Regenerative Agriculture Overview

Vision

The Regenerative Agriculture project at Can Brull aims to implement ecological farming practices that heal and enhance the land while providing sustenance for the community. Going beyond sustainable practices, we focus on regeneration—actively improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, enhancing ecosystem services, and sequestering carbon through thoughtful cultivation and land management.

Key Components

Ecological Farming Practices

No-till cultivation methods
Cover cropping and mulching systems
Companion planting and polycultures
Integration of perennial food systems
Rotational grazing (future consideration)
Water harvesting and conservation

Permaculture Design

Implementation of permaculture zoning principles
Food forests and edible landscaping
Guild planting for mutually beneficial plant communities
Efficient energy and resource cycling
Integration with natural patterns and processes

Food Production

Diverse vegetables, fruits, herbs, and grains
Season extension techniques
Seed saving and preservation
Post-harvest handling and storage
Processing and preservation methods

Soil Building

On-site composting systems:
Three-bin system for hot composting
Specialized fungal-dominant compost for woody plants
In-place sheet composting for direct soil feeding
Biochar production and application
Remineralization strategies
Microbial inoculation techniques
Monitoring of soil health indicators

Water Management

Year-1 trial plan:
0.5 ha mixed vegetables (successive plantings, regenerative methods)
2 ha young orchard (citrus + apple + fig + cherry)
400m² syntropic agroforestry pilot (forest integration)
Tech stack: Soil-moisture sensors + Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI)
Mid-term vision: 3 ha mature orchard, expanded vegetable production, 0.8 ha syntropic system
Water requirements:
Vegetables (0.5 ha): 2,900m³/year
Young orchard (2 ha): 2,700m³/year (50% of mature needs)
Syntropic pilot (400m²): 157.5m³/year (establishment phase)
Total agricultural water: 5,757.5m³/year
Peak demand: 80% (≈4,600m³) during Jun-Sep dry period
Water conservation technologies:
Soil-moisture-sensor scheduling: 10% water reduction
Regulated-deficit irrigation (RDI) on orchard: 20% reduction
Potential future: Sub-surface drip, PRD, sap-flow monitoring
Monitoring system: DIY sensor network with capacitive VWC probes
Storage infrastructure:
Primary: Natural Swimming Pond (418.5m³)
Secondary: Existing poly tank (50m³)
Source: Two wells (to be flow-tested)
Rainwater harvesting
Swales and berms for water retention
Keyline design for optimal water distribution
Grey water recycling (future consideration)

Integration with Other Projects

Providing growing space for 02 - SUBPROJECTS/Mushroom Academy/Overview|mushroom cultivation
Processing spent mushroom substrate in composting system
Supporting 02 - SUBPROJECTS/Pottery Studio/Overview|pottery with local clay sourcing
Connection to other infrastructure projects
Educational demonstrations for community and visitors

Specific Approaches

Traditional Annual Production

0.5 ha dedicated to mixed vegetables using no-till methods
Emphasis on soil building and water conservation
Integration with composting system for fertility

Orchard Systems

2 ha young orchard with mixed fruit varieties
Regulated deficit irrigation for water efficiency
Understory management for biodiversity support

Syntropic Agroforestry

400m² pilot project within existing forest
Multi-layered, succession-based design
Focus on berries, nuts, perennial vegetables, and fungi
Planned expansion to 0.8 ha based on pilot results
See Syntropic Agroforestry Pilot Project for details

On-Site Composting

Comprehensive system for processing all organic materials
Multiple composting approaches for different end uses
Integration with both production systems and mushroom cultivation
See On-Site Composting System for details

Land Resources

Approximately 13 hectares of arable land within the Can Brull property
Varied topography offering different microclimates
Integration with forest edges and natural areas
See 01 - PROPERTY/Land Resources/Arable Land|Arable Land for detailed assessment

Connection to Can Brull Vision

The Regenerative Agriculture project embodies the Can Brull philosophy by:

Supporting self-sufficiency and food sovereignty for the community
Demonstrating regenerative practices that heal rather than deplete resources
Creating opportunities for learning and collaboration
Establishing direct relationships between people and the land that sustains them
Building resilience through diversity and ecological design

Economic Considerations

Primary focus on community food production and self-sufficiency
Potential surplus for local markets or CSA programs
Value-added products from farm outputs
Educational programs and workshops
Integration with broader regional food systems

Current Status

Planning phase for Year-1 agricultural trial
Water infrastructure assessment in progress
Well testing needed to determine water capacity
Initial sensor and irrigation system design underway
Composting system site selection in process
Syntropic pilot site assessment beginning

Next Steps

Complete 72-hour pump tests for both wells
Stake out the 18×14m pond area and obtain excavation quotes
Order and install flow meters for monitoring
Build prototype sensor node for irrigation management
Develop detailed planting plan for initial 0.5 ha vegetables
Design irrigation system for 2 ha young orchard
Begin forest assessment for syntropic pilot location
Establish initial composting infrastructure
Create seasonal planting calendar