Portugal Is Turning Into a Desert—But There’s a Way to Reverse It
When people hear the word “desertification,” they often think of distant, arid landscapes. But in recent years, parts of Portugal, once lush and green, have slowly been drying out. The soil cracks, rivers shrink, and once-fertile land can no longer grow food.
But is the real problem just a lack of water? Or could it be the way we manage it? Check out how Lars is optimizing water management at his Wild Forest Garden project in the documentary below.
A Different Approach: Working with Nature
In a powerful short documentary, Lars, a land restorer with years of experience, explains how he and Denise are turning dry, depleted soil back into thriving ecosystems. The technique they use is rooted in syntropic farming, a regenerative approach that mimics the way natural forests grow.
Instead of fighting against nature with pesticides, plowing, and irrigation, syntropic farming invites biodiversity, builds soil health, and retains water naturally.
A Technique for Every Climate
What makes this method so powerful is its adaptability. While it’s being used in Portugal to prevent further desertification, the same principles can be applied anywhere in the world, from rainy forests to dry plains.
Whether you’re a small-scale grower, a backyard gardener, or just someone who cares about the future of food, understanding this approach can change the way you see farming—and the planet.
Learn It Yourself: Step-by-Step Guides
Curious to try it yourself? Together with Lars and Denise, I (Sara) helped create a full series of step-by-step videos that teach you exactly how to start. From designing the layout to planting techniques, you’ll gain real, practical skills in working with the land, not against it.
So what is Syntropic agriculture? The first video of the tutorial series explains what Syntropic agriculture is and why it is important to Lars. But most importantly, Lars show how he planted his trees.
The second video is more focused around gardening. In this video Denise explains how to make your own potting mix, how to seed and when, how to make a garden design, when to start planting, why a no dig garden and most importantly she shares the mistakes she made, so you can avoid them.
The third video show you how to prune a tree. It’s important to know how to take care of your trees when you have them. Also the pruning is a huge benefit for the soil’s health. ”Cut and care”, according to Lars. The cut off branches will give new life to your soil!
The fourth video demonstrates the whip and tongue grafting technique. A key method for creating strong, healthy trees. Grafting might seem like magic, but it’s a powerful skill: by combining a vigorous rootstock with a productive fruit cutting, you can grow the ultimate fruit tree.
To take full control of your garden and move toward self-sufficiency, it’s essential to know how to save seeds. In the fifth video, Lars covers the basics, guiding you through where to begin and which key factors to keep in mind.
Eager to dive deeper into gardening and start your own syntropic treelines? You can volunteer at Wild Forest Garden with Lars and Denise. If you’re on the fence about volunteering, though it’s hard to imagine why, watch this video to get a feel for the experience!
