s buildings are constructed using natural materials. Solar energy powers most of the infrastructure, including kitchens, workshops, and meeting spaces. The village also explores holistic healing methods, alternative education, and green technology.
Global Network and Education
Beyond the borders of its land, Tamera operates as part of a larger global peace network. It regularly hosts international visitors, peace workers, and students from around the world. Educational programs such as the Global Campus and the Peace Research Village invite participants to learn about nonviolent living, community building, and ecological restoration.
Workshops and courses often focus on themes like sacred activism, trust-building, and healing eros. These events are designed not only to teach but to create temporary communities of learning and experimentation. Participants return to their own regions inspired to create similar projects or integrate new values into existing ones.
Challenges and Growth
Like any pioneering community, Tamera has faced its share of challenges. Internal conflicts, differing expectations, and external skepticism have all tested the group’s resilience. Questions about leadership, structure, and boundaries have required ongoing attention and adaptation. Still, the community’s openness to learning and willingness to evolve has allowed it to persist and grow.
One of the major themes Tamera continues to explore is how to scale its model. While it has become a powerful symbol for those seeking a new way of living, the question remains: how can these ideas be replicated in different cultural, economic, and political contexts? The community hopes that by documenting its process and sharing its findings, others can be inspired to create their own healing biotopes.
Cultural and Spiritual Dimensions
Tamera places a strong emphasis on the sacredness of life. Rituals, meditation, and celebration are integrated into everyday life. Rather than adhering to any one religious tradition, the community embraces a universal spirituality that honors nature, the feminine, and the interconnectedness of all beings. Seasonal festivals, music, and communal rituals serve to connect members with each other and the land.
Art also plays an important role in Tamera. Music, dance, storytelling, and visual arts are seen as vital expressions of community spirit and healing. These forms of creative expression help release trauma, build connection, and foster joy among the residents.
Looking Ahead: A Living Experiment in Peace
The Village of Lovers continues to stand as a beacon for those searching for authentic, regenerative ways of living. It offers a working example of how human beings can come together in trust, share resources, and transform the most intimate areas of life into sources of collective strength. In a world grappling with ecological crisis, social division, and spiritual emptiness, Tamera offers a practical yet visionary alternative.
While it is not perfect, its transparency about failure, commitment to growth, and insistence on love as a foundation for peace make it a model worth paying attention to. Whether one visits for a few days or becomes part of its long-term community, Tamera invites everyone into a shared inquiry: What would life look like if we lived without fear in love, in truth, and in harmony with the Earth?