Gralha Azul Farm

10 years of land restoration and ecological food production.

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

Landscape overview.

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

This is the main entrance rainwater diversion system.

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

Checking the gravity-fed pipe that feeds the tank.

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

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.

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

Main building with office.

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

House and living room.

First no-dig vegetable gardens.

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

Adobe family home.

Family house made from adobe and local materials.

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

Green manure harvest: Turnips to break soil compaction.

Main fertilizer source: cow manure for composting.

Building the compost heap.

Building the greenhouse

First seedlings at the greenhouse

Greenhouse with tomato and seedlings, and vegetable garden.

Appropriate technology: 6 row vegetable seeder.

Appropriate technology:bed preparation.

Very healthy lettuce bed.

Tomato on the go!

Diverse vegetable garden with sunflowers.

Organic wheat.

Wheat almost ready to harvest.

Wheat after harvesting

Heirloom corn for eating and seed production.

Gastronomy students education.

Heirloom corn varieties

Heirloom sunflower

Diversified greenhouse crops

Ready for delivery!

Alley-cropping: trees and vegetables consortium.

Landscape water harvesting earthworks

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

Renewable energy education

Multi-purpose new building earthworks.

Multi purpose new building structure

Multi purpose building: Barn, workshop and Brewery.

Multi purpose building: Barn, workshop and Brewery.

Final products: Healthy, nutrient-rich vegetables.

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

One man operation nano-Brewery.

Yeast farming!

Craft beer.

Landscape transformation.

Contact: alexvpp@gmail.com