Our mission is to serve our planet, which means serving you, serving us and all our co-habitants. More specifically, we devote ourselves to fostering deeper and harmonious connections that allow us to coexist in an abundant manner with life.
Our mission with the 6 hectare land which we have been stewarding in Pavia, within the Alentejo Region of Portugal, is to regenerate it through various methodologies and frameworks like Permaculture. With reforestation it will allow it to flourish into a space where humans, animals, and plants can thrive in what is a sanctuary for all walks of life. By working with nature, we have the opportunity to live in alignment with her and that means ultimately, with ourselves.
Reforesting the land means planting around 15000 Trees and Shrubs over the next 5 years. It means recreating the diverse 7 layers that you find in a genuine forest. It means living in a holistic manner, creating a circular way of being that considers the well-being of the whole system: the biosphere, animals, and community.
This project has already brought healing to so many and will in turn heal one of our most important resources: the soil. With your help, we will be able to plant more than 3000 trees and shrubs within one year to help regenerate the soil and bring biodiversity back to the degraded and drylands of Portugal. With this initiative, we will initially be able to develop two forests: a biodiverse forest and a food forest which will not only provide nutrient-rich food for both humans and non-humans but also habitats for wildlife. We will also have many of the systems, resources, and tools to more cost-effectively continue to reforest the land
It is the most efficient method to combat desertification, which 75% of Portugal's land is already exposed to. A biodiverse land will enable better rainwater retention, decreased soil erosion, and higher carbon storage from the atmosphere in the soil.
I invite you to be part of the change, no matter from which corner of the world you will support us, your contribution will be essential not only to impact the ecosystem in Portugal but to become an inspiration worldwide.
Using regenerative methods means we will achieve more than increased biodiversity:
- Reforested lands
- Clean waters
- Plentiful food
- Clean and free energy
- Sustainable and resilient habitations
- Restored and thriving ecosystems
- Empowered and educated humans
- Protected and free animals
My dream is visionary, it is gigantic and it is not only possible, but together we are growing it into its physical reality. My dream is not solely for this land, but rather this planet. To live a way of life that lives in harmony with self and others, that an abundance of life can thrive!
Why it is important to regenerate soil
The loss of the world’s fertile soil and biodiversity poses a mortal threat to our future survival. According to soil scientists, at current rates of soil destruction within 50 years we will not only suffer serious damage to public health due to a qualitatively degraded food supply characterized by diminished nutrition and loss of important trace minerals, but we will no longer have enough arable topsoil to feed ourselves. Land degradation is a known problem: modern farming techniques, deforestation, and climate change are largely responsible for this phenomenon. If we continue this way, within 25 years almost 90% of the soil will be degraded and Portugal is the most affected country of soil degradation in the European Union. According to the United Nations, two-thirds of the world's population will live in a situation of water stress in 2025 and all of this is interconnected with our SOIL.
How we will achieve our mission
The implementation of the project will entail the following physical steps:
- The erect fence around immediate food forest to protect it in earlier stages of development
- Work with organic farmers to leverage holistic animal management to graze, fertilize and naturally prepare the land
- Prepare the land by hand by removing excessive, invasive, and old flora and fauna to be composted
- Collect and mix various types of compost that will be spread over the land, to remineralize and revitalize the soil.
- Integrate earthworms and microorganisms into various batches of compost to breed so they can help naturally enrich and liven the soil when spread
- Build and integrate bee-hives to support the ecosystem
- Prepare the placement of the immediate environment for the trees, by making natural mounds, laying compost, cover crops, mulch, and additional earthworms
- Excavate swales and keylines. Next, regenerate the immediate swale banks to capture rainfall with compost and cover crops
- Excavate water reserve pond for excess water run-off for drier months
- Install an irrigation system to support young establishing trees for dryer months, ensuring a higher survivability ratio
- Plant additional cover crops, root vegetables, herbs, flowers, ground cover, etc to help enrich and prepare the soil to receive trees
- Plant in pioneer trees, resilient fruit trees, and larger shrubs
- Integrate additional holistic animal management once flora and fauna has established to enrich and work the soil
- Observe, maintain, adjust - repeating any necessary steps
- Extending the forest over the years
Where will the funds go?
To accomplish our mission we are raising 20,000 EUR and an additional 10% to cover the administration, transaction fees, and unexpected costs.
Trees and Shrubs - 5635 EUR
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125 x 500ml - 1-liter small fruit trees
- 75 x 1 - 3 litre medium-size fruit trees
- 50 x 3 - 10 liter fruit trees
- 1250 pioneer trees
- 1500 shrubs
Human Resources - 5200 EUR
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400 hours of volunteering (food/hosting staff)
- Permaculture Designer
- Keyline specialist
- Rainwater management specialist
- Excavation specialist
For the Soil - 3800 EUR
- Compost
- Cover crops
- Compost Worms
- Effective microorganisms
- Minerals & nutrients
- Mulch
Irrigation & Rainwater management- 2450 EUR
- Water tanks
- Pipes & guttering
- Irrigation lines and attachments
- Water pumps
- Filters
Tools and equipment - 1900 EUR
- Digging and planting tools
- Maintenance and care tools
- Assessment and surveying equipment
- Safety equipment
Plant protection and care - 1100 EUR
- Fencing poles and wire
- Tarps
- Markers
- Sundries
The Impact
Environmental
Regeneration will support water security, climate change mitigation, local living economies, healthy local ecosystems, and product diversity.
The characteristics of healthy soil will be:
- Increased ground cover
- Increased roots
- Increased carbon stored
- Increased water retention in the topsoil
- Recovering groundwater levels
- Decreased erosion
- Increased bio productivity
- Increased biodiversity
- Decreased carbon in the atmosphere
United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) supported
2. Zero Hunger
- 2.1 UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO SAFE AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD
- 2.4 SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION AND RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
- 2.5 MAINTAIN THE GENETIC DIVERSITY IN FOOD PRODUCTION
3. Good health and well-being
- 3.9 REDUCE ILLNESSES AND DEATH FROM HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND POLLUTION
4. Quality education
- 4.7 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
6. Clean water and sanitation
- 6.4INCREASE WATER-USE EFFICIENCY AND ENSURE FRESHWATER SUPPLIES
- 6.5 IMPLEMENT INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
- 6.6 PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER-RELATED ECOSYSTEMS
8. Decent work and economic growth
- 8.4 IMPROVE RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
- 8.9 PROMOTE BENEFICIAL AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
10. Reduced inequalities
- 10.3 ENSURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND END DISCRIMINATION
11. Sustainable cities and communities
- 11.5 REDUCE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS
12. Responsible consumption and production
- 12.2 SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT AND USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
- 12.4 RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF CHEMICALS AND WASTE
- 12.5 SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE WASTE GENERATION
- 12.8 PROMOTE A UNIVERSAL UNDERSTANDING OF SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES
13. Climate action
- 13.1 STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE AND ADAPTIVE CAPACITY TO CLIMATE-RELATED DISASTERS
- 13.2 INTEGRATE CLIMATE CHANGE MEASURES INTO POLICIES AND PLANNING
- 13.3 BUILD KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY TO MEET CLIMATE CHANGE
15. Life on land
- 15.2 END DEFORESTATION AND RESTORE DEGRADED FORESTS
- 15.3 END DESERTIFICATION AND RESTORE DEGRADED LAND
- 15.5 PROTECT BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL HABITATS
Social and Economic
The project will support the regional economy to flourish through the events sector, entertainment, education, and ecological preservation. We are to create an example for the region on how biodiversity can be restored in a short time and aim to be an inspiration for other landowners and farmers in the Alentejo region and globally.
For the implementation and maintenance of the reforestation project, we source local products, materials, and resources. All food that is not grown by ourselves comes from the vicinity, we involve local experts to plan and implement the reforestation and rainwater catchment.
Measurable impact:
- Increased economic activity in the region
- Increased eco-tourism and ecological awareness
- Increase in soil vitality and food quality
- Increase in wildlife protection, flora and fauna diversity
What has been done on the land so far
Since the inception of the PurposeFlow project (2021), we have achieved a lot with the help of over 100 volunteers from more than 30 countries, in exchange for their unique experiences and diverse set of skills. We were able to create the foundations of sustainable and regenerative living conditions by applying circular and regenerative design principles. We are proud to have built:
Facilities:
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Accommodation and facilities to cater for 20+ people entirely
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Borehole: 130-meter deep water source to pump from onsite aquifers
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Hot water system
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Fully equipped tool shed for small scale gardening, renovation, and construction
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Composting system: Turning food scraps, animal manure, and plant matter into rich organic compost
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Wormery: feeding worms with organic waste, making our own organic and nutrient-rich fertilizer
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Compost toilet: Creating a way to turn human waste into tree food, returning nutrients back into the land
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Feather Wonderland: Providing a safe space for feathered creatures to help regenerate the soil, by loosening and fertilizing the soil
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Native medicinal herb garden & guide: Herbs for medicinal uses
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Kitchen garden: 18 fully irrigated raised beds, enough to feed 20+ people
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Driveway: Establishing forest driveway
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Border Fences: Erected land border fences & kitchen garden borders
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Cacti Boundary: Planted in establishing diverse cacti to create natural food and medicine fences, wind and intruder protection
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Humanure system: Composting system to turn human waste into compost
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Upcycling system: a collection system of general waste to upcycle and reuse
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Greenhouses: 10 x 1.2sqm greenhouses to propagate and protect sensitive plants during harsher conditions
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Indoor grow system: Growing system to better ensure plant germination for harsher times
Digital presence:
We have built an amazing network with neighboring lands, local entities, the municipality, other projects in the area, local companies, and 100+ volunteers from over 30 countries.
Other Ways You Can Help
Some people just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean that you can't help:
- Ask people to get the word out and make some noise about our campaign, use the Indiegogo share options
- Follow us on social media and engage with us:
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