Rest Point Food Forest
Restoring land & water 🌱
Reconnecting people with nature 🌺
Growing a biodiverse food forest🌳
Bairrada, Central Portugal🌍
Our story
We are transforming 2 hectares of abandoned land into a diverse food forest and place for learning, rooted in syntropic agroforestry, Miyawaki reforestation and permaculture principles.We are two people with a deep passion for the land and everything that grows. We bring different but complementary skills to the project: Anne, an agroforestry engineer and researcher, brings scientific knowledge and experience in agroforestry, while Itzik brings practical expertise in earthworks, land restoration and agricultural machinery. Together, we are learning, experimenting and working to bring the land back to life.
The Land
Nestled in a fertile valley, close to a small river and abundant in water, the land has lain fallow for +15 years. It floods in winter and compacts in summer. Yet, signs of renewal are present: willow, poplar, elderberry, grasses, and wild herbs have begun the work of ecological succession. We want to build on this existing ecology and transform the land into a diverse, resilient food forest — producing fruits, nuts, berries and herbs while creating space for wildlife.Restoring waterBlocked irrigation channels will be restored to guide winter water towards the river and fill a 700 m² retention pond with a natural water-filtering system.Restoring soilWe will gradually convert compacted soil into fungal-dominated forest soil using circular, low-input methods designed to increase organic matter, improve water retention and store carbon in both soil and biomass.Growing a living ecosystemThe waterlogged land, currently dominated by pioneer species, will become a multi-layered ecosystem containing +18 varieties of fruit and nut trees, 6 berry varieties and a rich understory of Mediterranean aromatic herbs. Following permaculture zoning principles, the design will also leave space for the wildlife already present — including genets, badgers, squirrels, foxes and mongooses.The borders will become a reforested wildlife buffer zone, planted with ecologically valuable native species.Within five years, we aim to establish more than 80 species of trees, shrubs and perennial crops, creating a diverse and thriving ecosystem from land that was once abandoned.But Rest Point is about more than restoring one piece of land. We want it to become a living classroom where people can recharge, reconnect with nature and learn about growing food — through agroforestry and nature-connection workshops, outdoor cinema and other gatherings.We hope to inspire young farmers and others who want to reconnect with the land, while demonstrating that ecological restoration and rural livelihoods can go hand in hand. In a region increasingly shaped by land abandonment and intensive monocultures, Rest Point aims to show what a small-scale, diverse and financially viable Mediterranean agroforestry system could look like.
Join us
Is your business interested in supporting regenerative agriculture and climate-resilient landscapes?From €500 per year, you can become a Rest Point Food Forest Friend. Your contribution will help us restore the land’s natural water systems and build a thriving, resilient food forest.As a Rest Point Food Forest Friend, your business will:🌳 Have +100 trees planted in your business’s name every year
💚 Receive a Rest Point Food Forest Friend logo to use on your website and communications
🌱 Receive updates on the development and impact of the food forestInterested in supporting us? Get in touch!