When I stepped onto the grounds of Quinta Vale da Lama (QVdL) in Lagos, Portugal this May, I felt a surge of excitement I hadn’t expected. After six months as part of the Ecosystem Restoration Communities (ERC) core team, this was my first opportunity to visit an actual ERC – to see the work I’d been promoting come to life before my eyes.

I wasn’t just visiting any ERC, either. I was joining a Monitoring & Evaluation Sprint Week, an intensive collaboration between our global team and QVdL to advance ERC’s monitoring and evaluation framework. What I discovered over those four transformative days changed not only how I understand our work, but why I’m so passionate about being part of this movement.

Getting My Hands Dirty: From Theory to Practice

On our first afternoon, we headed into QVdL’s fields to conduct the soil tests that form the backbone of our ERC Soil Framework. Over the past six months, I’d heard countless discussions about M&E and created social media content around monitoring and evaluation. But actually conducting these tests myself – the drop and shatter test, soil compaction measurements, water infiltration testing – was hugely eye-opening.

What struck me most was something I knew intellectually but experienced viscerally: the land at every single ERC is different. Not just between countries or climates, but even within the same property. In one area, we couldn’t even get our shovel into the ground – the earth was simply too compacted. Yet just 20 meters away, the soil structure was completely different, allowing us to conduct our tests effectively.

This micro-variation taught me something profound about restoration work. It’s not just that every ERC faces unique challenges – it’s that even within a single site, the complexity is extraordinary. This is why our approach of empowering local communities is so crucial. No one understands the nuances of their land like the people working it every day.

Soil testing using the ERC Soil Framework, including soil sediment and water retention tests

The Power of Shared Knowledge

Experiencing this soil variability firsthand made me realize why ERC’s knowledge-sharing network is so vital. What works for one ERC might not work for another, but sharing experiences allows communities to learn from each other’s experimentations, avoid costly mistakes, and find the most efficient solutions.

This reinforces the incredible value of our movement having a community platform like Circle at every ERC’s fingertips. When an ERC in Morocco faces soil compaction issues, they can quickly access insights from communities in Portugal, Brazil, or Japan who’ve tackled similar challenges. It’s not just about sharing successes – it’s about learning from the full spectrum of restoration experiences.

Mapping the landscape and plotting the testing points using the ERC M&E App

A Community That Ripples Outward

But what truly inspired me wasn’t just the technical innovation – it was the extraordinary sense of community at QVdL. This isn’t just a restoration project; it’s a living example of what’s possible when people come together around a shared vision.

The community operates in beautiful layers. There’s the core team – Bruno creating content, Richard managing operations, Elodie conducting soil science research. Then there are the market garden workers, the six-month interns just beginning their regenerative farming journey, and the school children participating in the junior internship program with their dedicated support network.

But the magic doesn’t stop at QVdL’s boundaries. The community has created what they call a “constellation network” – actively supporting neighbouring restoration initiatives through resource sharing, knowledge transfer, and collaborative problem-solving. They’re not just restoring their own land; they’re catalysing restoration throughout their region.

The market garden, is an organic garden, the produce from which is sold at the local farmers’ market.

Fifteen Years of Vision Realized

Perhaps the most inspiring moment came during my hour-long conversation with Walt, QVdL’s founder. Hearing the story of how this community evolved over fifteen years – from initial vision to the mature, thriving ecosystem I was witnessing – was absolutely astounding.

Walt’s journey reminded me exactly why I wanted to join the ERC team. This is the kind of work I champion, the kind of story I love to tell. QVdL demonstrates what’s possible with hard work, dedication, and a big vision. For any community considering starting their own ERC, or for existing ERCs in their early stages, QVdL shows the incredible potential that lies ahead.

A birds-eye view of the farm, nestled on the Algarvian hillside with views down to the ocean and neighbouring Lagos

Multiple Ways to Get Involved

What excites me most is how accessible QVdL has become. Whether you’re curious about restoration work or ready to dive deep, there’s a way to engage:

• Day visitors can take regenerative farm tours to get inspired and learn about the work

• Hands-on learners can join citizen science days throughout the year, conducting the same M&E tests I experienced

• Serious students can enroll in week-long ecosystem restoration camps and earn permaculture design certificates

• Committed learners can apply for six-month internships covering regenerative farming, with food and accommodation included

• Retreat seekers will soon be able to stay at their newly built eco hotel – a boutique space with 20+ rooms, spa, and yoga facilities

Every single person I met at QVdL was warm, passionate, and genuinely excited to share their knowledge about monitoring and evaluation, regenerative farming, permaculture, agroforestry, and ecosystem restoration. The combination of stunning ocean views, innovative restoration work, and this incredible community creates something truly magical.

Hugo, one of the familiar and friendly faces of Vale da Lama, and the person responsible for the educational element of the restoration camps

What this means for our movement

My time at QVdL reinforced everything I believe about ERC’s approach to restoration. We’re not just planting trees or improving soil – we’re building resilient communities that can adapt, learn, and scale their impact. We’re creating networks of knowledge that span continents. We’re proving that restoration work can be economically sustainable, socially enriching, and environmentally transformative.

For our supporters reading this: your donations don’t just fund restoration projects. They fund this entire ecosystem of learning, community-building, and knowledge-sharing that makes each ERC stronger and more effective. You’re supporting a movement that’s proving restoration can happen at scale when communities are empowered with the right tools and connections.

For anyone curious about getting involved: QVdL shows that there are countless ways to be part of this work, whether for a day, a week, or a lifetime. The restoration movement needs people with all kinds of skills and all levels of commitment.

After four days immersed in soil science, drone mapping, and community building, I left feeling more inspired than ever about ERC’s potential. QVdL isn’t just one successful restoration project – it’s a blueprint for what communities around the world can achieve when they come together to heal the earth.

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Ready to experience restoration work firsthand? Learn more about volunteering opportunities, courses, and ways to support ERC’s growing network of 80+ communities across 34 countries. Or consider visiting QVdL yourself – I promise it will change how you think about what’s possible.