2025 – We continued to work toward our vision of a regenerated Earth where ecological, social, and economic systems are balanced and working in harmony.
2025 Numbers at a Glance
Ecosystem Regeneration Trainings with 62 attendees
Saturdays at the Farm with 251 attendees
sessions of Tuesdays of Regen volunteer program with 92 attendees
in grant money awarded
2025 Highlights, Programs and Events
FEBRUARY – APRIL
Junior Internship Program
This spring, we hosted our first-ever junior internship program. This program, which lasted 13-weeks, was held at Quinta Vale da Lama. Four local upper secondary students spent three hours a week on-site learning about and gaining practical experience in soil science and how it intersects with ecosystem regeneration. The internship resulted in a completed research paper and a presentation to farm staff. This internship was facilitated by Dr. Elodie da Silva, Mud Valley Institute’s Chief Soil Scientist.
The following blog posts were writen by Sonoma, one of the participating interns, about her internship experience and the results of the research project:
→ The Junior Internship at Mud Valley Institute
→ My Research Project and Junior Internship Journey
→ Compost Effect on Radish Growth
MARCH
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 20 participants from Portugal and Europe. Some of the topics included regenerative agroforestry, wood pastures and fodder, and healthy soils.
MARCH
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 20 participants from Portugal and the rest of Europe. Some of the topics included regenerative agroforestry, wood pastures and fodder, and healthy soils.
MARCH
Celebration of Wild Bees
As part of the Spring Quinta Vale da Lama Open Day on 15 March, we were honored to have André F. Henriques, a PhD candidate and researcher from the University of Lisbon, present an interactive workshop titled “How Wild Bees Adapt to Human Modified Environments”. André shared a great deal of knowledge about wild bees, their role in healthy ecosystems, the challenges they are facing, and how small-scale farming and urban environments in Portugal are impacting the adaptive and genetic responses of certain species of wild bees. He spoke about his research processes, led a fun and engaging session to help attendees identify differences between bees and insects that look like bees but aren’t, and brought a variety of wild bee specimens to examine.
Additionally, Sarah Mégnint, an intern at Quinta Vale da Lama, wrote an article “The Role of Wild Bees in a Healthy Ecosystem” which she allowed us to turn into a three-blog series. She shares with us the role of wild bees as pollinators, the threats to them, the consequences of their disappearance, as well as what can be done to protect them.
APRIL
Ecosystem Restoration Community of the Southwestern Algarve
This group of changemakers, facilitated by Mud Valley Institute, includes a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, skill sets, and experiences. They have come together to address the ongoing challenges related to ecosystem degradation in the southwestern Algarve. There are currently 8 participating projects working to improve soil quality, water availability, biodiversity, and local livelihoods. Community members have now defined and begun work to implement our collective impact strategy for our bioregion; the highlight being the Month of Regeneration in November.
APRIL
Ecosystem Restoration Community of the Southwestern Algarve
This group of changemakers, facilitated by Mud Valley Institute, includes a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, skill sets, and experiences who have come together to address the ongoing challenges related to ecosystem degradation in the southwestern Algarve. There are currently 8 participating projects working to assure improved soil quality, water availability, biodiversity, and local livelihoods. Community members have now defined and begun work to implement our collective impact strategy for our bioregion; the highlight being the Month of Regeneration in November.
MAY
Citizen Science Program
In May we hosted our first event at Quinta Vale da Lama which included BioBlitz in the Fig Orchard and Soil Health Data Collection.
Mud Valley Institute became a member of the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA).
JUNE
Biosfera
On 28 June 2025, Biosfera, RTP’s Environmental Magazine, featured our Tuesdays of Regen volunteer program and our Soil Lab in their episode 26 “Férias e Sustentabilidade” (Vacations and Sustainability).
JUNE
Biosfera
On 28 June 2025, Biosfera, RTP’s Environmental Magazine, featured our Tuesdays of Regen volunteer program and our Soil Lab in their episode 26 “Férias e Sustentabilidade” (Vacations and Sustainability).
JULY
Collaboration with the Faculty of Sciences University of Lisboa
We signed a cooperation protocol with the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisboa. With this agreement, our two organizations will be able to work together on a variety of initiatives that support ecosystem restoration-related scientific research and programs, collaborative teaching and knowledge sharing, and mutual support in achieving our organizations’ objectives.
Our first project together is in support of the ECHO Soil program, a Horizon Europe research and innovation funded action focused on soil health. Its goal is to engage citizens in protecting and restoring soils by building their skills and enhancing their knowledge on soils. Mud Valley Institute is working with members of the Plant Biology Department at FCUL as the Program Ambassador for the Algarve region. We are responsible for leading the distribution and collection of the ECHO soil sampling kits for the region, as well as training participating citizen scientists in the use of the kits.
SEPTEMBER
Integrated Composting Workflow Testing
Our Soil Lab, along with Quinta Vale da Lama, began testing a new composting methodology for the farm based on the process used by Michael Kennard’s CompostClub. The main goal is to optimize space, time, and labor for high biological quality compost with minimal waste and maximum biological activity.
The compost stages include:
Testing: Basic kitchen scraps versus Bokashi/EM inoculation (Anaerobic Pre-fermentation)
Tumbler-Ridan (Thermophilic, Aerobic Decomposition)
Johnson-Su bioreactors for compost maturation (Thermophilic, passive aeration)
Testing: Whether or not to add Vermicomposting (Worms)
Temperature, pH and moisture are monitored at various stages, on a daily basis. Microbial activity is checked monthly weekly using a microscope.
NOVEMBER
Ecosystem Regeneration Training
We offered two versions of our Ecosystem Regeneration Training in the fall of 2025 as a part of the Month of Regeneration. Our residential version took place at the our headquarters at Quinta Vale da Lama. The residential camp took place over 7 days with 27 participants from Portugal and Europe. Our Mondays training took place over 5 consecutive Mondays and included 15 participants. Both training programs started on 3 November.
Most days included theoretical sessions in the morning and afternoons spent doing hands-on activities. Participants had the opportunity to help restoration efforts at Corte Medronheira, a member project of the Southwest Algarve Ecosystem Restoration Community, which was devastated by wildfire in September.
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
Month of Regeneration
During the Month of Regeneration, 2 November – 6 December 2025, the Southwest Algarve Ecosystem Restoration Community brought people, knowledge, and hands-on action together to support the regeneration of our local ecosystem.
• 6 agroforestry guided tours
• 10 projects involved
• 25 events hosted
• 320 participants
• 750 volunteer hours
• 1,500+ trees and perennial plants planted
Through practical work, guided visits, trainings, and moments of sharing, we took concrete steps to restore the landscape and strengthen our community.
DECEMBER
Soil Week 2025
From 1-6 December, we celebrated World Soil Day 2025 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 2025 included:
1 Dec — Ecosystem Regeneration Mondays
2 Dec — Tuesdays of Regeneration Volunteer Program
4 Dec — Brave Generation Academy Soil Day at Quinta Vale da Lama
5 Dec — World Soil Day 2025 “Healthy soils for healthy cities”
6 Dec — Saturdays at the Farm: Soil Health and Composting
YEAR-ROUND
Saturdays at the Farm
January — Planting Dry Gardens
February — SLO Cooking
March — Soil Health Testing
June — Woven Palm Leaf Crafting
October — Soils and Soil Health
November — Water Challenges
December – Soils and Composting
YEAR-ROUND
Saturdays at the Farm
January — Planting Dry Gardens
February — SLO Cooking
March — Soil Health Testing
June — Woven Palm Leaf Crafting
October — Soils and Soil Health
November — Water Challenges
December – Soils and Composting
YEAR-ROUND
Tuesdays of Regen Volunteer Program
Tuesdays of Regen was a volunteer program we hosted most Tuesdays (from 10:00 – 13:00) to help participants connect with nature as well as learn about and gain hands-on experience in regenerative agriculture and ecosystem restoration. Each session was planned and facilitated by Hugo Oliveira, Landscape Ecologist and Regenerative Systems Designer. It was hosted at our farm, Quinta Vale da Lama.
This year 92 participants from around the world joined us.
English 
Portuguese