What we do
Jardim do Mira promotes and develops activities and actions to improve biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
It acts through a non-profit association for creating harmonious ecosystems.
Why we do it
We are the caretakers of an area of 175.000 m², of which almost two-thirds have been used for the cultivation of eucalyptus monoculture.
We are passionate about revitalising the land and, in collaboration with locals, exploring best practices.
Where we are
Located in Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, a natural park in south-west Portugal.
The Mira region as a whole is an important protected area of the Portuguese coast and offers a unique opportunity for integrated protection.
Tree nursery
By following the guidelines of syntropic agriculture we planted a tree nursery from more than 500 seeds and cuttings in 2020. We continue collecting local native seeds. This is an ongoing activity on land.
Integrating animals
We integrated horses, chicken and bees to help stabilise the future food forest. Introducing animals amounts to a lot of care. We plan to invite the local shepherd and his herd in the future instead of introducing more domestic animals.
Research
The current state of the 17 h site with regards to its forest ecology, soil and climate was investigated using field methods and theoretical research. Dominik Petzold is currently finalising his master thesis with focus on Jardim do Mira.
3000 tree saplings
In 2019 Quercus the portuguese association for nature conservation donated 3000 native tree saplings to Jardim Do Mira which were planted to bring in more diversity.
Local action
With our neighbouring community, we cleared the communal drinking water source and planted trees at the locally run escola primaria of the village.
Management and governance
Our organisation is operating with the sociocracy 3.0 principles for effective collaboration. We have been learning these principles since the first meeting July 2019.
Time for Water – European Residency Program Prototype 2023
Our ResidenZ Water deals with the topic of water for 2 to 4 months in dialogue and exchange with Portugal. This project is the result of ResidenZukunft and the first Erasmus + project “Time for Future”.
Our residencies 2023
Sophia Regner, an artist and sustainable designer, approached the issue of water scarcity in a creative way during her two months in Rothenklempenow. With the participation of the people and the local landscape, photographic productions will be created that encourage people to deal with the problem emotionally and mentally.
Lisa Wendelborn and Thomas Bendt have been living in Rothenklempenow for years and would also like to artistically implement the theme of water and drought in their residence. In your case, the focus will be on sound. What does dryness sound like? How does water influence the sound in our landscapes and what stories can be told with it?
David Rezende, is a trained permaculture practitioner who has focused on how to establish a sensible water system with a gray water filter in a eucalyptus forest in the Jardim do Mira project, taking into account being in the Alentejo Natural Park.
Further information on the project can be found on the German partner page and soon here.
Exchange for more time for the future 2021
Transnational knowledge exchange and networking for sustainable development in rural areas. Taking time for the future is not a given, but it is necessary and exactly what it takes from everyone to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Decade 2030 Ecosystem Restoration.With this project “time for future”, Jardim do Mira has entered into European exchange with its partner the RCE Szczecin Lagoon , and the region of Szczecin Lagoon.
In the following link you can find more information about the exchange between Portuguese and German project makers.
Visit here the project site.
Our video documentation
was produced with actors from our German-Portuguese network. Part 1 “Time for Future Exchange” is about the first visit of the German delegation 20-24.04.2022 in Algoceira, Odemira Portugal. Followed by the second part 20-25.09.2022 during the European Sustainability Week in Rothenklempenow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
Your donation enables the non-profit association Jardim do Mira to work towards its sustainability goals. Please get in touch via mail with us. Thank you so much.