'Neo-rurals': from the city to the country

This month, we are sharing updates on our farm hunt and inspirations for sustaining an ecological living environment, and we are announcing our Patreon campaign.

It is widely accepted within permaculture and sustainable living communities that living in the countryside allows us to be more self-reliant.

It is easier to grow food, to live less dependent on the industrial food system and consumer culture, to build or modify a (small) home that is less reliant on non-renewable energies, to feel connected to nature and grounded in its changing seasons, to feel empowered by doing more manual labor, and to have the freedom to do things that are outside the status quo.

The back-to-the-land movement (popularised in the United States during the 1970s but present in Europe before then) and the Womyn’s Lands movement (also developed in the US during the 70s and present in Australia, New Zealand, and western Europe) are examples of land-based movements that viewed rural environments as potential catalyst spaces for self-sufficiency, autonomy, local community and various forms of counterculture.

For the majority of us, nature also benefits mental health. Scientific studies have shown that spending time in nature reduces fear, anger, stress, and anxiety, while increasing pleasurable feelings and overall well-being. Shinrin-Yoku, translated into English as ‘forest bathing’, is a therapy that was developed in Japan during the 1980s, based on the idea that stays in the forest have a curative effect on various pathologies. In his book Shinrin-Yoku: The Art and Science of Forest Bathing, Dr. Qing Li, physician, professor at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo and president of the Japonese Society for Forest Medicine, demonstrates that ‘spending time around trees, filling your home with house plants and vaporising essential tree oils can reduce blood pressure, lower stress, boost energy levels and strengthen your immune system’.

So many reasons that inspire us to acquire a farm house in the countryside of Lisbon in order to create a safe and sustainable place for creative, cultural and environmental practitioners to engage with ideas of contemporary sustainability and to grow as a community that care for people and planet. 

Ways to sustain an ecological living environment

As some of you may know, we have been looking for the perfect farm house to host this project for over a year now. We have visited 13 properties since then — our latest visit was last week and we are very excited about this site (finger crossed).

We are looking for properties that match the budget the bank has allowed us to borrow (as founders we are two full-time, working-class freelance curators and artists), and we are also working with municipalities to help us find vacant buildings to use.

We are looking for a place to host residency participants in studios and accommodations, with enough land to grow food, to build a micro-bakery and outdoor kitchen, to connect with the landscape and to keep chickens (and maybe a goat or two). A place where we can host public events including seasonal garden-to-table diners, workshops, talks, performances and exhibitions. We also want to be close to the beach (for surfing) and to Lisbon (for socialising), ideally both accessible by public transport.

One very important aspect for us is to develop and maintain this site in an ecological way, following an energy descent approach, which is likely to include:
〰️ installation of renewable energy sources (solar panels, solar water heating, installation and regulation of ground water source, reed bed grey water filtration system),
〰️ insulation and glazing (passive house approach),
〰️ solar oven, smoke house and other food preservation (ie. sun drying, salting, pickling etc.)
〰️ eco-toilets (including composting systems).

We have been highly inspired by the principles of permaculture and slow living, finding ideas in the following books:
→ The Half-Acre Homestead: 46 Years of Building & Gardening, Lloyd Kahn and Lesley Creed, Shelter Publications Inc
→ The Humanure Handbook: Shit in a Nutshell, Joseph Jenkins, Jenkins Publishing
→ Roundwood Timber Framing: Building Naturally Using Local Resources, Ben Law, Permanent Publications
→ Small Homes: The Right Size, Lloyd Kahn, Shelter Publications Inc
→ Tiny Homes on the Move, Lloyd Kahn, Shelter Publications Inc
→ Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter, Lloyd Kahn, Shelter Publications Inc
→ Shelter, Lloyd Kahn, Shelter Publications Inc

We are on Patreon

At the same time as looking for the dream environment for villa villa, we are working hard to prepare the future residency programmes, to create local and international partnerships with like-minded organisations, to develop our online programme (more on that soon) and to apply for funding.

Often when we talk about sustainability in the culture and arts sector, we focus on environmental and social sustainability, but we tend to forget the third pillar which is economic sustainability, and without which many environmentally and socially sustainable projects could not be sustained over time.

As a non-profit association, we want to make this project accessible to everyone and to keep participation costs as low as possible. We have therefore developed a fundraising model which combines several sources of income in order to ensure greater financial stability. This strategy aims to generate a diversified and sustainable fundraising model.

In addition to applying for public, private, national and European fundings, we have launched a Patreon campaign with which we offer our community the opportunity to support our work while receiving great monthly rewards.

Some of our rewards include:
🔗 One limited edition artist postcard per month, each featuring the work of one of our favourite artists (12 different postcards in total per year)
🔗 Our beautiful ‘Feel the Tides in your Body’ tote bag designed in collaboration with artist Hannah Rowan (responsibly sourced, organic cotton and handprinted)
🔗 A monthly seasonal produce basket with an assortment of locally produced treasures
🔗 A monthly selection of herbal infusions foraged locally
🔗 A monthly newsletter with exclusive tips, suggestions, recipes and updates on our permacultural adventure and homesteading experiments

Contributions starts at 5€ per month and our first goal is to reach 10 patrons.

→ Additional reward to our first 10 supporters:
🔗 A limited handprinted edition by artist Thomas Langley (edition of 30)

The amount raised will enable us to cover some of our launching costs in order to start supporting the work of contemporary artists, curators, writers and thinkers. If you can, please consider supporting us here, or simply buy us a coffee.

Thank you for your support