Mini Food Forest Training Program
Create it ONCE.
GROW FOOD year after year.
Follow a clear 5-step process to design, plant,
and grow your own Mini Food Forest.
Starting with a single 3×3m plot.
Choose Your Path
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Is This For You?
Growing your own food should be simple. But without a clear system, it rarely is. So if you feel that:
✅ You want to grow your own food but don't know where to start
✅ You've tried before but the conditions — heat, poor soil, dry summers — got in the way
✅ You've watched videos and read tips but nothing ever came together into a real plan
✅ You want something that keeps producing year after year, without starting from scratch every season
✅ You want to grow food in a way that restores the soil and brings life back to your land
You don’t need prior experience or a lot of space. You can start with just 9 m² (3×3 m) of land and the willingness to follow a step-by-step process that works.
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
Real Results From Real People
Helen — Moncarapacho, Algarve, Portugal
Helen had been gardening for years in the UK. When she moved to Portugal, the conditions here (the heat, the dry summers, the hard soil) made everything harder. Plants struggled. Trees barely survived.
She tried different approaches, but nothing gave her the results she was looking for.
Then she built her first 4 Mini Food Forest plots. The year after, she built another 4. This year, she's planning more.
"Last winter, I lost most of my avocado trees to excess water. The ones inside my Mini Food Forests? Not one of them died."
Maria Ana — Mação, Santarém, Portugal
Maria Ana grew up on a farm but spent most of her life in the city. When she moved back to the countryside, she wanted to grow her own food but felt she didn't have the experience to do it properly.
Without any prior hands-on experience, she harvested hundreds of kilos of food from her first 6 plots in her very first year.
Clara and Niall - Loulé, Algarve, Portugal
Clara and Niall had no prior experience when they joined the training in May 2025. Just weeks later, they complete their own 5 Mini Food Forests Plots — and we had the privilege of visiting them to see it in person, and we were quite happy to hear what Clara said:
"Without the step-by-step process we would never be able to do it. But like that, the whole process becomes so much easier and intuitive!"
What others are saying
Miguel Pereira
2025-07-23
The Biggest Mini Forest concept is such a cool and inspiring addition to the much needed solutions we need in the world right now! It aims at providing an actionable, customizable solution to creating self-sustaining, highly-productive and ecologically functional mini food forests, and while visiting Quinta da Fornalha we could see just that — tiny 3m by 3m square-shaped oasis that put together make a dense and diverse orchard of sorts like we had never seen before. Although most tiny forests at Quinta da Fornalha are still young (a couple years old, I think), I would highly recommend a visit since you can already see such a huge difference in greenery when comparing to the neighbouring fields! Also, sometimes they organize workshops where you can learn to plan and plant your own Biggest Mini Forest and be part of the solution for a Portugal full of forests and full of food! Quinta da Fornalha folks are great hosts and will show visitors around the project no problem. Maybe you'll even pop into the pool for a refreshing moment after exploring the brand-new forests..
Léonore Pascal
2025-07-22
Projet très inspirant qui transmet de manière ludique et accessible des connaissances de base de l’agroforesterie et la régénération. To many more Biggest Mini Forest !
Lara van Uchelen
2025-06-13
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!
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!
4.5/5
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Nature works faster than you think!
Watch this transformation:
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May 2024 at Quinta Bohemia, Algarve, Portugal
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November 2024 at Quinta Bohemia, Algarve, Portugal
The 5-Step Biggest Mini Forest Approach
Before and After of 7 Mini Food Forests blocks in a semi-arid context
Inspired by the principles of Agroforestry, Syntropic Agriculture, and the Miyawaki Method. Simplified into a clear process that anyone can follow, regardless of experience.
🔍 Step 1 — Observe & Plan
Read your space and understand your conditions before touching a single plant.
✏️ Step 2 — Design & Choose Your Plants
Design your 3×3m plots and combine plants the way a natural forest does.
🌱 Step 3 — Prepare the Soil
Build a healthy, living soil foundation and create an efficient irrigation system.
🌿 Step 4 — Plant & Mulch
Learn the exact planting process for the strongest possible start.
🌳 Step 5 — Boost Biodiversity & Final Setup
Add diversity, set up irrigation, and prepare your system to establish and grow.
✨ You also get:
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A digital planning tool
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A step-by-step implementation checklist
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Proven plant combinations for your conditions
Complete Experience
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Online
Onsite
4 live sessions (13–16 Apr 2026)
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Algarve — Quinta da Fornalha (1–3 May)
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Santarém — Casa do Tempo (22–24 May)
From Learning to Doing
In Just 3 Days
3 days Practice
Choose your onsite location:
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Get your hands in the soil. Build a real Mini Food Forest alongside others and go home with the confidence that only comes from having actually done it.
⭐ Everything from the ONLINE EXPLORER
✅ 20 hours of Hands-on Experience
✅ Printed Manual
✅ Plants Propagation
✅ Soil Preparation Practice
✅ Irrigation System
✅ Beneficial Microorganisms Application
✅ Mini Food Forests Implementation
✅ Tent accommodation included
✅ Lunch included
Online Explorer
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4 live sessions
13–16 Apr
2026
Learn at your own pace, from anywhere in the world
Everything You Need to
Design, Plant and Grow
Everything you need to go from zero to a thriving Mini Food Forest — and the confidence to keep expanding it season after season.
✅ 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
✅ Plants Selection & Combinations
✅ Soil Preparation Method
Fees & Discounts
Complete Experience
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1-3 May,2026
Castro Marim/Algarve, Portugal
or
22-24 May, 2026
Mação/Santarém,
Portugal
3 Days practice
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7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
(Lisbon time)
4 Online sessions
13--16 Apr, 2026
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Super Early Bird - 347€ | Until Feb 14
Early Bird - 397€ | Until Mar 31
Standard - 427€ | From Apr 1
* Full refund available up to
7 days before the course starts.
Online
Explorer
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7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
(Lisbon time)
4 Online sessions
13--16 Apr, 2026
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Early Bird - 59€ | Until Mar 31
Standard - 67€ | From Apr 1
* Full refund available up to
7 days before the course starts.
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Luís Afonso & Ana Laura Cruz Co-founders of Biggest Mini Forest
We started exactly where you are now — inspired by the idea of growing food, but overwhelmed by complex systems and early failures.
Over the years, through hands-on experience across Portugal, Spain, Brazil and beyond, we developed a method that actually works in real conditions — not just in theory. A method built on simplicity, practicality, and working with nature instead of against it.
We don't just teach this. We live it.
Meet Your Trainers
300+ People. 80+ Mini Food Forests. One Growing Community.
Since 2023, we've run over 15 courses and events — from online training and onsite implementation to advanced workshops and community gatherings.
80+ Mini Food Forests now growing across Portugal, Spain, and Ecuador — created by us and by people who took the training and planted their own.
Every single one still growing.
Training Outline
🌍Tranining Language: English, with clarifications in Portuguese, Spanish, and French if needed.
📹 All online sessions are recorded, so you never miss anything.
🖥️ 4 Online Zoom Sessions (Recording available until 31 May, 2026)
Dive into the Theory & Fundamentals of Mini Food Forests creation
Complete Experience
Online Sessions
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📅 Monday, 13 Apr, 2026 | Welcome to the Forest
🕕 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Lisbon time)
Food Forests — Basic Principles. Understand the BMF model and how to assess your land: sun, wind, water, and soil conditions.
📅 Tuesday, 14 Apr, 2026 | Designing Your Mini Food Forest: Space, Time & Plants
🕕 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Lisbon time)
Plan your space, decide when to start, and build your first plant list using simple rules and the different tools we provide.
📅 Wednesday, 15 Apr, 2026 | Mini Food Forest Design & Soil
🕕 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Lisbon time)
Design your plot using plant combination rules and learn how to prepare a living soil foundation.
📅 Thursday, 16 Apr, 2026 | Bringing It to Life: Planting & Early Care
🕕 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Lisbon time)
Learn the full implementation process — from irrigation and planting to mulching, biodiversity, and early care.
Onsite Practice
📅 Day 0 - Thursday evening
🕕 6:00 PM onwards (for those staying at Quinta da Fornalha)
Arrival & Check-in – Settle in & meet the group!
📅 Day 1 - Friday
🕘 9:30 - 17:00
Plant Selection & Propagation – Be Resourceful - Find & Grow the Right Plants in Your Area
📅 Day 2 - Saturday
🕘 9:30 - 17:00
Soil Preparation, Beneficial Microorganisms & Irrigation System – Build a Foundation for Success
Option 1
📅1-3 May, 2026
📍 Quinta da Fornalha, Algarve, Portugal
🍽️ Lunch Included (vegetarian) + coffee,
tea & snacks
🏡 Accommodation options:
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Camping with kitchen & shower
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Cabins and Guesthouses available for booking here
Option 2
📅 22-24 May, 2026
📍 Casa do Tempo, Santarém, Portugal
🍽️ Lunch Included (vegetarian) + coffee, tea & snacks
🏡 Accommodation options:
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Camping with kitchen & shower
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Shared room (2 beds) available for booking here
📅 Day 3 - Sunday
🕘 9:30 - 17:00
Mini Food Forest Implementation & Maintenance – Design & Plant Your First Mini Food Forest
🌱 3 Days Onsite – Hands-on Practice
Experience the Full Process of Designing and Planting a Mini Food Forest
Onsite Training Locations
Quinta da Fornalha (Castro Marim, Algarve)
📅 1–3 May 2026
For over 20 years, Quinta da Fornalha has been a hub for regenerative agriculture in the town of Castro Marim, Algarve, Portugal. With ten Mini Food Forests and experimental plots for other food forests, agroforestry, and organic orchards (oranges, olives, and carob trees), it's a unique setting where you can see food forests in action at different stages of growth.
There you’ll learn by doing, surrounded by a landscape designed for regeneration, experimentation, and sustainable food production.
🍽️ Lunch included (vegetarian) + coffee, tea & snacks
🏡 Apart from camping area with an outdoor kitchen and showers, they have a wide variety of accommodation (learn more).
A Casa do Tempo (Mação, Santarém)
📅 22–24 May 2026
A Casa do Tempo is a new regenerative retreat center located in the heart of Portugal, just 2 hours north of Lisbon. This peaceful space is becoming a living example of abundance and ecological care, with six Mini Food Forest plots implemented at the beginning of last summer.
It’s a peaceful space surrounded by trees, cared for by a wonderful host who has harvested hundreds of kilos of food from the young mini food forests.
It's a beautiful setting for growth—both for forests and for people.
🍽️ Lunch included (vegetarian) + coffee, tea & snacks
🏡 Accommodation options include comfortable double rooms or camping spaces for tents and campervans, offering flexibility for all preferences (learn more).
