The story and ongoing work of restoring a market garden
There are two market garden areas at Quinta Vale da Lama: the West and East Gardens. Over time, the soil health of the West Garden was decreasing and it became overrun with perennial weeds, posing a significant challenge in terms of output and maintenance. We decided it was time for an intervention.
Team members and students from a recent Permaculture Design Course saw an opportunity to apply the principles and techniques they had learned. So they combined ecosystem restoration strategies with a testing mindset to transform the West Garden into a dynamic living laboratory that could support the farm’s economic well-being while also serving as an ongoing learning opportunity.
Cultivating Diversity
Annuals and Perennials in Practice
The key testing taking place is how the proximity of each plant type to each other affects the growth, health, and yields of each. Permaculture design principles were applied to design and develop the layout and overall plan, and a variety of ecosystem restoration principles and techniques are being used to rejuvenate and increase soil quality and health. We are also applying rigorous monitoring and evaluation techniques, supported by the Soil Lab at Mud Valley Institute, to inform our learnings and support future actions.
An ongoing journey
We will share as many details as we can about our work in the West Garden, so that everyone can learn from our efforts and hopefully be inspired by the process and results. Read on to see what we are doing!
Any questions? Feel free to email us at info@valedalama.net
Timeline
Tracking the progress of West Garden regeneration journey
This plot of land carries traces of its past, with visible ruins showing it was once used for agriculture and livestock. For us, recognizing this past is more than a reflection — it’s a guiding principle, as it reflects generations of knowledge embedded in the land. By respecting these traditions, we honor the resilience of the past while evolving to regenerate and sustain the garden’s future. We are blending heritage with regeneration to ensure this land continues to thrive.
The West Garden came to life as part of our first permaculture design course, serving as an experimental space for applying permaculture principles. It earned two nicknames during this time: “Pizza Garden,” because the vegetables grown here were mainly used as toppings for wood-fired pizzas, and “Moonland,” inspired by the semi-circle layout visible in satellite images from 2013. These early experiments laid the foundation for the vibrant, regenerative practices now thriving in the whole farm.
Production was halted due to the challenges posed by perennial weeds. The beds were covered, green manure was applied, and our sheep were brought in to graze, helping to manage the weeds and restore balance to the garden.
As part of a Permaculture Design Course, a restoration project was initiated with a focus on identifying goals, needs, and challenges. Inspiration was drawn from diverse networks to shape and guide the restoration process.
- Identify goals, needs and challenges
- “A step back”: Feel the landscape and data analysis
- “Who are we”: Social mapping and define the identity/essence
- Co-Design: Identify limitations and boundaries; Plant brainstorm; Backcasting; Network inspiration.
During the planning phase, we assessed the site, refined plant choices, and adjusted the design accordingly. Hugelbeds were prepared, resources gathered, and an irrigation strategy was established to support the project’s success.
- Site measurments
- Plant selection and design adjustments
- Hugelbed preparation and logistics
- Resources gathering (mulch, compost, tools, plants)
- Irrigation strategy
This phase included the setup of Hügelkultur beds, along with all logistics and organization needed for their installation. An irrigation system was also put in place to ensure efficient water flow and support healthy plant growth.
Land Preparation of the West Garden with Hügelkultur 👉 Click here to learn more about what Hügelkultur is and how the beds were prepared step by step in our blog post.
The planting phase in the Perennial Beds began with key support from the Ecosystem Regeneration Camp* and Quinta Vale da Lama teams, starting with soil analysis and irrigation setup. The key milestones where:
- Baseline soil analysis
- Irrigation installation
- Planting Perennial Beds*²
* Ecosystem Regeneration Camp 👉 Click here to learn more about the program supporting hands-on ecosystem restoration and learning.
*² Planting Perennial Beds 👉 Click here to learn more about the plant selection and design approach in the West Garden.
To monitor decomposition in the Hugelbeds without disturbing the soil, the Soil Lab* team introduced an Observation Box — that allows annual checks on woody material breakdown while preserving soil structure. It also serves as an educational tool, helping adults and children alike understand soil life and ecosystem processes, supporting our mission of hands-on learning throughout the year.
* Mud Valley Institute: Soil Lab 👉 Click here to learn more about an onsite soil laboratory supporting research and education focused on improving soil health and agricultural production gains.
In early December 2024, the first annual bed was established for planting strawberries. By March, the first flowers began to bloom, marking the start of a promising harvest season. Quinta Vale da Lama is known for its delicious organic strawberries, which are sold at Lagos Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as well as through private orders at the farm*.
* Get the weekly list of seasonal produce and collect your veggie box at our farm! 👉 Click here to find out more about our farm’s produce and veggie box collection service.
Sharing the journey
Follow the journey of our West Garden’s transformation through regenerative practices, milestones, and ongoing updates.
Land Preparation of the West Garden with Hügelkultur
Building a resilient and fertile garden through regenerative techniques and careful planning.
How Permaculture Plant Selection Shapes the West Garden
Discover how perennial and annual gardens thrive through permaculture design principles.
Timelapse overhead
Use the slider below to see the progress over time
Monitoring and Evaluation
Supporting regeneration through science, data, and analyticsData-driven soil health insights support our efforts
We measure and assess a variety of soil health indicators at different locations in the West Garden to help us understand the results of the different implementations. This analytical approach informs and supports our testing efforts and helps determine the most effective regenerative techniques for our context.
Monitoring and evaluation efforts are managed by the Soil Lab at Mud Valley Institute, using the Soil Framework created by Ecosystem Restoration Communities as the basis for our soil health M&E efforts.
Mapping & Surveying
Visualize the landscape with depth and scale.West Garden Orthophoto
Date: End of August 2024
An orthophoto is a highly accurate aerial image that has been geometrically corrected used for mapping, measuring, land analysis, and planning.
West Garden 3D
Date: End of August 2024
Inspect and analyze the terrain, measure volumes, and get data, for a more immersive and accurate perspective of the project.
