Diego GV will place us in the current agroecological context. Later, we will move on to the practical aspect. In this session, we will learn how to design a garden based on solar exposure, crop type, and other variables. We will study the characteristics of our space, trace contour lines, and create the design for our garden.

The second day of training, this time led by Ana Sosa Ayala (founder of CALARÁ, an initiative dedicated to the design and training of Syntropic Agroforestry and 'Food Forest' systems), is divided into three parts where she speaks about the benefits of changing the way we cultivate, for the production, the soil, and the community.

During this workshop, we will focus on the strategies we can follow to obtain water on a piece of land from scratch. Guided by Ismael and Anael, we will connect with water and learn how to observe the terrain to identify where it is located. We will see which collection and storage methods are suitable for our project. With Ismana, we understand water through both analytical and analogical thinking, bridging two distinct ways of understanding the world: East and West. This is a fundamental perspective to bring us closer to understanding biodynamic agriculture.

We begin to understand the soil and all the variables that influence its health: texture, pH, biology, moisture, organic matter, nutrients... We will explore how these elements interact and what regenerative practices can help us transform our soil into a living sponge. We will spend time in the vegetable garden putting into practice everything we have learned.

Diego teaches us how to apply permaculture—a holistic system that mimics the way nature works—to an agroecological production project in order to manage our resources efficiently and locally, without setting aside the most important factor of all: the human one. We will see examples of how to organize our space beyond just cultivation.

We will delve deeper into fertility and plant health. JuanFran will share a technical perspective on plant nutrition, not only to improve yields but also as a preventative measure against pests. We will produce low-cost bio-preparations that enhance crop performance without driving up expenses, thereby helping us boost economic returns.

Sonia will explain what heirloom vegetable varieties are and the advantages of growing them in our garden, including an overview of plant genetics and reproduction. During this session, we will set up our seedbed in preparation for spring while learning the essential guidelines for producing high-quality seedlings.

We will start the day with a gathering to connect, share impressions, lessons learned, and ideas for the projects each person dreams of developing. We will then continue learning about garden planning based on climate conditions and the specific characteristics of each crop.

We will continue delving deeper into the concepts for the design and development of our agroforestry system. We will focus on the interaction between plants and soil, and we will learn different methods of vegetative propagation. Guided by Ana, we will begin planting the syntropic agroforest.

Management is everything in a syntropic system. Good management can allow us to significantly accelerate the regeneration of our system. We will observe the evolution of our syntropic system, and Ana will teach us the tools for each task and give us guidelines for pruning, biomass management, and other key management aspects.

Demetrio shares his nearly two decades of experience as an organic farmer in Valencia. He helps us better understand the challenges of the food system and create better solutions. He also teaches us how to use essential tools, such as the seed drill / seeder, which can make a farmer's life much easier.

We will learn how to better use and conserve water by understanding different irrigation guidelines based on the soil type and crops we are watering. Starting in April, irrigation becomes essential to keep our crops healthy in Madrid. We will install a drip irrigation system, learning how to design it and work with pipes and other system components.

Raúl will introduce us to the fascinating world of fungi—essential allies in any agroecological system, as we can use organic farm waste to grow them and bring more diversity, flavor, and nutrition to what we offer. We will learn how to start mushroom cultivation using a simple and effective method.

David will explain how a wildfire behaves through a small-scale simulation, which will help us understand what comes next: the strategies we can implement on our own land to prevent and mitigate fires, and what actions to take to defend our property against wildfire.

We will continue delving deeper into the conscious management of water with Ismael. We will learn how to properly treat and distribute it to provide irrigation for the garden. We will get down to work and continue designing and creating a water catchment system on fully wild land (where drilling a well is complicated) for irrigating a future garden.

Human relationships are just as important as all the practical and technical components of a productive system. We will begin this session with creative team-building dynamics led by Nilda and Julio, preparing for our fieldwork in the garden where we will start planting out our summer seedlings outdoors.

In the Community of Madrid, the week of San Isidro is traditionally dedicated to planting summer crops. We will devote the entire day to this, taking the opportunity to review concepts and apply everything learned throughout the training.

During this session, Sara will help us think about agroecology more holistically and provide us with tools to bring it to a wider audience. We will explore alternative management and governance models. We will also hear about the challenges and lessons learned from the CSA Vega de Jarama, where Sara has been involved for over five years.

The team from Campo a Través will explain how they manage their goat herd and what role they play in the ecosystem of the Sierra de Madrid. Paula and Mariluz will share the steps they took to bring their project to life, covering the challenges and lessons learned in running such an enterprise in today's times.

Raquel will explain the steps to produce high-quality compost. She will also share how she launched the “Valdepiélagos composta” program, how the system works, and the challenges and lessons learned that can serve as inspiration for developing our own local composting systems.

During the training, participants will develop an agroecological project they would like to carry out, using their creativity to integrate the concepts learned throughout the course into a hypothetical yet concrete project. They will need to choose a location, design a cultivation model, determine how to obtain water, organize with the community, and more.

On the final day, we will learn key aspects of garden maintenance, such as weed management, pest control, pruning, and staking/trellising. We will also cover harvesting and post-harvest handling—crucial aspects that should not be overlooked to make the most of the fruits of our labor.

Your feedback will help us assess the impact of the training and improve future E.A.R.T.H. activities.