Bem da Terra

Bem da Terra designs and transforms gardens, food forests and similar spaces into resilient, edible and sensory ecosystems that follow the patterns of nature. It's a sustainability education project inspired by natural systems, and it works from the principles of permaculture as developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. The project sets out to foster the integral development of people and to reconnect them with the Earth. At its home base, the project keeps a 450 m² food forest cultivated according to Masanobu Fukuoka's natural farming principles of "no action". Ecological succession and soil regeneration are left to unfold with minimal human intervention. The base also has a dome for stays and group activities, used as an outdoor classroom for what the project calls *Saber Sentir* (knowing through feeling). The education side runs courses such as Introduction to Permaculture and Natural Agriculture, workshops on Natural Cosmetics, Ecological Detergents and Soil Building, and talks and work camps. Each gives participants practical tools for sustainable living. Bem da Terra also leads Sensory Walks through forests, woods and rivers, in different seasons and at different times of day. The walks combine movement in nature with artistic and sensory exercises. They're designed to be accessible to people of all ages and abilities, including families. The project works from the idea that feeling nature is the first step to protecting it. It combines ecoliteracy, permaculture design consultancy and experiential education to help individuals, schools and communities live better alongside the natural world.