O Jardim do Araçá is a small farm with a large orchard on the Azores island of Pico. I have been living here with my cat Gilberta for five years, transforming a former cow pasture and cornfield into a regional fruit and vegetable garden, bordered by a small vineyard on volcanic stones, which is very typical on Pico, and framed by endemic trees. Gardening here is a big challenge with the forces of the wind, as there can occur strong storms, especially in winter, which affect the plants. I try to listen carefully to the local farmers and their experiences to understand how to sow, plant, care for and harvest under these conditions. One focus of the garden is on the fruit trees that are slowly beginning to establish themselves: guavas, figs, mangos, papayas, citrus fruits, pitangas, tamarillos, grenadines, macadamias, supported by bananas, pineapples, passion fruit and grapes.
The principles of ecological gardening are applied: mulching (palm tree leaves, cana, bambus, etc.), ecological fertilisation (horse dung, algae, leave compost) and maintenance work. In Jardim do Araçá, attempts are being made to establish traditional multi-layered windbreak systems with the succession of endemic trees in order to generate greater adaptability and knowledge in conjunction with the garden. The aim is to learn by observing the plants and to respond sensitively to this cultural mix here in the Azores. Actually the garden is step by transformed into a self sustaining food forest, assembling plants as soil feeders and protectors , insect repellents, pollinator attractors and as food.
Understanding how to promote and take into account the old endemic plant communities in the context of approximately 90 per cent immigrant plants here in the middle of the Atlantic, while at the same time not condemning existing agriculture, which still relies mainly on conventional farming, is a central undertaking and is what we can achieve together here. For it is important to preserve and enrich the convivial knowledge that is being formed in order to comprehend and understand the immense areas of friction on these islands between local, invasive plant and tourist interests. That is why Jardim do Araçá offers exchanges with emerging local ecological projects, hikes in the remaining parts of the endemic forest and coastal flora, and into the new ‘wildness’ of invasive plants and the endemic botanical gardens on the island Faial.
The wwoofer:s will be accommodated on the ground floor, while I live on the first floor. We share the kitchen and bathroom and fiber internet. Meals are mainly vegetarian, with local fish available on request, cooked together . I look forward to exchange and share with you, but at the same time, you should also have enough time to explore the archipelago on your own. O Jardim do Araçá is an inclusive place, open to anyone who wants to learn and share own skills.
Possible Activities: Building windbreaks with endemic plants from the common nursery. transplanting, pruning, grafting, ecologically fertilising and - treating trees, exposing tree discs, mulching, maintenance in the greenhouse and vegetable garden, lawn care, wood workshop, fruit processing (jams, juices, ice cream). We will have activities together in a 3-4h working session, mainly morning. Minimum stay is 2 weeks, others to be discussed, pls. Applicants shall have private health insurance.
The host is an artist who has been living in Portugal for almost 15 years and mainly on Pico for the last 4 years. I/Christian want to share and develop my fascination for these hybrid ecologies with my wwoofing guests through my experiences and artistic and anthropological research. In this remote but connected area of Europe, island life is not (yet) dominated by tourism. There are traditional cultures of celebration that also refer to the historical roots of whaling, which is no longer practised here. There are beautiful lava pools for swimming, hiking opportunities and detours to the other islands of the archipelago and its volcanoes, local yoga groups and whale watching possibilities.
O Jardim do Araçá - Araçá is a Brazilian term (of Tupi origin) for a fruit/plant also known as ‘wild guava tree’.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Viticulture
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
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Hectares
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0.5
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