Food forest providing fresh organic produce and biodiversity at Starbase18 B&B in Portugal

Food forest

Building on existing fruit trees like cherry, fig, plum, apple and kiwi we cleared 800m2 for new diverse plantings. The first trees, almond, red fig, hazel, stone pine, plum and olives are in place, supported by a yearly family planting event. Plans include drip irrigation and better fruit processing to make the most of every harvest.

Working towards food independency

Food forest

The property already had many established fruit and nut trees: cherry, fig, plum, apple, kiwi, blackberries, walnut, and chestnut. To increase diversity and resilience, we wanted to create an additional 800m2 food forest patch, focusing on cleaning bush and creating an biological and low maintenance planting.

We started by clearing the dense overgrowth of broom bushes, sticks, and leftover trunks that made the area unusable. The first new fruit trees were then planted, chosen for diversity, ecological value, and adaptability to local conditions.

To keep the project lively and educational, we created “Project Squirrel” a yearly event where we, together with children, collect and plant acorns and chestnuts throughout the forest. It’s hands on, builds connection to the land, and helps naturally regenerate the forest with useful trees.

The food forest vision goes beyond planting: it’s about creating an edible, resilient landscape that supports wildlife, conserves water, and provides food throughout the seasons. Right now, fruit processing and preservation remain manual and time consuming, which limits how much produce we can save for winter months.

Next steps are to plant more fruit trees to increase the variety and yield, install drip irrigation to help new trees survive dry summers, and improve how we process and store fruit. By professionalizing this part, we’ll waste less and have more organic, local products to share and enjoy during the off-season. We are also planning to create more natural elements in the land like swales and hugelculturs to capture recourses.

fruit trees, cherry, fig, plum, planting event, drip irrigation, fruit processing, harvest, family event
Food Forest Project Update: New Diverse Plantings and Family Planting Event
This image showcases the progress of our food forest project. We have cleared 800m2 for new diverse plantings, including cherry, fig, and plum trees. The first trees are in place and supported by a yearly family planting event. Our plans include implementing drip irrigation and improving fruit processing to maximize every harvest. This project aims to build on existing fruit trees and create a sustainable food source for our community.
FoodForest
New Diverse Plantings in Progress at Cherry, Fig and Plum Orchard
Building on existing fruit trees like cherry, fig, and plum, new diverse plantings are being cleared on 800m2. The first trees have been planted, supported by a yearly family planting event.
Food Forest
New Diverse Plantings in a Food Forest
Building on existing fruit trees like cherry, fig, and plum, we cleared 800m2 for new diverse plantings. First trees are in place, supported by a yearly family planting event. Plans include drip irrigation and better fruit processing to make the most of every harvest.
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