2024 – Mud Valley Institute’s establishment as a Bioregional Learning Center working to empower people to be effective agents of change and regeneration in their communities.
2024 Numbers at a Glance
Ecosystem Regeneration Camps with 62 attendees
Saturdays at the Farm with 179 attendees
sessions of Tuesdays of Regen volunteer program with 156 attendees
in grant money awarded
2024 Programs and Events
MARCH
Formalized Organization Strategy
Mud Valley Institute was formed in 2010 to support eco-social regeneration educational programs for a local nonprofit here in Lagos, Portugal. In 2021, we re-organized and in 2024, developed a detailed, formalized organizational strategy to focus and expand the impact of our work. Mud Valley Institute now develops and presents our own programs and training to empower people, supports academic research, and offers grants for other organizations as well, all in the areas of eco-social regeneration and regenerative agriculture.
MARCH
Formalized Organization Strategy
Mud Valley Institute was formed in 2010 to support eco-social regeneration educational programs for a local nonprofit here in Lagos, Portugal. In 2021, we re-organized and in 2024, developed a detailed, formalized organizational strategy to focus and expand the impact of our work. Mud Valley Institute now develops and presents our own programs and training to empower people, supports academic research, and offers grants for other organizations as well, all in the areas of eco-social regeneration and regenerative agriculture.
APRIL
Built Our Team
With an organizational strategy now in place, a team was brought together to do the foundational work necessary to turn the strategy into action. Our small team includes a Director, Content & Media Designer, Marketing and Outreach Lead, and Chief Soil Scientist.
APRIL
Ecosystem Regeneration Camp
Our Ecosystem Regeneration Camps (ERCs) develop participants’ knowledge and skills in the areas of ecosystem restoration and regenerative agriculture. The program prepares them to be agents of regeneration, enabling them to go out into the world and maximize their impact.
The spring edition of this popular program, which is financially supported by Mud Valley Institute, took place on our farm (Quinta Vale da Lama) over 7 days, with 22 participants from Portugal and Europe. Some of the topics included regenerative agroforestry, wood pastures and fodder, and healthy soils.
APRIL
Ecosystem Regeneration Camp
Our Ecosystem Regeneration Camps (ERCs) develop participants’ knowledge and skills in the areas of ecosystem restoration and regenerative agriculture. The program prepares them to be agents of regeneration, enabling them to go out into the world and maximize their impact.
The spring edition of this popular program, which is financially supported by Mud Valley Institute, took place on our farm (Quinta Vale da Lama) over 7 days, with 22 participants from Portugal and Europe. Some of the topics included regenerative agroforestry, wood pastures and fodder, and healthy soils.
MAY
Launched Our New Brand
To support our mission to educate and share information in an open-source manner, we officially launched the new brand for Mud Valley Institute. Our logo represents integral aspects of regeneration- sun, earth, water, and people. Our colors are those you will find in the southern Algarve where we are located. The key components are our website and our Instagram channel.
JUNE
30th Anniversary of Novas Descobertas Association
On June 22, our nonprofit partner Novas Descobertas Association, whose mission we have helped support since 2010, celebrated their 30th anniversary with their biggest Open Day ever! More than 250 people joined for this very special day, with activities, workshops, concerts, food, drink and lots of fun!
JUNE
30th Anniversary of Novas Descobertas Association
On June 22, our nonprofit partner Novas Descobertas Association, whose mission we have helped support since 2010, celebrated their 30th anniversary with their biggest Open Day ever! More than 250 people joined for this very special day, with activities, workshops, concerts, food, drink and lots of fun!
JULY
Launch of the Soil Lab at MVI
The Soil Lab at MVI was created with two purposes in mind: to use science to improve soil health for land stewards and to help educate everyone about the importance of soil regeneration. Under the guidance of our Chief Soil Scientist, The Soil Lab engages in a variety of activities to support ecosystem restoration efforts in our local area and bioregion, including work in the field, citizen science programs, and education for regeneration for youth as well as adults.
NOVEMBER
Ecosystem Regeneration Camp
We offered two versions of our Ecosystem Regeneration Camps in the fall of 2024. Our residential version took place at the association’s headquarters at Quinta Vale da Lama. The workshop took place over 7 days at the beginning of November, with 18 participants from Portugal and Europe. Most days included theoretical sessions in the morning and afternoons spent applying the techniques learned in the morning. In the evenings, participants got together for dinner, entertainment and community-building sessions.
NOVEMBER
Ecosystem Regeneration Camp
We offered two versions of our Ecosystem Regeneration Camps in the fall of 2024. Our residential version took place at the association’s headquarters at Quinta Vale da Lama. The workshop took place over 7 days at the beginning of November, with 18 participants from Portugal and Europe. Most days included theoretical sessions in the morning and afternoons spent applying the techniques learned in the morning. In the evenings, participants got together for dinner, entertainment and community-building sessions.
NOVEMBER
Ecosystem Regeneration Mondays
The Ecosystem Regeneration Mondays program presented our well-known Ecosystem Regeneration Camp in a format that allowed easier access for locals and visitors who were unable to take part in the week-long residential program. This experience took place over five consecutive Mondays in November and early December at Quinta Vale da Lama. The 22 participants received the same training as in our residential course.
NOVEMBER
First MVI Newsletter – Soil and Soul
We launched our first newsletter, Soil & Soul, to connect with other agents of regeneration,. Subscribers received information about our Soil Week, upcoming activities, a featured organization, views from the farm, and our latest blog. If you haven’t done so already, join our subscriber list.
NOVEMBER
First MVI Newsletter – Soil and Soul
We launched our first newsletter, Soil & Soul, to connect with other agents of regeneration,. Subscribers received information about our Soil Week, upcoming activities, a featured organization, views from the farm, and our latest blog. If you haven’t done so already, join our subscriber list.
DECEMBER
Soil Week
From 2-7 December we celebrated World Soil Day 2024 with a variety of social posts and events throughout the week to educate, engage, and inspire people of all ages. Topics and activities of Soil Week 2024 included:
2 Dec — Soils & Ecosystem Restoration
3 Dec — Building a healthy foundation for regeneration
4 Dec — Why is healthy soil important for people and the planet
5 Dec — World Soil Day 2024
6 Dec — Actions to take to support healthy soils
7 Dec — Saturdays at the Farm: Soil Health
YEAR-ROUND
Saturdays at the Farm
Saturdays at the Farm is a program offering a guided farm tour and themed workshops focused on our local ecosystem near Lagos, Portugal. Approximately 150 participants joins us for the following programs:
March — SLO Cooking
April — Water in Algarve
May — Algarve Archaeology
June — Biodynamics
October — Permaculture
November — Ecosystem Restoration/Co-Creating Action
December — Soil Health
YEAR-ROUND
Saturdays at the Farm
Saturdays at the Farm is a program offering a guided farm tour and themed workshops focused on our local ecosystem near Lagos, Portugal. Approximately 150 participants joins us for the following programs:
March — SLO Cooking
April — Water in Algarve
May — Algarve Archaeology
June — Biodynamics
October — Permaculture
November — Ecosystem Restoration/Co-Creating Action
December — Soil Health
YEAR-ROUND
Tuesdays of Regen Volunteer Program
Tuesdays of Regen is a volunteer program we host every Tuesday (from 10:00 – 13:00) which helps participants learn about and gain hands-on experience in regenerative agriculture and ecosystem restoration. Each session is planned and facilitated by Hugo Oliveira, Landscape Ecologist and Regenerative Systems Designer.
Anyone wishing to explore or be involved in ecosystem restoration can participate, whether you are a curious beginner, have some previous experience, or have been doing regeneration work for years. This year approximately 160 participants have joined us.
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