Yuana found inspiration in France when she watched a television programme about a centre in Greece offering a permaculture course. It deeply resonated with her, as she believes it holds the key to solving humanity’s myriad issues. “It’s the answer to everything,” she asserts. This led her to become a volunteer at Finca El Mato Tinto in Tacoronte, where she continues to learn and grow happier with each passing day.
She visits once a week, sharing moments, meals, exchanging seeds, and experiences with others. Yuana is not alone in this journey. Students like Alejandro, Daniela, and Jimmi, studying Environmental Sciences and Geography, have also chosen to do internships there due to their passion for working with the land.
Numerous individuals have joined this project that has been ongoing for 28 years, with a primary philosophy of nurturing life while honouring nature, mimicking ecosystem functions, managing their resources sustainably, and integrating people into the process.
Leading this initiative are Javier Reyes Barroso and Dácil Mazuelas Repetto. Javier was born on the farm and decided to manage it differently after his father’s passing. He immersed himself in permaculture studies, which he absorbed like a sponge. Javier became a permaculture designer, founded the Association for the Development of Permaculture (ADP), and started implementing this agricultural design system in social work, particularly with individuals dealing with mental health concerns. The positive outcomes led to Javier becoming a reference point in 2019 through an Erasmus + programme.
Dácil joined the project a few years later. While working on sports disability and environmental monitoring courses, he got acquainted with Javier, who was just starting with his initiatives supporting the same life philosophy. Impressed by the coherence of Javier’s approach to life, Dácil didn’t hesitate to join. It happened at a moment when he was contemplating a lifestyle change and a deeper connection with nature. “I must have asked life for something, and I got this,” he quips.
Together, they transformed Finca El Mato Tinto – named by Javier’s grandfather – into a genuine haven of life. This is the essence of permaculture; creating life, evident in every corner of the 10,000 square metre site.
“Permaculture involves observing natural systems’ patterns and applying them to the garden, essentially creating an ecosystem, a harmonious balance,” explains Dácil. Their garden hosts snails, slugs, lizards, spiders, ants, perenquenes, aphids, frogs, and their predators, all coexisting in harmony.
Likewise, the plant varieties in their edible gardens coexist in a symbiotic relationship. In the same plot, chard, cauliflowers, lettuce, marigolds, beets, mint, carrots, leeks, parsley, cabbages, and even some flowers intermingle. This diverse mix not only helps in maintaining good soil quality but also enhances crop productivity throughout the year, even among competing species. “Plants compete for nutrients, but given enough, they can thrive together,” Javier explains.
They use stones to segregate the beds, which accumulate warmth and foster life beneath them. They consciously avoid eliminating pests to preserve the natural equilibrium of the soil.
Javier emphasises that soil “is often neglected in agriculture,” despite being “the plants’ immune system”. By fostering healthy soil, plants grow robust, resilient, and more vigorous. “The same principles apply to humans,” he asserts.
“You may notice some leafy greens partially eaten, but it’s insignificant compared to the abundance produced. Any diseased plants are left to decompose on the ground, where composting occurs naturally on the surface. You plant, water, and harvest,” explains Dácil. There are no secrets to their success.
In the past 28 years, no tractor has ventured onto the farm, no tilling has occurred, and no artificial fertilisers have been used. They rely on transforming waste into resources, like coffee grounds, diseased plants, or algae washed ashore by tides from nearby beaches, to nourish and enrich the soil. This system also creates a shade that preserves humidity and conserves water.
Water, a precious resource, finds a purposeful new life at El Mato Tinto. They have established a network to manage water efficiently, including grey water – such as urine from bathrooms, dishwashing, and laundry. All water on the farm is gathered using clever design like level furrows in orchards or diverted tanks along the roads, collecting water that is channelled to a strategic pond beneath the nursery. Aquatic plants in the pond help filter the water by consuming bacteria, grass, reeds, and stones, making it suitable for irrigation.
The farm boasts two separate toilets – one for urine and the other for faeces, where compost, ash, or coffee grounds aid in decomposition. Remarkably, there are no offensive smells. “Good hygiene is evident because if there were an issue, flies would be present,” Dácil notes.
An integral part of this ecosystem are the animals. With the exception of the newborn curiels, other residents such as ducks, killer whales, peacocks, rams, and goats coexist harmoniously. These animals, like Chestnut, Thyme, Blackberry, Eggplant, and Rosemary, benefit from gentle interactions with volunteers. “Individuals struggling with mental health problems connect remarkably well with these animals,” Javier emphasises.
Their main income sources stem from courses, workshops, compost or fertiliser sales, renting out the self-built bioclimatic classroom, and weekly deliveries of vegetable and fruit boxes to their supportive members. These members, referred to as ‘collaborators or partners’, contribute to sustaining this enriching way of life that evolves daily, embodying the spirit of community.
A Bioclimatic Classroom Crafted with Mud and Natural Elements
The design of the classroom prioritised bioconstruction methodologies, using mud, wood, recycled elements, and natural insulation. It is bioclimatic in nature, ensuring energy efficiency and regulating temperatures optimally, regardless of the season. Facing south to capture maximum sunlight in winter, the classroom’s windows are strategically positioned in the same direction, while thicker walls face the north.
