Herdade do Freixo do Meio is a protected agroecological estate at Montemor-o-Novo, Alentejo, combining organic food production, biodiversity conservation, prehistoric archaeology and community education. It has worked without synthetic chemicals or GMOs for over two decades, and is open to visitors and to independent projects.
Herdade do Freixo do Meio farms about 600 hectares of montado, the Portuguese cork and holm oak savannah, at Montemor-o-Novo in the Alentejo, an hour from Lisbon. It is a protected estate, run on organic and agroecological principles since 1997, with no synthetic chemicals and no genetically modified organisms. That long-standing approach has built up a biodiverse landscape that supports natural soil cycles and forest regeneration.
The acorn, bolota, is the estate's symbol, standing for the link between the land, its ecosystems and the food it produces. A range of agroecological products inspired by the montado is made here and made available to the public. The estate also holds prehistoric heritage, including an Ancient Neolithic village, a rare archaeological site in Portugal.
There is plenty to do for visitors. Guided tours cover 'Life in the Montado' and the site's prehistoric origins, and there are self-guided visits and hands-on workshops such as citrus pruning and grafting. The Academia da Bolota is an immersive multi-day programme on agroecology and the montado ecosystem. A regular Sunday market, the Mercado Domingueiro, brings together agroecological producers, local artisans, guided tours and food.
For nearly two decades the estate has shared the management of its territory, hosting autonomous independent projects that work on the land under co-management agreements. These are new socio-economic models built on sustainability and cooperation. Alfredo Cunhal Sendim leads the estate.
Our Goal
To build a democratic, inclusive and resilient community around a protected agroecological estate in the Alentejo, managing the montado through organic and agroecological practices that preserve biodiversity, support traditional land stewardship and develop new socio-economic models of shared territorial management.
Our Wishes
Herdade do Freixo do Meio welcomes visitors, agroecological producers, local artisans and independent projects interested in co-management agreements, to join its community and its shared territorial model.
