"A crazy idea with a vision of hope"
"Convinced that regenerative agriculture is a solution for our health, biodiversity, and the climate, I set myself the challenge of reviving an abandoned olive grove on the verge of desertification. A slightly crazy idea, no doubt, but based on a vision of hope and solid convictions."
Frédéric Lodewyk
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Two centuries in the making
An 18th-century finca nestled in the Sierra Morena hills of Andalusia, a mill surrounded by a few ruins, streams, and olive trees—lots of them. Los Pedroches is an ancestral land of farming.
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 lands of Los Pedroches have been cultivated as a monoculture of olive trees for decades.
The consequence is soil depletion, erosion and progressive desertification.
It’s up to us to restore biodiversity!
10/2022
Arrival of the horses
Bringing animals back into the fields is a priority. About fifteen horses live freely alongside numerous deer, foxes, birds of prey, and other members of the small community.
Beyond their beauty, horses are a valuable aid in vegetation management. Unlike deer, they are not fond of olive branches.
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02/2023
Arrival of the bees
In collaboration with a local beekeeper, we have reintroduced beehives into the finca.
08/2023
New oil mill
Made in Italy, the new oil mill has been assembled and is operational. The goal is to produce quality oil on site as soon as the olives are harvested.
09/2023
Recovering rainwater
In the face of drought, rainwater harvesting is strategic. With the support of the PERMALAB team, we created small infiltration basins to reduce erosion and replenish the water table. Our ancestors were already doing this... we didn't invent anything.
01/2024
Water points
We've built 40 "check-dams," which are small reservoirs. This water will slowly seep into the soil and bring life to it.
11/2024
A good harvest!
Between September 2022 and 2024, we cleaned and pruned 3,000 olive trees. Thanks to the rainy weather, the trees are laden with olives. It's the best harvest since the project began. And it's a real pleasure!
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2025
The challenges ahead
Our objectives in 2025
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Continue rainwater harvesting work.
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Welcoming our first Merino sheep
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Experiment with planting almond trees, pistachio trees, eucalyptus trees, etc. during the winter.
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...and continue cleaning and pruning the olive trees