{"id":3514887,"date":"2025-07-18T09:56:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T09:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/?p=3514887"},"modified":"2025-07-18T09:56:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T09:56:04","slug":"discovering-the-magic-of-quinta-vale-da-lama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/stories\/2025-07-18\/discovering-the-magic-of-quinta-vale-da-lama\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering the Magic of Quinta Vale da Lama"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I stepped onto the grounds of\u00a0Quinta Vale da Lama<\/a>\u00a0(QVdL) in Lagos, Portugal this May, I felt a surge of excitement I hadn\u2019t expected. After six months as part of the Ecosystem Restoration Communities (ERC) core team, this was my first opportunity to visit an actual ERC \u2013 to see the work I\u2019d been promoting come to life before my eyes.<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t just visiting any ERC, either. I was joining a Monitoring & Evaluation Sprint Week, an intensive collaboration between our global team and QVdL to advance ERC\u2019s monitoring and evaluation framework. What I discovered over those four transformative days changed not only how I understand our work, but why I\u2019m so passionate about being part of this movement.<\/p>\n

Getting My Hands Dirty: From Theory to Practice<\/h3>\n

On our first afternoon, we headed into QVdL\u2019s fields to conduct the soil tests that form the backbone of our ERC Soil Framework<\/a>. Over the past six months, I\u2019d heard countless discussions about M&E and created social media content around monitoring and evaluation. But actually conducting these tests myself \u2013 the drop and shatter test, soil compaction measurements, water infiltration testing \u2013 was hugely eye-opening.<\/p>\n

What struck me most was something I knew intellectually but experienced viscerally: the land at every single ERC is different. Not just between countries or climates, but even within the same property. In one area, we couldn\u2019t even get our shovel into the ground \u2013 the earth was simply too compacted. Yet just 20 meters away, the soil structure was completely different, allowing us to conduct our tests effectively.<\/p>\n

This micro-variation taught me something profound about restoration work. It\u2019s not just that every ERC faces unique challenges \u2013 it\u2019s that even within a single site, the complexity is extraordinary. This is why our approach of empowering local communities is so crucial. No one understands the nuances of their land like the people working it every day.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Soil testing using the ERC Soil Framework, including soil sediment and water retention tests<\/em><\/p>\n

The Power of Shared Knowledge<\/h3>\n

Experiencing this soil variability firsthand made me realize why ERC\u2019s knowledge-sharing network is so vital. What works for one ERC might not work for another, but sharing experiences allows communities to learn from each other\u2019s experimentations, avoid costly mistakes, and find the most efficient solutions.<\/p>\n

This reinforces the incredible value of our movement having a community platform like Circle at every ERC\u2019s fingertips. When an ERC in Morocco faces soil compaction issues, they can quickly access insights from communities in Portugal, Brazil, or Japan who\u2019ve tackled similar challenges. It\u2019s not just about sharing successes \u2013 it\u2019s about learning from the full spectrum of restoration experiences.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mapping the landscape and plotting the testing points using the ERC M&E App<\/em><\/p>\n

A Community That Ripples Outward<\/h3>\n

But what truly inspired me wasn\u2019t just the technical innovation \u2013 it was the extraordinary sense of community at QVdL. This isn\u2019t just a restoration project; it\u2019s a living example of what\u2019s possible when people come together around a shared vision.<\/p>\n

The community operates in beautiful layers. There\u2019s the core team \u2013 Bruno creating content, Richard managing operations, Elodie conducting soil science research. Then there are the market garden workers, the six-month interns just beginning their regenerative farming journey, and the school children participating in the junior internship program with their dedicated support network.<\/p>\n

But the magic doesn\u2019t stop at QVdL\u2019s boundaries. The community has created what they call a \u201cconstellation network\u201d \u2013 actively supporting neighbouring restoration initiatives through resource sharing, knowledge transfer, and collaborative problem-solving. They\u2019re not just restoring their own land; they\u2019re catalysing restoration throughout their region.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The market garden, is an organic garden, the produce from which is sold at the local farmers\u2019 market.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fifteen Years of Vision Realized<\/h3>\n

Perhaps the most inspiring moment came during my hour-long conversation with Walt, QVdL\u2019s founder. Hearing the story of how this community evolved over fifteen years \u2013 from initial vision to the mature, thriving ecosystem I was witnessing \u2013 was absolutely astounding.<\/p>\n

Walt\u2019s journey reminded me exactly why I wanted to join the ERC team. This is the kind of work I champion, the kind of story I love to tell. QVdL demonstrates what\u2019s possible with hard work, dedication, and a big vision. For any community considering starting their own ERC, or for existing ERCs in their early stages, QVdL shows the incredible potential that lies ahead.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A birds-eye view of the farm, nestled on the Algarvian hillside with views down to the ocean and neighbouring Lagos<\/em><\/p>\n

Multiple Ways to Get Involved<\/h3>\n

What excites me most is how accessible QVdL has become. Whether you\u2019re curious about restoration work or ready to dive deep, there\u2019s a way to engage:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Day visitors<\/strong>\u00a0can take regenerative farm tours to get inspired and learn about the work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • Hands-on learners<\/strong>\u00a0can join citizen science days throughout the year, conducting the same M&E tests I experienced<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        \n
      • Serious students<\/strong>\u00a0can enroll<\/s>\u00a0in week-long ecosystem restoration camps and earn permaculture design certificates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n
        • Committed learners<\/strong>\u00a0can apply for six-month internships covering regenerative farming, with food and accommodation included<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            \n
          • Retreat seekers<\/strong>\u00a0will soon be able to stay at their newly built eco hotel \u2013 a boutique space with 20+ rooms, spa, and yoga facilities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            <\/div>\n

            Every single person I met at QVdL was warm, passionate, and genuinely excited to share their knowledge about monitoring and evaluation, regenerative farming, permaculture, agroforestry, and ecosystem restoration. The combination of stunning ocean views, innovative restoration work, and this incredible community creates something truly magical.<\/p>\n

            <\/p>\n

            Hugo, one of the familiar and friendly faces of Vale da Lama, and the person responsible for the educational element of the restoration camps<\/em><\/p>\n

            What this means for our movement<\/h3>\n

            My time at QVdL reinforced everything I believe about ERC\u2019s approach to restoration. We\u2019re not just planting trees or improving soil \u2013 we\u2019re building resilient communities that can adapt, learn, and scale their impact. We\u2019re creating networks of knowledge that span continents. We\u2019re proving that restoration work can be economically sustainable, socially enriching, and environmentally transformative.<\/p>\n

            For our supporters reading this: your donations don\u2019t just fund restoration projects. They fund this entire ecosystem of learning, community-building, and knowledge-sharing that makes each ERC stronger and more effective. You\u2019re supporting a movement that\u2019s proving restoration can happen at scale when communities are empowered with the right tools and connections.<\/p>\n

            For anyone curious about getting involved: QVdL shows that there are countless ways to be part of this work, whether for a day, a week, or a lifetime. The restoration movement needs people with all kinds of skills and all levels of commitment.<\/p>\n

            After four days immersed in soil science, drone mapping, and community building, I left feeling more inspired than ever about ERC\u2019s potential. QVdL isn\u2019t just one successful restoration project \u2013 it\u2019s a blueprint for what communities around the world can achieve when they come together to heal the earth.<\/p>\n

            <\/div>\n
            \n

            Ready to experience restoration work firsthand? Learn more about volunteering opportunities, courses, and ways to support ERC\u2019s growing network of 80+ communities across 34 countries. Or consider visiting QVdL yourself \u2013 I promise it will change how you think about what\u2019s possible.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            My time at QVdL reinforced everything I believe about ERC\u2019s approach to restoration. We\u2019re not just planting trees or improving soil \u2013 we\u2019re building resilient communities that can adapt, learn, and scale their impact.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":128238,"featured_media":3514900,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79718,213530],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3514887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment","category-environment-featured"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3514887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/128238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3514887"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3514887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3514901,"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3514887\/revisions\/3514901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3514900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3514887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3514887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.resilience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3514887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}