Building a regenerative food paradise in Portugal

Two fine-dining chefs moved to rural Portugal to build a regenerative agriculture project focused on market gardening, nutrient-dense food, and soil health. Meet The Farming Chefs!‍

Philippe and Sophie are blending regenerative farming, no-dig gardening, rotational grazing, and nutrient-dense cooking on their five-hectare farm in central Portugal. Using mobile chicken tractors, compost teas, and a thriving herb garden, they’re regenerating the land... and teaching the world how to grow tasty nutrient-dense food at home!

In this episode, we cover:

• How a no-dig market garden can out-yield bigger farms (with less work)
• Why nutrient-dense food tastes better (and how it can restore your health)
• How to integrate chickens and sheep to regenerate degraded grasslands
• How to build a thriving herb garden from local cuttings… for free!
• Why edutainment is a powerful tool to scale the regenerative movement
  

Timestamps:

15:32 The aquatic plant that’s feeding chickens free protein

26:10 Sophie’s 150+ plant herb garden

41:00 Why chefs are the secret weapon of the regenerative movement

47:45 “Farmers deserve rockstar status. They’re regenerating our future.”

Useful links:

The Farming Chefs also run a fast-growing YouTube channel where they teach regenerative practices through fun, practical, visually rich tutorials. Their blend of storytelling, flavor, and ecological wisdom is one of the most inspiring in the movement today.

❤️ This episode was produced in partnership with Soil Capital, a company that supports regenerative agriculture by financially rewarding farmers who improve soil health and biodiversity.