Vilar da Monteirinha

Vilar da Monteirinha is a life project rooted in the village of Sonim, about 18 km from Valpaços and 33 km from Chaves, in the Trás-os-Montes region of Portugal. Since 2014, the founders — a family that grew up spending summers in the village — have been regenerating roughly 6.8 hectares of land divided across two plots: 'Seixo', a mountain parcel with distant horizon views, and 'Flor Agreste', a biodiverse plot nestled in a small valley within the village itself. The project practices Regenerative Ecological Agriculture as both a productive method and an ethical stance, improving soil health, biodiversity and the surrounding territory over the long term. Certified organic produce includes blueberries and strawberries grown at Seixo, and currants grown at Flor Agreste, sold under the concept of 'products with origin' — small-scale foods with identity and respect for nature. Inspired by permaculture ethics of caring for the earth, caring for people, and creating a future of shared abundance, the founders chose Sonim deliberately for its social fabric, low pollution, preserved natural heritage and strong community solidarity, despite the common challenges of Portugal's depopulating interior. Beyond food production, Vilar da Monteirinha develops immersive territorial experiences and workshops that connect visitors to the land, local culture and seasonal cycles, and it invites people to follow its story through a newsletter sharing fruit availability, updates on their 'TopBox Trás-os-Montes' initiative, daily life stories, and early access to experiences. It stands as a living, evolving example of a sustainable rural future for Portugal's interior.