The Montado do Freixo do Meio has unique organic and institutional characteristics that define it, as it initially emphasizes the need to return to a fundamental focus on the importance of the land. ¹

Illustration: João Catarino, Grupo do Risco

The vectors of Montado do Freixo do Meio

The Montado do Freixo do Meio features a complex structure, providing a perspective where multiple constructive elements interact, unfolding into various vectors: from territorial to human; from agricultural to economic; from technological to scientific. ²

^{1 2} Janeira, Ana Luísa (2020). Semeio no Vento com o Montado do Freixo do Meio.

Landscape

The landscape of Freixo do Meio represents the great diversity of experiences within the project as well as its interaction with natural systems.

Natural Wealth

With over 400 hectares of priority habitat, it is an important refuge for native fauna and flora.

Human factors

The Montado do Freixo do Meio is a space for cooperation, inclusion, personal development, work, and community building.

Built elements

At Herdade do Freixo do Meio, there are various built elements that can be grouped into operational hubs.

Projects

The Montado do Freixo do Meio has been a center of innovation and sustainable practice, charting a new course in its relationship with the ecosystem.

Results

The Montado do Freixo do Meio, in addition to being an exemplary model of sustainable management, has demonstrated concrete results in mitigating climate change and promoting biodiversity.

The Montado do Freixo do Meio in numbers

51.75 tons of CO2 sequestered per hectare
A capital of 100 tons of living soil per hectare (approximately 60,000 tons of living soil over nearly 600 hectares)
60-70% energy autonomy from renewable sources and 59 tons of CO2 avoided by the Solar Village
938 species cataloged on the Naturdata portal
12 microfactories of in-house production with 370 food items, including 12 acorn-based products
6 Sunday Markets per year and about two Quartas-Freixo events per month
8,000 visitors per year
168 families of co-producers in the CSA Share the Harvest Program
30 collaborators from various nationalities
6 native domestic animal species (laying hens, cows, horses, donkeys, pigs, sheep)

584.67 hectares total area
1780: Year of construction of Monte do Freixo
5000 B.C.: Age of Menhirs and Neolithic Monuments
+ 1,000 years: Zambujeiro of Time
1997: Year of beginning the transition to organic farming
30 years without the use of chemicals, pesticides, or herbicides
3 hectares of organic and biodynamic vineyard with 5 Portuguese grape varieties (Trincadeira, Aragonês, Tinta Caiada, Touriga Nacional, and Touriga Franca)
40,000 shrubs and trees planted between 2018 and 2020
13 hectares of new vineyard area: Agroforestry "Olive Grove-Fig Orchard-Vineyard"
105.09 hectares of forested area “New Montado”
414.22 hectares of Natura 2000 Network

The Montado do Freixo do Meio has unique organic and institutional characteristics that define it, as it initially emphasizes the need to return to a fundamental focus on the importance of the land. 1