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drone picture of 7 plots of Mini Food Forests - right after plating
drone picture of 7 plots of Mini Food Forests - 2 months after plating

Learn, Design, and Grow a Regenerative Mini Forests

The Biggest Mini Forest Training is a hands-on learning experience based on our 3m x 3m Mini Food Forest model, which combines Agroforestry, Syntropic Agriculture and Miyawaki Method.

This model creates a high-density, fast-growing, and regenerative system that:
  ✅Restores biodiversity
  ✅Improves soil health

  ✅Creates resilience against extreme weather events 
  ✅Produces food

Before and After of 7 Mini Food Forests blocks in a semi-arid context 

Why Join This Training?

The challenges of climate change, degraded soils, and food security require us to rethink how we design and manage landscapes. Mini Food Forests offer a practical, easy-to-manage solution, integrating biodiversity, water management, and food production into a self-sustaining system.

This training will teach you how to design and implement thriving Mini Food Forests, while you can:

  ✅ Tackle real-world challenges: Climate change, degraded soils, and food security demand new approaches.
  ✅Learn a practical, easy-to-manage solution: Mini Food Forests integrate biodiversity, water management, and food production into a self-sustaining system.
  ✅Apply your knowledge anywhere: Use these techniques for personal food forest project, community projects, or ecosystem restoration.

Join us and gain the skills to design and implement thriving Food Forests!

Nature works faster than you think!
Watch this transformation:

drone picture of a Mini Food Forest recently planted in a front yard next to the house and the deck

May 2024 at Quinta Bohemia, Algarve, Portugal

drone picture of a Mini Food Forest recently planted in a front yard next to the house and the deck

November 2024 at Quinta Bohemia, Algarve, Portugal

What Will You Learn?

This training is divided into theoretical sessions (online) and practical, hands-on experience (onsite at Quinta da Fornalha, Portugal).


    ✅ Learn about Agroforestry and Syntropic Agriculture
    ✅ Learn about the Miyawaki Method

    ✅ Understanding the BMF 3m x 3m Model – a structured approach to creating Mini Food Forests
    ✅ How to observe and analyze landscapes through a regenerative lens
    ✅ Essential design principles for planning resilient Mini Food Forests
    ✅ Selecting and layering diverse plant species to maximize biodiversity
    ✅ Implementing effective water management techniques for long-term sustainability
    ✅ Practical soil preparation techniques to enhance fertility and resilience

    ✅ How to create, multiply and apply beneficial microosganisms
    ✅ The step-by-step process of planting, maintaining, and expanding a Mini Food Forest
    ✅ How to integrate edible plants for a productive, food-generating system

Who is This Training For?

This program is ideal for:

      ✅ Individuals looking to design and implement Food Forests in a wide range of conditions—from urban gardens to rural landscapes

      ✅ Gardeners, farmers, landscapers and anyone interested in regenerative practices

      ✅ People who want to grow their own food using an easy-to-manage biodiverse system

      ✅ Anyone eager to experience hands-on training in ecosystem regeneration and sustainable land management

Get ready to grow! 
Training starts on Sep 29, 2025.

Complete Experience - Training Options

Online Explorer

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4 sessions
29 Sep - 2 Oct 2025
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Understand the Basics
&

Build Confidence

This online module gives you the key concepts and tools you need to start creating your own Mini Food Forests!

    ✅ 6 hours of Theoretical Lessons with practical examples

    ✅ Presentation Slides

    ✅ Introduction to Agroforestry, Syntropic Agriculture and the Miyawaki Method

    ✅  List of Mini Food Forest Designs

    ✅  Get more comfortable for the onsite training
    ✅  Plants Selection & Combinations
    ✅  Soil Preparation Method

    ❌  20 hours of Hands-on Experience with Mini Food Forests
    ❌  Printed Manual
    ❌  Plant Propagation
    ❌  Soil Preparation Practice
    ❌   Irrigation System
    ❌   Beneficial Microorganisms Application
    ❌   Mini Food Forests Implementation​

    ❌   Tent accommodation included

    ❌   Lunch included​

This is where theory meets action! You'll practice everything you've learned and gain the confidence to create your own Mini Food Forest.

Complete Experience

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Online

4 sessions
29 Sep - 2 Oct 
2025

Onsite

3 days
10 - 12 Oct
2025
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Understand the Basics
&
Put Theory in Practice

    ✅ 6 hours of Theoretical Lessons with practical examples

    ✅  Presentation Slides

    ✅  Introduction to Agroforestry, Syntropic Agriculture and the Miyawaki Method

    ✅  List of Mini Food Forest Designs

    ✅  Get more comfortable for the onsite training
    ✅  Plants Selection & Combinations

    ✅    Soil Preparation Method

    ✅   20 hours of Hands-on Experience with Mini Food Forests
    ✅   Printed Manual
    ✅   Plants Propagation
    ✅   Soil Preparation Practice
    ✅   Irrigation System
    ✅   Beneficial Microorganisms Application
    ✅   Mini Food Forests Implementation

    ✅   Tent accommodation included

    ✅    Lunch included​

Meet the Biggest Mini Forest Trainers

mix of circular images with trainers of the mini food forest training in different situations

We are Luís Afonso and Ana Laura Cruz, co-founders of Biggest Mini Forest, a movement dedicated to making regenerative Food Forests accessible to all.

In 2015, we started our journey with hands-on experience in Permaculture, Agroforestry, Syntropic Agriculture, and the Miyawaki Method, through which we've been learning, designing, implementing, and teaching regenerative systems across diverse climates and landscapes. Our approach is rooted in practicality, simplicity, and empowerment—helping people create thriving ecosystems, whether in their backyards or on a larger scale.

We have collaborated and worked with projects such as Reflorestar Portugal, Aldeia Gandum, Terra Sintrópica, CARES (Center for Agroecology and Regeneration for the Semi-Arid), Orchard of Flavours - Botanical Garden, CCDesert (Competence Center in the Fight Against Desertification), Agroforest - Bela Flor Respira, Regen Waves, Quinta da Fornalha and others.

Through this training, we'll guide you step by step, sharing our knowledge, insights, and passion for building resilient, abundant food forests. Start small, dream big—let’s grow together!

Training Outline

🌍Tranining Language: English, with clarifications in Portuguese, Spanish, and French if needed.

🖥️ 4 Online Sessions

      Dive into the Theory & Fundamentals of Mini Food Forests creation
      

Complete Journey
Online Sessions

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📅 Monday, Sep 29, 2025

🕕 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Lisbon time)
Food Forests - basic principals & Overview of Miyawaki forests, Agroforestry & Syntropic Agriculture

 

📅 Tuesday, Sep 30, 2025

🕕 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Lisbon time)

The Biggest Mini Forest Model – Structure & Design​​

 

📅 Wednesday, Oct 1, 2025

🕕 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Lisbon time)
Plant Selection & Combinations + Soil Preparation

 

📅 Thursday, Oct 2, 2025

🕕 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Lisbon time)
Care & Expansion - Maintenance for long-term success

Onsite Practice

📅 Thursday, Oct 9, 2025

🕕 6:00 PM onwards (for those staying at Quinta da Fornalha)
Arrival & Check-in – Settle in & meet the group!

📅 Friday, Oct 10, 2025

🕘 9:30 - 17:30

Plant Selection & Propagation – Be Resourceful - Find & Grow the Right Plants in Your Area

📅 Saturday, Oct 11, 2025

🕘 9:30 - 17:30
Soil Preparation, Beneficial Microorganisms & Irrigation System – Build a Foundation for Success

🌱 3 Days Onsite


📍 Quinta da Fornalha, Algarve, Portugal
🍽️ Lunch Included (vegetarian) + coffee, tea & snacks
🏡 Accommodation options:

  • Free camping with kitchen & shower

  • Guesthouses available for booking here

📅 Sunday, Oct 12, 2025

🕘 9:30 - 17:30

Mini Food Forest Implementation & Maintenanc– Design & Plant Your First Mini Food Forest

Videos

All Videos

All Videos

All Videos
Small Plot, Big Impact: How the 4m² Mini Forest Thrives after 18 months

Small Plot, Big Impact: How the 4m² Mini Forest Thrives after 18 months

03:57
What is the Biggest Mini Forest?

What is the Biggest Mini Forest?

01:04
Biggest Mini Forest - Square Module Explained

Biggest Mini Forest - Square Module Explained

04:49
Complete Experience - Fees & Discounts

Fees & Discounts

Online
Explorer

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7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

(Lisbon time)

4 Online sessions

29 Sep - 2 Oct

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50€

79€

Complete Experience

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297€*

Quinta da Fornalha

Castro Marim, Portugal

Free camping + Lunch included

3 Days practice

10 - 12 Oct

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7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

(Lisbon time)

4 Online sessions

29 Sep - 2 Oct

479€

Complete Journey Discounts

      Groups get a 10% discount (267€/person)*

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      A 20% discount is offered for those who have previously completed a Mini Food Forest Workshop (237€/person)*

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* Please email us at hello@biggestminiforest.com if you would like to claim the discounts! They cannot be combined!

Onsite Training Location

Quinta da Fornalha graden with colorful restarurant windows on the left

For over 20 years, Quinta da Fornalha has been a hub for regenerative agriculture in the town of Castro Marim, Algarve, Portugal. With six Mini Food Forests and experimental plots for other food forests, agroforestry, and organic orchards (oranges, olives, and carob trees), it offers a unique setting to observe biodiversity in action.
 

At Quinta da Fornalha, you’ll learn by doing, surrounded by a landscape designed for regeneration, experimentation, and sustainable food production.

Apart from free camping area with an outdoor kitchen and showers, they have a wide variety of accommodation (learn more).

300+ Participants in previous events

Testimonials

I recently attended the Mini Food Forest Training with Luis and Laura, and it was an absolutely amazing experience! Their passion and knowledge made the learning process both inspiring and practical. I walked away feeling empowered and equipped with the skills to start my own food forest. Highly recommend this training!

Lara van Uchelen

2025-06-13

Francisco Garcia

2025-06-10

Mentores muito interessados em partilhar o seu conhecimento e fazerem nascer mini forests em novos locais. Grande partilha de conhecimentos.

Chirag Shamdasani

2025-06-06

A truly brilliant learning experience - very well organised and gave us a chance to see what it takes to build our own mini food forests. Inspiring and would highly recommend!

Contact Us

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