Hi Everyone,

Here is the first of my weekly reports covering our seminar tour of Europe.

It was a pain-free 24 hours in the air, punctuated by a 2-hour stopover in Doha. The gentle and comfortable crossing was largely due to a small investment in exit row seating. This has now become a future prerequisite for long-distance travel, as the additional legroom is a game-changer.

We enjoyed one night in Lisbon, savouring the sights and local cuisine before driving to Vivid Farms for four days of seminars and consults.

En route, we stopped at the beautiful town of Sintra, where we chose to traverse a mountain crowned with an ancient castle. It was a 60-minute workout climbing a truly magical stairway adorned with gardens and forest. However, upon arrival at the castle gates, we learned there had been a mysterious, total power blackout affecting four countries.

We decided to take a tuk tuk back down the mountain amidst the uncertainty and continued our drive to the farm. Upon arrival at our accommodation, our host was visibly stressed. The word on the street was that Putin had crashed the power system, possibly signalling the start of broader hostilities. One of my more conspiracy-oriented friends had previously warned that World War III was imminent and would begin in Europe. For an hour or two, we were forced to contemplate that possibility—there were no internet or news updates available. It was a strange experience, and a huge relief when the incident was later attributed to an extreme weather event in Spain.

Later that evening, the power was restored—but at a significant cost to food retailers, most of whom lacked generators.

Vivid Farms is a regenerative showpiece brought to life by the visionary and highly successful business couple, Paulo and Ana. Just three years ago, they decided to give something back and quickly became passionate advocates for meaningful change in food production.

There is no place for sluggishness with this dynamic duo. Despite having no prior farming experience, they’ve embraced multiple regenerative principles. They exemplify a common phenomenon—where newcomers with open, adaptive minds and no preconceptions can often achieve extraordinary outcomes.

The property now includes:

• Indoor and outdoor seminar spaces
• The most comprehensive library of regenerative books I’ve ever seen
• Cell grazing with pasture cropping
• Chicken tractors
• Olive and stonefruit orchards enhanced with multi-species cover crops
• A fully equipped composting site

They also have a comprehensive microbe brewing station for producing both aerobic and anaerobic living fertilisers, including a reverse-stirring machine for biodynamic preparations. The farm is well-equipped with compost turners, spreaders, and multiple pieces of specialist equipment, much of it judiciously sourced from China. Paulo has been impressed with the quality of this low-cost machinery, though he emphasises the importance of due diligence when selecting suppliers. He has even invested in a micronising plant, recognising the immense potential of this technology.

A large area of market gardening now produces a diverse range of organic vegetables to supply a CSA boxed produce model. Multiple greenhouses—including three new, well-appointed structures for tomatoes—are featured on the farm. In an area renowned for summer heatwaves, these greenhouses are equipped with a unique cooling system: a back wall made of cardboard material that resembles a radiator. Chilled water is recycled through the flutes, and the cool air that pours forth is something to be experienced. These greenhouses can be maintained at 25°C or lower, even when outdoor temperatures exceed 40°C.

Paulo and Ana host regular events and training sessions with local and international speakers. They offer a diverse menu of fresh farm-grown food, completely free of charge, to all participants. The Vivid Farms team operates like a large regenerative family, and we felt truly privileged to share their world for a few days.

My seminars included a full day focused on human health, attended by consultants, farmers, health professionals, Michelin-starred chefs, and scientists. It was a wonderfully attentive and generous audience, and I felt quite emotional during the prolonged applause at the end of the day.

The Portuguese people are special. They greet you with a warm hug—an act that feels genuinely affectionate and makes you feel immediately welcome in their inclusive and heartfelt community.

The chief agronomy consultant for Vivid Farms is the gifted, independent regenerative agronomist, André Antunes. I’ve had several Zoom consults with André and his European clients in the past, and it was a real treat to meet him in person. We bonded like brothers, and there’s no doubt that this marks the beginning of a long-term friendship.

When it was time to leave Vivid Farms for the next leg of our adventure, it was difficult to part from such intelligent, generous people. In fact, Claudia remarked that if she ever needed recovery time in a monastery (a likely outcome when sharing my hectic life), this would be her first port of call.

I look forward to updating you next week as our European adventure continues.

Until then, we wish you a productive and fulfilling Nutrition Farming journey.

Warm regards,
Graeme

For more details about the European Tour:

Some event details are yet to be confirmed, so check back for updates.

Certificate in Nutrition Farming

Our next iconic, five-day Certificate in Nutrition Farming® course is scheduled for July, Monday 21st - Friday 25th July 2025.

Our last course was attended by growers and consultants from six countries. It was a wonderful learning opportunity where attendees enjoyed a wealth of education and inspiration from both our presenters and their fellow attendees. We only accept 40 bookings for these courses, so please register if you would like to attend.