Vale do Clajá

Project Type

Project Summary

Our mission is to create a Permaculture Demonstration Farm and Children & Adults Learning Centre that empowers individuals and communities through re-establishing the connection with nature. The Permaculture ethics and principles are utilized as guidelines in realising the project aims of spreading the word about sustainable living and becoming a learning site for sustainable food production, animal integration, natural shelter, forestry and alternative energy.

Project Description

Vale do Clajá is a 3,8ha Farm in Aldeia do Meco Portugal. The site is beautifully located in a Valley 5min. from the ocean and 25min from Lisbon. It’s an upcoming and fast developing farm on which already a lot of trees and vegetables have been planted. Right now we are working on establishing the infrastructure, compost toilets, a kitchen and showers and one Yurt.

We are planning to start a Permaculture Learning Centre for Children and Adults. Part of the project will be holding workshops, making kitchen gardens and spread the word about sustainable living and Permaculture. We would also like to get more involved in the local community and start in the near future a Community Supported Agriculture scheme (CSA).

Although we are all exited about the potential of the project, we are also facing challenges. Just a while ago we had to cut down a lot of pine trees as they were prone to diseases and were responsible for the soils acidity. We had a sick pine monoculture desert, and now we are left with desert only that we are looking to transform into a productive and stable Food Forest System to encourage wildlife, more biodiversity, less risk of fire in summer, get income from diverse products-multi-purpose trees, food for animals, firewood, revitalization of acid soils-heal the soil and your soul!

Besides the acidity, we are also dealing with mostly sandy soil, hence soil improvement is high on our agenda. Also, due to the farms close location to the ocean, we have at times strong wind flows across the land and need to set up windbreaks that protect our vegetables.

We are also working on making Vegetable Gardens right now, we want to get a big production going for selling at local markets and organic basket system.

We are welcoming Volunteers staying with us here on the farm, camping space available, in this interesting and exiting phase of the project. Please get in touch with us if you are interested to join!

In November 2012 we are organizing a 14 day certified PDC Course with Bernard Alonso from Canada and 5 international certified Flying Team Members to support your learning experience focusing on Community Living, Human Permaculture and Master Plan Design of the Farm.

End of November 2012 there will be a 10 days Reforestation Workshop-

The Permaculture Way, transform a sick Pine monoculture Desert into a productive and stable Food Forest System. Some of the Benefits: encourage wildlife, more biodiversity, less risk of fire in summer, get income from diverse products-multi-purpose trees, food for animals, firewood, revitalization of acid soils-heal the soil and your soul!

There will be Permaculture Expert and Teacher Bernard Alonso, plus a local Forest Expert and a team of international certified PDC Holders (flying team) with us to Design a duplacable Model Forest System which could be copied all over Portugal and become the solution for the dying Pine Tree Forests and Forest Fires which every year cause a lot of damage all over Portugal.

Weather:

• Hottest month August with average 22 degree, coldest month January with average 10 degree.

• Mediterranean climate characterized by a brief wet season, slightly fresh, a hot and dry season and two transitional seasons.

• The annual average rainfall is 700mm distributed mainly through October and April.

• The closeness with the ocean and the existence of breeze act as temperature reducers/enhancers.

Please stay in touch an check following websites for news and updates on course

www.permacultureinternationale.com

http://www.valedoclaja.com/

Updates