"A crazy idea with a vision of hope"
"Convinced that regenerative agriculture is a solution for our health and for the climate, I challenged myself to bring life back to an abandoned olive grove in the process of desertification. A slightly crazy idea, no doubt, but based on a vision of hope and solid convictions."
Frederic Lodewyk
Two centuries in the making
An 18th century finca in the heart of the Sierra Morena hills, a mill surrounded by ruins, streams and olive trees - lots of olive trees. Los Pedroches is an ancestral land of peasant activity.
09/2022
people who believe
An agricultural engineer by training, Carlos joined the project in September 2022. Whether by chance or the mischief of the universe, Carlos is the grandson of the finca's former owners.
09/2022
The starting point
Like much of Andalusia, the land at Los Pedroches has been farmed as a monoculture of olive trees for over 50 years.
The result is soil impoverishment, erosion and gradual desertification.
It's up to us to restore biodiversity!
10/2022
The animals
Bringing animals back to the farm is a priority. Around fifteen horses live freely alongside the many deer, foxes, birds of prey and other members of the small community.
Merino sheep are expected to be introduced in 2024 to ensure holistic management.
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02/2023
Arrival of the bees
In collaboration with a local beekeeper, we have reintroduced beehives into the finca.
09/2023
Recovering rainwater
Due to the drought, the olive harvest in 2022 was the worst in Spain for a century.
In the face of climate change, drought has become the norm. The recovery of rainwater is strategic.
01/2024
Water points
We created 40 “check-dams” which are small water reservoirs. This water will gently seep into the ground and bring life to it.
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The challenges ahead
The 2023 harvest is partly lost due to drought. We urgently need to finish the work on rainwater harvesting. This is not just our challenge, but that of all farmers in southern Europe. And we're going to take up this challenge!