The Libelinha Venture | Feature
Channel: AlignedHeart Relationships
Date: 2019-03-02

Xavier / Owner &  Founder : 

The Libelinha Venture is a family run project that focuses on land regeneration, reforestation and creation of a sustainable off-grid community. 
We are trying to create something that is becoming rare in this day and age. The unique opportunity to disconnect, while enjoying life by living simply surrounded by nature, in a remote enchanting forest valley.  
At the same time, our focus is on creating an experience for visitors who want to take something unique from the space. Whether it is joining us on one of our wide-ranging workshop and holiday experiences. 
We are looking forward to you joining us on this journey and helping us make this happen!

I decided to look for land so I could spend my time focused on my passion, creating something from nothing.    

I started to look in Portugal as it is a country that has a large community of people who have a passion for permaculture, natural building and living in harmony with nature.  
In 2017 I took a 3 week holiday with my partner Arantxa, we drove 3000 km around the country where I found an area where the energy really resonated with me. 
A week later I returned to this area with my father to look for land. In the end, I fell in love with a forest valley near the picturesque village of Figueiró dos Vinhos, which I bought two days later. 

Two months after I purchased the land, Portugal and the area the land is located suffered one of the largest super fires in its history.  
Returning to the area was one of the saddest things that I have experienced kilometres and kilometres of forests burnt, just leaving a graveyard of blackened tree trunks.    
Naturally, I was very apprehensive to discover what state the land was in, but luckily it was untouched. The fire stopped at its boundaries. An oasis of green in an area of black.  
So what now?   
How to proceed? 
Well, the first stage was pure observation so for 6 weeks my whole family enjoyed the land, explored the surrounding area and discussed the needs of the land and how we were going to interact with it.  

The first thing that we observed was, what a disaster the forest was in, eucalyptus and pine plantations with zero forest management. The heart of the land with its abundance of oak and willow trees, plenty of water, fertile soil that housed productive vegetable beds, but once again zero forest management.  
A fire hazard just waiting to happen.  
So we quickly came to the realisation, the need to implement a forest management plan. The need to buy more land to create a fire break to ensure the protection of the heart of the land. 
So the funds that were kept aside to build the house, develop the project were now invested into acquiring the surrounding land, so we went from a 3-hectare plot to a 10-hectare plot.  
Such a huge responsibility and OMG, so much land to manage, now with no funds to kickstart the project.  
However, the vision is now in place.  
Create a space that will support an off-grid community while giving back to mother earth for future generations by creating a sanctuary for indigenous trees and forest wildlife. Through forest management and permaculture ideals.  
In March of 2018, two weeks after my third daughter was born the adventure began.   


As ALIGNED HEART we support this project fully as well as others by means of physically get there and work what ever is needed, film the process and share it with the world to get more support for these projects, 
 
 
Feel free to Support us to support others. JOIN THE LOOP by becoming our PATREON on : 
https://www.patreon.com/alignedheart  

Thank you & Enjoy  
Kevin & Catarina

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