Explains itself!

2. Design Overview

3. Design Overview
Water
1.Earthworks
A series of integrated swales, diversion ditches, infiltration pits and/or ponds equally spaced throughout the property
will be used to infiltrate all rainwater that falls onto the property. This will passively irrigate, re-charge and de-salinate
the groundwater, in turn reducing the need for supplemental active above ground irrigation.
Question : What is the percentage of clay content in the subsoil of all proposed pond and dam sites?
2. Rainwater catchment
Rainwater roof catchment will be stored in cisterns / tank for later use. Albufeira has an average annual rainfall of
500mm per year. On 5 hectares the potential rainwater harvesting catchment is 25,000,000 liters annually. With 600m2
of roofed areas 300,000 liters of clean rainwater can be harvested into cisterns and tanks for later use in irrigation or to
top up the swimming pool water. Plus another 90m2 from the thrashing round harvesting around 45,000 liters which
could go directly to irrigation or also to tanks for storage.
3. Water treatment
A grey and black water treatment will be implemented onsite so that this water can also supplement the irrigation and
groundwater recharge.
Question: Where does the wastewater goes at the moment and can it be separated for treatment?
4. Swimming pool
The swimming pool can be converted into a chlorine free natural swimming pool where aquatic plants and reedbeds
within a pumped flow cycle naturally filter the water, reducing the risk of chlorine seepage onto the land.

4. Design Overview
Water

5. Design Overview
Soil
• Mulching or chipping or making biochar out of
all residues to be returned to the soil
• Living mulch ground cover
• Companion plants, nitrogen fixers and
dynamic nutrient accumulators
• Encouragement and inoculation of mycorrhiza
fungi
• Regenerating & rebuilding of soil life

6. Design Outline
Trees planting zones

7. • Dryer oasis zone of native lesser water needing plants are
placed directly above the swale, eg Olive, Fig, Carob etc.
• Wet oasis zone of more water needing sub tropical plants
are placed directly below the swale, eg Mango, Banana,
Pawpaw etc.
• Mid oasis zone of medium water needing plants are placed
in between these two other zones, eg Citrus, Loquat,
Peach, etc.
• Beneath all of these trees there will be understory of
productive plants and support species serving multiple
functions, eg being a source of fertility, attracting beneficial
insects, and creating habitat for pest predators.
Design Outline
Tree planting zones

8. Benefits
• Renewal of the health of and increased water holding
capacity of the soil
• Rehydration and desalination of existing ground water
• Reduced need for both active irrigation and external
inputs of fertilisers
• A reduction of both pest and fungal diseases
• An increased yield and diversity of production
• More financial growth and stability
• Increased value of the property
• More water, energy and food security

9. Phase 1
Integrated Rainwater Harvesting
• A series of dams/tanks, infiltration ponds, swales and/or
diversion ditches will be properly planned, surveyed and
implemented on the farm to harvest every drop of rain that
hits the land and built environments.
• This will increase ground water availability for all plants on
the property and safely store all excess runoff in onsite
water deposits.
• This will provide both options of a passive and active
irrigation system year-round.
• Some of the swales or diversion ditches will also double up
as access tracks for a small tractor to improve future
harvesting and maintenance capabilities.

10. Phase 2
Diversification of Production
• Planting of the trees between the swale lines will
commence in the first rain season after their
implementation, giving each plant the best
chance of thriving in their chosen oasis zones.
• The understory plants will also ideally be planted
out at this time or as soon as there are time and
resources available to do so.
• All plantings will be given a good basin around
the root zone to catch all runoff and given a good
thick layer of wood chip / bio char / mulch.

11. Phase 3
Waste Management
• This is a later phase in the project but can also
greatly add to the efficient use of resources and
reduce the need for external energy and inputs.
• This includes any grey and possibly black water
treatment, making all waste water being able to
be directed to the trees
• A composting system making both house and
farm residues effortlessly return back into the
system.

12. Phase 4
Abundance Planning, Managing
and Marketing
• This part needs greater research into the current value,
both locally and internationally, of the diverse range of
products that will come from this agro forestry system.
• The local market should be prioritised, as the reduced
cost transport often far out weighs any financial
benefits as it leads to a more direct farmer to
consumer market with no middle men.
• If all products are ecologically and organically produced
there is often little problem finding a consumer base.