10 years overview of the land restoration and food production project.

1. Gralha Azul Farm
10 years of land restoration and
ecological food production.

2. In the beginning, there was
acidic and compacted soil and
lots of this hard stem grass.

3. Landscape overview.

4. To start working, it was
necessary to build a road to
enter the farm.

5. This is the main entrance
rainwater diversion system.

6. Starting the spring water system:
From spring to tank; 350 meters of
buried flexible pipe.

7. Checking the gravity-fed pipe
that feeds the tank.

8. Building the structure for the
25.ooo liters ferrocement tank.

9. The ready to plaster tank
structure being carried to place. It
sits 40 to 80 vertical meters above
all farm fiels, gravity-feeding the
entire farm.

10. Main building structure poles (treated
eucalyptus) that will hold the grass roof.

11. Main building with office.

12. First farm house: To understand the landscape
and start the regeneration process, it was
necessary to observe the place.

13. House and living room.

14. First no-dig vegetable gardens.

15. 720w photovoltaic system run the
farm for 4 years. Hotwater on
the background.

16. Adobe family home.

17. Family house made from adobe
and local materials.

18. Preparing the soil with traditional methods: as the
farm is very steep, it was the only way to prepare
the soil on contour lines.

19. Green manure harvest:
Turnips to break soil
compaction.

20. Main fertilizer source: cow
manure for composting.

21. Building the compost heap.

22. Building the greenhouse

23. First seedlings at the greenhouse

24. Greenhouse with tomato and
seedlings, and vegetable garden.

25. Appropriate technology: 6 row
vegetable seeder.

26. Appropriate technology:bed
preparation.

27. Very healthy lettuce bed.

28. Tomato on the go!

29. Diverse vegetable garden with sunflowers.

30. Organic wheat.

31. Wheat almost ready to harvest.

32. Wheat after harvesting 

33. Heirloom corn for eating and seed
production.

34. Gastronomy students
education.

35. Heirloom corn varieties

36. Heirloom sunflower

37. Diversified greenhouse crops

38. Ready for delivery!

39. Alley-cropping: trees and
vegetables consortium.

40. Landscape water harvesting earthworks

41. Landscape water harvesting earthworks:
All roads and roofwater are diverted to
this swale.

42. Renewable energy education

43. Multi-purpose new building earthworks.

44. Multi purpose new building structure

45. Multi purpose building: Barn, workshop and Brewery.

46. Multi purpose building: Barn,
workshop and Brewery.

47. Final products: Healthy, nutrient-rich vegetables.

48. Multi purpose sink for washing produce and
bottles, made from recycled materials.

49. One man operation nano-Brewery.

50. Yeast farming!

51. Craft beer.

52. Landscape transformation.

53. Contact: alexvpp@gmail.com