Acerca de
In the middle of a rocky and dry area
we made the conscious decision to trust nature again.
It is a transformative journey, both for the soil and for ourselves. We adapt more and more to the rhythm of nature, we gain confidence and learn to surrender. We understand that we are not just cultivating for production, but that we are contributing to the improvement of the soil, investing in the future and that we are reconnecting with our natural selves.
Start december 2021
-
7200 m2 (1.9 acre) dry depleted soil with 150 almond trees planted in rows.
-
Stones everywhere.
-
No water for irrigation, only harvested rain water.
Practical action (2022-2023)
-
Removing the rocks manually 2022.
-
Planting 150+ new trees 2022.
-
Starting with natural farming spring 2023.
-
Sowing green manure spring & autumn 2023 and spring 2024 (200kg seeds/hectare).
-
Covering the soil with straw.
-
Making nests for the trees with straw.
Results
-
Less weeds
-
Soil improvement
-
Many trees are surviving, but growing very slowly
-
New planting coming up: Paulownia & berries
Starting a natural food forest
Start October 2022
-
A piece of land with a slope in between almond trees on the same land as the food forest.
-
Dry and depleted soil.
-
Many stones in the soil.
-
Very alkaline soil.
-
No irrigation rights, only harvested rainwater available.
Practical action (2022-2024)
-
Making swales on contour lines.
-
Making terraces.
-
Putting down a layer of manure.
-
On top of that a layer of 20 cm (8 inches) of straw.
Results
-
Less weeds.
-
Soil improvement.
-
A bit of harvest summer 2023.
UPCOMING
Sowing geen manure spring 2024, cutting and mulching the green manure up until 20 cm, sowing and planting the vegetables for the summer end of May.
A 200 m2 natural farming vegetable garden
in a blackberry overgrown area
Start May 2023
-
Old abandoned vegetable garden with water rights, owned by a neighbor.
-
200 m2 (2150 sq ft) blackberry jungle.
-
Due to a blockage of the upper spring the garden looked like a swimming pool.
Practical action (2023-2024)
-
Removing the blackberries and as many roots as we could.
-
Digging a pond to catch the water for irrigation which will attract more animal life in the garden.
-
Marking the growing area with old wooden beams.
-
Spreading a layer of manure, a layer of straw beginning of 2024 and sowing green manure for the first time, spring 2024.
Results
-
Ready to start growing.
​
The focus of this garden will be biodiversity and observing what happens with the blackberries.
Start 2024
-
A 600 m2 (6500 sq ft) piece of land with available irrigation from a neighbour and friend we are allowed to use.
-
Recently dried up walnut trees have been removed.
Practical action 2024
-
Putting up a fence as a protection against wild boars.
-
Spreading a layer of manure.
-
Creating growing areas and putting down a layer of straw.
Results
-
Ready to start growing.
​
The focus in this garden will be biodiversity, growing potatoes and proteins like chickpeas and lentils.