Reconnecting people with nature by combining regenerative farming, sustainable tourism, and revitalization of the local economy. That’s the mission of peasmaker Tony Conway from Vale das Lobas.
(Please note that this text is translated by Open AI as I write my all my peas in Dutch)
Over the past few days, my camper was parked in the Muxagata Valley at the foot of the Serra da Estrela mountains. Driving into this beautiful, green valley is already a treat in itself. Vale das Lobas is located in the village of Sobral Pichorro, and like many villages in rural Portugal, most people left here in the 1970s due to a lack of economic opportunities. The result is empty houses, the absence of young people, and neglected pieces of land.
When Tony became captivated by his mission to reconnect humans and nature in 2009, his intuition led him to this beautiful valley. He never doubted that he could fulfill his mission here. A community of free spirits emerged, drifting into campers to help Tony with his plans. In 2016, a fire in the mountains put an end to this small community.
Tony, originally a psychotherapist and homeopath, seized this moment to change his approach. He had the opportunity to purchase a 60-hectare estate with beautiful historic but dilapidated buildings in Sobral Pichorro. That was the starting point of the ambitious project Vale das Lobas.
In contrast to many places I have visited on my journey, this area is rich in water. Vale das Lobas has several rivers, a spring, and two water mines on the estate. This means this place is full of the “new gold”, creating a beautiful green and fertile environment and opportunities for building a promising tourist destination.
And yes, Vale das Lobas is certainly ambitious. The estate practices regenerative and organic farming. Walnuts, chestnuts, olives, citrus fruits, old varieties of corn, and pumpkins are grown, and there is a vegetable garden. All these products will find their place in the farm-to-table restaurant, located in the old olive mill right by the river.
In the restaurant, I see a hydro turbine for the first time. The river literally enters the building here, and the turbine generates energy for the kitchen. Next to the restaurant, there is a small campsite with 6 ‘hobbit houses’. All buildings are sustainably constructed with local materials, and the water is cleaned and reused on-site.
A bit further up the hill is the hotel that is currently under construction. This will be a destination where people can come to ‘heal’, as Tony calls it. Yoga, homeopathic treatments, workshops, and healthy eating are on the program. The hotel will have a natural spa with water from the mountains that will be cleaned by plants.
Vale das Lobas is not finished yet. Construction is now in the final phase, and the restaurant will open later this year. But walking around here, I can already imagine what it will be like when the time comes. I am impressed by how Tony has come to where he is now with vision, perseverance, and optimism. With the help of others, of course, as he has gathered a team of mission-driven colleagues around him.
Tony is a spiritual person. He lives from the connection with nature and believes that this is the only way to ensure our health and a promising future. He talks about energy and vibrations, tells me about his conversations with ancestors in this area, and applies methods from biodynamic agriculture and homeopathy in the cultivation of his crops.
I am learning new things all day long because almost nothing at Vale das Lobas is like the other places I have been. I am constantly challenged to be open-minded, to put aside my rational view of things for a moment, and to be even more open to the intangible. Like the ‘13 moons potion‘, which I encountered earlier this week.
And precisely because of the way Tony approaches life, I have no doubt that this place will emerge exactly as Tony envisioned. Because I fully agree with him. Living in connection with nature again is the only way to offer ourselves a fertile future.
Would you like to help Tony further with his mission? Vale das Lobas is still looking for investors.
