Horta Cá de Casa

Horta Cá de Casa farms about 5,000 m² on Faial, in the Azores, using permaculture, syntropic agriculture and agroforestry. It started in 2011 as a small 500 m² family vegetable garden behind the founders' house in the parish of Feteira, which is where the name, “Garden at Home”, comes from. In 2021 the project grew considerably, adding two plots in the parishes of Praia do Almoxarife and Pedro Miguel. The land now spans distinct microclimates, shaped by the island's volcanic geology and its ocean winds. Before planting, the team watches the patterns of sun, wind, temperature and water, following permaculture design principles. Syntropic and agroforestry techniques let them combine fruit trees, vegetables and aromatic plants with biodiversity corridors. Composting, soil regeneration and no-till methods are central to the work. Their influences include Ernst Götsch, Charles Dowding, Jean-Martin Fortier and Avelino Ormonde, a local expert. Alongside the farming, the project runs the *Princípios da Agricultura Ecológica* workshop series. It also offers technical visits and holds community gatherings called *Encontros*, which bring together students, neighbours and visiting farmers from across the Azores. It has volunteered its expertise to local schools, helping turn a school garden into a living learning laboratory, and it works regularly with local parish councils on agroforestry workshops. Horta Cá de Casa sees itself as part of a community of people connected through food. It shares seeds, recipes and ecological know-how through its website and social media. The website is newly launched, with a member area and an interactive timeline covering more than a decade of growth. The project is still widening its educational and cultural role in sustainable family farming in the Azores.