Rewild the Future

Rewild the Future is a community and education hub in a forest valley in central Portugal, working on the move towards off-grid living and the restoration of the land. Its year-round Montessori-based programme is for children aged 2 to 6 and centres on open, healthy and natural learning. Each summer, children and families are invited for exploration, learning and outdoor activities. The project is meant as a place where individuals, families and children can experience sustainable living, learn about it and take an active part in it. It also wants to share what it knows and give the next generation an environment where it can thrive in close contact with the natural world. Families thinking of moving to Portugal for a different way of life can come and try off-grid living for themselves before they commit. The landscape had been affected by overgrazing and eucalyptus monocultures. The team uses permaculture design and syntropic agro-food forestry techniques to restore biodiversity and make the ecosystem more resilient, with full sustainability as the aim. They see everyone who takes part as co-creators of the landscape and guardians of life, working together to leave a positive legacy for the next seven generations. Volunteers are welcome, and the community is asking for help with tree-planting and ecological restoration.