Nestled in the heart of Central Portugal, Quinta Das Abelhas (Bee Farm) is 10-hectare land, which was once a monoculture of pine trees. Alongside other neighbouring landowners in the Rio Sao Domingo watershed, approximately 70 hectares at the moment, we are returning greater diversity to this area. We are working to restore the land and mitigate the environmental challenges in Portugal—such as the human started wildfires and eucalyptus monocultures.
For years, the landscape here was dominated by pine monocultures, a system that lacked resilience and was vulnerable to pest diseases. When a nematode disease wiped out the pine here and around the land, a natural rebirth began. As the land cleared, native species such as oak, chestnut, and alder buckthorn quickly began to thrive, with our own planting efforts to boost biodiversity.
Our approach combines regenerative land management practices such as composting, green manuring, mulching, and the implementation of water retention strategies like swales. These methods not only restore biodiversity but also help retain moisture in the soil, which is crucial during increasingly hotter and drier seasons. Over time, this has led to a thriving environment filled with wildflowers, plants, insects, and pollinators. Birds, bees, and butterflies have returned, and we’ve had the privilege of watching hoopoes raise their young and witnessing bats breed on the land.
A central focus of our work is the health of honey bees—keystone pollinators essential to biodiversity. These bees have naturally swarmed to our land, and we’ve experimented with various hive types, including log hives and double-insulated top bars, and Langstroth hives, to reduce the energy required to maintain temperature stability and ensure their well-being.
We’ve also introduced regenerative grazing through collaboration with neighbouring farms, bringing horses onto the land. This natural process has enriched our soil, fostering the growth of mushrooms, insects, and a diverse plant community, while the manure nourishes the earth.
Our commitment to sustainability extends to our food systems, as we expand our vegetable and herb gardens year after year. We prioritise sourcing food from local producers, strengthening our connection to the land and the community.
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This is a small part in the restoration of the natural world where we and other small landowners are slowly gathering momentum. By tackling monocultures, promoting biodiversity, and fostering community-driven solutions, we can all contribute to a more resilient, sustainable future. Little by little, grassroots up.
