2 “A Toca do Rebento”

2

“A Toca do Rebento”
Project

Painting at "A Toca do Rebento"

The process of design and implementation of a project that would be a laboratory of permaculture in the heart of a city , as the first living example of the possibilities to develop ecologically rich ecosystems using permaculture technics in the urban context of Lisboa.

 Old picture of neighbourhood

First Television visit

This was a project that was born in 2008 in the center of the city of Lisbon wen I decided I wanted to have the experience of living in the capital of Portugal.

 Inicial stages

Born by the curiosity about the life in the center of a big city and all the potential involved, all the visible aspects of such a difficult landscape and also the invisible pot of opportunities for networking .

Worm reproduction

For more than 2 years many people would be passing by the "Toca do Rebento" and be inspired by the biodiversity.

Propagation area

O.B.R.E.D.I.M.C.E.

Observation

Intuitive Observation

-Most of growing area with lawn

-Central area as pateo

-Very good wind protection

-Some productive medium and large size trees

-Abandoned pigeon coop

-High walls

-Big shaded area

-Outside eating area

-Soil compacted.

-Good sun exposure

-Exposed to some neighbors

-House at ground level of very high building

Worms in germination boxes

Deductive Observation

-Amazing potential

-Possibility to collect some rain water

-Possible area for around 5 chickens

-Possibility to produce the vegetables for 4 people

-For full production high maintenance required

-Trees can produce more than 150 kg of fruits

-Large amount of mulch from trees

-Easy cardboard access in the city

-Lawn needs to be removed

-100 square meters area

-50 square meters growing area

-Possibility for pots and vertical growth

Space stacking

D.A.F.O.R.

Flow of Ideas

Dominant

Possible production for 1 family in 100 square meters

Easy access to people and social dynamics

Abundant

Easy to promote permaculture activities

Good to host small meetings

Possible introduction of animals

Frequent

Potential for getting great practical experience

Possible genetic bank of plants from all the city

Occasional

Limitations on materials and tools

How to maintain in vacations period

Rare

Possibility of heavy rain and climate limitations

Time stacking and possibility of leaving at any moment

Edible hibiscus

General view

Boundaries

Holistic objectives

Vision

The Vision for “A Toca do Rebento” is to create a demonstration site for permaculture methodologies in the center of Lisbon

Mission

The mission for this garden is to provide as much food as possible for its residents and to be a sanctuary for plants and biodiversity.

Values

This project has as main values, communication, integration, education, sustainability, hope, transparency, creativity.

Quality of life

By developing this project i hope to have a 

closer connection with Nature, and a more 

harmonious life in an urban context, and to 

share that with friends.

Future resource base

For the Future of this project the idea is that 

other friends will keep developing the dynamics 

of the place and the relations to the 

community.

Pateo shaded by mesh in summer time

Visible Boundaries

100 square meter garden

50 square meters growing area

700mm rainfall

Dry summer

Price of water

Shading areas

Close neighbors

Limited working materials

Possibility of noise created by animals

Invisible Boundaries

-Difficulty on selling extra production

-Most of neighbors are old people

-House is rented

-Limited knowledge

-Low budget

-Time for maintenance and development

Climate

The scale of permanence

1-Climate

Very stable weather

Most of rain in the winter time

Not extreme summer

Maximum rain in one day around 40mm

Temperatures between -5 and 38ºC

No frost

Orographic effect due to close presence of sea

Wind protection from buildings

2-Landscape

-Totally flat garden

-South orientation

-No stones in soil

-Low wind turbulence

3-Water

-Water from the tap

-Dripping irrigation

-Some sprinklers

-Intensive mulching

-Possibilities for ponds

4-Access

-One door from the kitchen as only access

-High walls around garden provide no access

5-Wildlife

-Some big trees host many birds

-Introduction of flowers attract many insects

-No easy access for big animals except cats

-Some blind snakes detected

-Possibility of small domestic animals

6-Micro climates

-Easy implementation of micro climates

-Buildings preserve heat

-Stable temperature

-Shade from trees create cooler areas

-South facing walls

7-Buildings

-House in the north side

-Old pigeon coop in south east

-Pateo in the center of the garden

8-Zones

-Urban environmental context

-Easy social interconnections, local, national and international

-Temporary rented house

9-Soils

-Compacted soil

-Black and rich in organic matter

-Not deeper than the roots of medium tree

-Ph 6.5

-No mulch

-Lawn as ground cover

10-Aesthetics

-Very coasi

-Perfect for a familiar size project

-Characteristics of intensive system

-Potential for art

Early days

Subtile boundaries:

-North facing wall for shade plants

-Shade under trees

-Heat from pateo

Desire lines
  -The paths were in the perfect place
-Access to garden beds were created

Edible flowers

D.A.F.O.R.

Bounderies

Dominant

Time for developing

Abundant

Financial limitations

Frequent

Presence on site

Ocasional

Working force

Rare

Lack of enthusiam

Prickly pears 

Resources

Visible Resources

-Limited tap water

-Unlimited cardboard

-Abundant coffee scraps

-Around 50 euros per month budget

-Some gardening tools

-50 square meters gardening space

-Vertical growing space

-Old pigeon coop

-Several fruit trees

Invisible resources

-Limited knowledge

-Abundance of ideas

-Around 30 hours per week to maintain

Californian red worms

P.A.S.T.E.

Plants	Animals	Structures	Tools	Events
Annuals Lettuce Spinach garlic onions potatoes Tomatoes Sunflower Pumpkins Courgette Perennials Cabbage Swiss chard Petunia Primula Fleur du lis Strawberry Wild strawberry “Banana” Sugar canne LEGUME Beans Peas Fava Luzern Clover MEDICINAL Mint Pennyroyal Basilicum Aloe Citronela Thyme Calendula Viola Mint Red mint Shrubs Sweet lime Ibiscus Fushia Abutilon Trees Loquat Lemon tree Apricot Olive Fungi Judas ears Vines Passion fruit Wine Chuchu	Mammals Rabbit Cats Birds Black bird Sparrow House Martin Blue crowded Parakeet Japanese silky chickens pigeons Insects Bumbblebee Carpenter bee Honey bees Dragonflies Reptiles Turtle Blind snake Amphibians Frogs Fish Koy fish	Houses Ground house in 3 levels building Buildings Piegeon coop Sheds Meals area Paths Big central pateo Paths along beds	Machines Streamer Tools Gardening tools	Natural Heavy rains in April Hot summer Courses Preparatory meetings for: 2 Introduction to permaculture courses at Agriculture university Introduction course in the Algarve Visits Sintra mountains Arrabida mountains Local projects Gran cannaria Spain Gatherings Permaculture meeting with 80 people at Agriculture university Guerrilla gardening International International Sustainability project Italy International Sustainability project Belgium

Okaido pumpkins and liquors

Evaluation

First year

Imput and output analysis

Inputs

Needs

D.A.F.O.R.

Dominant

-Composting area

Abundant

-Worm composting area

-Germination area

Frequent

-Introduction of plants

-Water harvesting structures

Occasional

-Chickens

-Organic matter

-Shade in summer

-Help from friends
Rare
 -Pruning trees

600gr Lemon

Outputs

Yields

Dominant

-Quality of life

-Knowledge

-Worms

Abundant

-Most of vegetables

-Networking

Frequent

-Experience

-Good compost

Occasional

-Seasonal fruits

-Eggs

Rare

-Extra fruits for exchange

-Money

Passion fruit

Limiting factors

What is limiting your yield?

-The factor that limits mostly the yield is the time available for implementation

Were can i open more niches?

-Socially there is an immense potential for activities

What improvements can be done?

-A good organization of time and tasks

How to extend limits and comfort zones?

-Connect to social and natural edges of the city

Networking

Energy leaks

Where are you bleeding?

The rent of the house and garden

Not having a constant work force

S.W.O.C.

Strenghts	Weaknesses	Opportunities	Constraints
Central area Easy resources	Time Permanent maintenance	Education Networking Experience	Job Owner

Protected Dove  in Garden

Systems dynamics

Key functions

Learning

Composting

Planting

Promoting

Networking

Feed animals

Watering

Making fertilizer

Wormcomposting

Systems to support the key functions

Plant harvesting

Water harvesting

Worm compost boxes

Practicing

Recycling

Researching

I.T.

Elements to support the systems

Myself

Friends

Neighbors

Parents

Compost bins

Water barrels

Chicken coop

House

Relations + + between systems

kitchen + + compost

compost + + garden beds

garden + + kitchen

Rain water harvesting + + Making natural fertilizers

Natural fertilizers + + Garden

Web of life

Snails as food for chickens

Chickens weed and fertilize garden

Garden produces food for chickens and rabbit and people

Pond attracts insects

Insects control pests

Koy carp eats mosquitoes larvae

Flowers atract insects

Insects polinate flowers

Flowers produce fruits

Fruits get eaten or composted

Compost fertilizes soil

Soil produces flowers

Bumblebees in designed spots

Design

Master plan

Top view

Moment 1
-Implement a low maintenance garden

Moment 2
-Design a website to promote the project

Moment 3
-Increase quality of the soil

Moment 4
-Open visits

Moment 5
-Courses and education

Zoning

Zones

Zone 1

-Most of the garden

-Small area next to kitchen for salad herbs

-Vegetables and medicinal herbs around pateo

Zone 2

-Under small fruit trees

-Area for perennials and bushes next to south wall

Zone 3

-Commercial area next to kitchen

-Worm and hummus production

-Composting area

-Chickens

-Water harvesting

Zone 4

-No Zone 4

-Wood from tree prunning

Zone 5

-All around pateo garden beds

-Pond

-Some planting to enrich

-Maintenance reduced just to collecting of fruits

-Wild life corridors

Sector analysis

P.M.I.

Filtering Tools

Permaculture Ethics

As a laboratory of urban permaculture “A toca do rebento” 

tries to use the resources in a more balanced and holistic 

way.

Care for earth

Reduce

Reduction on water and electricity uses

Reduction on general consumption

Reuse

Old washing machine converted in worm farm

Recycle

Cardboard and city garden leaves for compost and mulch

Repair

Old pigeon coop became chicken coop

Amazing improvements on soil quality

Pond made of recycled materials

Care for people

Social landscapes

Organization of many meetings, films, lectures, visits, 

dinners, courses, hostings.

Fair share

Special conditions for people with low income

Open visits to the garden

Fruits and herbs for visitors

Information Knowledge

Resources from city gardens

Permaculture Principles

The most frequent principles applied were

Integrate rather than segregate

Start small

Use local resources

Each element must perform several functions

Financial analysis 

Good to have a small investment in plants and upgrades

Important to have a big investment on courses and 

project promotion

Quality of life

-The quality of life to be achieved despite the limiting 

boundaries, is to have a  constant presence of friends and 

visits so that people can get inspired to start their own 

projects. 

Implementation

D.A.F.O.R.

Dominant

Remove lawn

Introduce chickens

Start composting

Observation

Abundant

Collect water

Start germination

Frequent

Recycle cardboard

Plant flowers for insects

Collect mulch in city gardens

Occasional

Shading with mesh

Fruits harvesting

Rare

Weeding

Pruning

Stacking

Time

Life story

2008

Lawn removal

Creation of composting area

Rain water harvesting system

Germination area

Newspaper reportage

3 people in the house

2009

House repairs

Introduction of 2 chickens

Introduction of rabbit

4 people in the house

2010

Successful breeding of japanese chickens

2 television reportage

Worm composting at full power

2-5 People in the house

Home bred silky chick

Seasonal

Spring

Intensive germination

Introduce leguminous plants

propagate worms in garden

Summer

Shade garden with mesh

Special attention to watering

Make preserved food

Autum

Prunning of trees

Heavy mulching

Collect mushroom from forest in the city

Winter

Heavy composting

Improving growing beds

Improve drainage

Space

-The project was design to use as much as possible the vertical space without compromising the sun sector.

Japanese silky chickens

Maintenance

S.W.O.C.

Strenghts	Weaknesses	Opportunities	Constraints
Education Soil production Chicken breeding	Animals food Permanent maintenance	Meetings Experiments Experience	Weather Time

P.A.S.T.E.

Plants	Animals	Structures	Tools	Events
Water 2 times a week in summer Doesnt need water for all winter time Constant germinations and sprouts Reproduction by cuttings Seed saving Shade in summer Protection from animals Harvesting	Feeding Collecting manure Collect eggs Improve shelter Reproduction Release in garden Protect fruits from birds Attract insects Feed fish in pond Worm composting maintenance	Improve shed Repair chicken coop Build chicken tractor Paint house Organize seed bank area	Organize garden tools Measure ph Measure humidity and temperatura Maintain small aquaponics system	Harvesting fruits Shading pateo Collect city mulch Prepare for winter rains Make fertilizer from rain water and nettles Organize meetings for permies

Collecting data

Most of the data collecting was done by videos and pictures since the beginning of the project.

The video reports can be seen HERE

Events

Celebration

Party

-Pizza night

-Convergence

-Meetings

-Movie nights

-Courses

D.A.F.O.R.

Dominant

Dinners

Visits

Movies

Abundant

Art in garden

Painting

Observation points

Relaxation

Music playing

Frequent

Meetings

Building Trellises

Parties

Occasional

Courses

Workshops

Yoga

Meditation

Rare

Building ponds

S.W.O.C.

Strenghts	Weaknesses	Opportunities	Constraints
Central area of city Easy to make people move Creates a lot of inspiration	Time Maintenance of demonstration areas Logistics for events	Education Networking Experience Art exchanges Cooking exchanges	Job House Owner Space for big groups Local organic food

EVENTS

Characteristics

In “A Toca do Rebento we have organized many meetings and courses .

The project was able to host meetings of maximum 15 people in the pateo

Thru this preparatory meetings we have planned and realized a big meeting in the Agriculture university for 80 permaculturists to discuss the future of Permaculture in Portugal.

Most of the outside events we planned outside of project were for around 30 people.

We have organized permaculture courses, lectures, guerrilla gardening events, open days, seed exchanges and cooking classes.

The events were a reflection of the inner state of the project, by having a holistic project that is realy working we get a very good environment in the events, its very important to understand this dynamics .

Networking

Evaluation

P.A.S.T.E.

Plants	Animals	Structures	Tools	Events
Crucial importance in choosing the best place Shaded area for shade plants Many plants collected around the city Trees develop in amazing way	Chickens eat more than expected Rabbit eats much more than expected Chickens are very easy to breed Incredible impact in wildlife	Constant possibility for improvements Limitations acording to resources available Many improvisations Required	Tools dont last very long Important to reduce the need of tools as much as possible Better to invest in quality	Extreme importance on doing things at the wright time Events must be very well planned before Use energy flows as much as possible

Limiting factors

What is limiting your yield?

-The factor that limits mostly the yield is the need to move to other landscapes and learn more

Were can i open more niches?

-Move to other project that can have a bigger impact

What improvements can be done?

-There are no limits for imagination

How to extend limits and comfort zones?

-Moving to international projects and try new things

S.W.O.C.

Strenghts	Weaknesses	Opportunities	Constraints
Knowledge Experience Attitude Networking	Finding proper niche Timming Angsiety Patience	Personal and professional growth Quality of life Learning	Language Time Confidence Luck

Systems dynamics

Web of life

Periquitões-de-cabeça-azul (Aratinga 

acuticaudata) em Lisboa

A nice story about the influence of this project to the biodiversity of the area is related to the Blue crowned parakeet (Aratinga acuticaudata) a bird that found its niche in Lisbons ecossystems.

This tropical bird was a common domestic animal until the birds flue arrived, with the panic of such a disease many people have opened their small prisons to set free this colorful bird.

Nobody was expecting that it would integrate so well with city landscape, breeding and flying over the city sky, like if in some part of a tropical forest.

In the beginning of 2009 I started seeing many of this birds in my garden eating loquats from my trees and that was something that totally blew my mind.

After some investigation I discovered that many birds do migrations in the city and that this little green friend have chosen my backyard to rest a bit from the rushed city life.

Blue crowned parakeet WIKI

What would i do different?

Its not easy to say what i would do different, because i believe everything is part of a bigger process of growth.
Its common that in the early stages people get very excited and moved by a strong passion, wanting to achieve fast results.
The presence of focus and experience changes deeply the scenario and efficiency of results. 
The observation process is the one who changes the most, so giving a special atention to this moments can create a big change.

Final observations

By developing this project I came out to find many surprises that I could never expect, the impact on biodiversity, the interest of people, the exponential growth of myself as a permaculturist and the example that such a design can be to other people that want to walk the same path.

It was very important for me to see how much food can be produced in such a small area and the possibilities for people to live in a more sustainable way, even is such a challenging context.

The experience of designing a urban permaculture project that had such a big impact on the development of Permaculture in Portugal, was to me an experience that I can never forget.

The dinners preparing international meetings and long talks about the situation of the world and the role of permaculture in such a challenging context was to me the fountain of an enormous inspiration and of immense energy to try to be the positive response that the world needs to become the planet of our dreams.

Wen I look back today, 5 years later I feel like its not time for victory or for final celebrations, there is still so much to be done and the city is the landscape that needs most support, so I dedicate this project to all the permaculturists that are still in the city in the “heart of Babylon” fighting and believing that the change we want to see in the world is in our hands and after our life changed with the discovery of permaculture, its now time to help to change others peoples lives too.

I need to say thank you to all my friends, that were always there telling me that I was on the right track and that I was an example for them by showing that is possible to have a new life, thank you all for the support, without you none of this could ever be possible, and you are the reason why this garden became alive.