Monte da Vida is a regenerative forest farm on 90 hectares in south-west Portugal, combining agroforestry, wild herb harvesting, and tree essence production with Taoist meditation, Tai Chi, and Qigong practices. Their products, including tree essences and handcrafted wooden benches, are distributed through their sister organisation, Earthlife Goods.
Monte da Vida is a regenerative forest farm situated on 90 hectares of forested hills in the south-west of Portugal, near São Martinho das Amoreiras. The project is rooted in a deep respect for the natural world, with activities centred on trees and the abundance they provide. The team cultivates a harmonious relationship with the earth, supporting the health of soils, plants, wildlife, and the wider ecosystem, while growing nutrient-dense foods, harvesting wild aromatic herbs, and producing flower and tree essences.
Under the Forest Alchemy label, Clare crafts a range of tree essences and hydrosol distillates from wild aromatic plants found on the land. Servan crafts handmade benches from wood harvested on the property, available through Earthlife Goods — a sister organisation dedicated to marketing and selling regenerative forest products under the ethos of 'goods from the woods'.
Beyond farming and land stewardship, Monte da Vida is guided by a meditation-based philosophy inspired by Taoist practice. The community regularly practises the Inner Dissolving meditation method from the Taoist Water Method, as taught by Bruce K. Frantzis, alongside Tai Chi, Qigong, Bagua, and Wing Chun martial arts. These practices are understood not merely as relaxation techniques but as tools for deep personal transformation and embodied aliveness — a felt awareness of one's body and its connection to the living ecosystem.
The project values honesty, physical groundedness, and a close connection to natural cycles. Seasonal silence retreats aligned with key earth rhythms are held on the land to deepen meditation practice. A drug-free policy, including alcohol and tobacco, reflects the community's commitment to holistic well-being.
Monte da Vida invites visitors and practitioners from all backgrounds to connect, explore, and co-create a way of living that is more rooted, more alive, and in greater harmony with the natural world.
Our Goal
Monte da Vida aims to cultivate a regenerative forest farm in south-west Portugal that harmonises land stewardship, wild plant harvesting, and Taoist meditation practices to foster deeper connection with the natural world and personal transformation.
Our Wishes
Monte da Vida welcomes visitors, practitioners of Taoist arts, and collaborators from all backgrounds who are interested in regenerative land stewardship, meditation, and co-creating a more grounded and alive way of living.
