Ecological Restoration of Farmland

In the past 10 years 20,000 Hectares of farmland has been abandoned on the island of Eivissa. A multitude of driving economic factors have driven farmers off the land.

• The rise of tourism and the associated increased costs of living,

• The Green Revolution and impossible price competition with large scale farming.

• An ageing population of farmers and lack of family succession or succession models.

• EU subsidies that have been designed to support large scale farming and

• A rapidly changing climate, unpredictable weather patterns and increased drought.

Herbal Hay is putting disused arable land back into agro-ecological production to grow climate adapted forage crops , heritage wheat and regenerate the soil.

The project aims to restore 50 hectares of arable land in 5 years by creating a financially viable agro-ecological model for growing organic forage in Ibiza with the hope that others might replicate it.

A local perennial forage market would supply good quality organic forage to the livestock and rare breeds sector, putting more land into productive use, supporting local rural economy and increase biodiversity of flora and fauna whilst restoring precious soil

While I’ve been waiting for the hay to grow.. I’ve fallen in love with hertiage grains and have been multiplying local variety wheats and milling flour for local bakers and restaurants. There is a lot of interest and demand from some of the best bakers and most talented chefs and wheat is now also at the heart of Can Purtell.