{"id":17,"date":"2024-05-03T16:48:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T16:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mudvalleyinstitute.org\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2026-05-13T07:32:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T06:32:39","slug":"a-nossa-historia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/about-us\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"A nossa hist\u00f3ria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”TBVS – Light – Content 11″ module_class=”tbvs-section-light” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”ffefe2d7-fe4d-4226-a5ef-9f2dc47a14ae” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Our location<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”0d7125e8-6144-4e5e-b524-b89530281cb3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

Mud Valley Foundation is located at Quinta Vale da Lama, a regenerative organic farm just east of the city of Lagos, Portugal. The views here extend to the Serra de Monchique mountain range to our north, across the estuary of the Ribeira de Odi\u00e1xere, and out to the Atlantic Ocean. With mild weather and over 300 days of sunshine a year, it is an inspiring and magical location.<\/p>\n

The southwestern Algarve region of Portugal is our local geographical area of work and influence. There are a number of ecosystems and watersheds within this region that we actively work or intend to work in.<\/p>\n

Our work is focused on our local area and ecosystem, understanding that it also has broader application to other ecosystems, ecoregions, bioregions, and climatological zones around the world.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”0d7125e8-6144-4e5e-b524-b89530281cb3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

Our learnings here are actively shared with others, and we incorporate their learnings into our efforts here.<\/p>\n

This area is a part of a terrestrial ecoregion known as the \u201cSouthwest Iberian Mediterranean sclerophyllous and mixed forests\u201d ecoregion, based on the classification system developed by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This part of Portugal is located in the \u201cHot Mediterranean Summer\u201d (Csa) climatological classification within the K\u00f6ppen scale. Regions with this form of the Mediterranean climate generally experience hot and dry summers, with mild winters.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”TBVS – Light – Content 6″ module_class=”tbvs-section-light” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”||30px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”order: 2;” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MVI-our-story.png” title_text=”MVI-our-story” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”order: 1;” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 1;”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”ffefe2d7-fe4d-4226-a5ef-9f2dc47a14ae” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Our History<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”e07ea7c3-74cf-4e56-adac-067319c9e2e1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”0d7125e8-6144-4e5e-b524-b89530281cb3″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Mud Valley Foundation was founded by Walt Ludwick in 2010, originally to support Novas Descobertas Association<\/a>, an eco-social regeneration educational nonprofit in the Algarve, by funding their summer camps and some of their other projects. In 2021, we reorganized and changed our organization type with the Portuguese government, and are now a non-governmental development cooperation organization (which is a fancy way of saying we are still a nonprofit!). Now we have more flexibility to do more things, and focus on three types of activities\u2026
1) developing and presenting our own programs and training;
2) supporting academic research, and
3) offering grants for other nonprofits, all in the areas of eco-social and agricultural regeneration.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”TBVS – Light – Content 5″ module_class=”tbvs-section-light” _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”order: 1;” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 1;”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/walter-ludwick.jpeg” title_text=”walter-ludwick” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”220px” module_alignment=”right” module_alignment_tablet=”center” module_alignment_phone=”center” module_alignment_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_radii=”on|50%|50%|50%|50%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”||30px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”order: 2;” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”ffefe2d7-fe4d-4226-a5ef-9f2dc47a14ae” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Our Founder<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”e07ea7c3-74cf-4e56-adac-067319c9e2e1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”0d7125e8-6144-4e5e-b524-b89530281cb3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

Walt Ludwick founded Mud Valley Foundation in 2010. Prior to that he was a co-owner and operator of Weight Watchers franchises across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States for over 20 years before selling his businnes and moving to Portugal with his family in 2006. Since moving here, he has developed a regenerative, organic farm (Quinta Vale da Lama), an agrotourism business (Casa Vale da Lama), an educational and recreational nonprofit (Novas Descobertas Association), and an extended farm-family of fellow travelers on the path of “Living and Learning Closer to Nature”. He is the founder of Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Abra\u00e7o Fraterno<\/a>, the registered organization that operates Mud Valley Foundation. Personally, Walt is a private pilot, nature enthusiast, avid reader and researcher, and a devoted husband and father.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”30px||30px||false|false” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_slider arrows_custom_color=”gcid-89f30470-60e2-4f62-9930-b3c11e531654″ dot_nav_custom_color=”gcid-89f30470-60e2-4f62-9930-b3c11e531654″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h3″ body_text_align=”left” width=”90%” module_alignment=”center” content_max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|30px||30px|false|false” border_radii_image=”on|50%|50%|50%|50%” box_shadow_style_image=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-89f30470-60e2-4f62-9930-b3c11e531654%22:%91%22arrows_custom_color%22,%22dot_nav_custom_color%22%93}”][et_pb_slide heading=”Nita Barroca” image=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/nita_thumb.jpg” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” arrows_custom_color=”gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329″ dot_nav_custom_color=”gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h3″ header_text_align=”left” header_font_size=”34px” header_letter_spacing=”0px” body_text_align=”left” background_color=”gcid-463fe3dc-cb3d-43c1-986b-2b4b0abaa92c” background_enable_color=”on” text_orientation=”left” background_layout=”light” width=”100%” max_width=”600px” custom_padding=”50px||||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_width_all_image=”1px” border_color_all_image=”gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329″ box_shadow_style_image=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-463fe3dc-cb3d-43c1-986b-2b4b0abaa92c%22:%91%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329%22:%91%22arrows_custom_color%22,%22dot_nav_custom_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22%93}” sticky_transition=”on”]

Co-Founder<\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide heading=”Richard Rushing” image=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/nita_thumb.jpg” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” arrows_custom_color=”gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329″ dot_nav_custom_color=”gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h3″ header_text_align=”left” header_font_size=”34px” header_letter_spacing=”0px” body_text_align=”left” background_color=”gcid-463fe3dc-cb3d-43c1-986b-2b4b0abaa92c” background_enable_color=”on” text_orientation=”left” background_layout=”light” width=”100%” max_width=”600px” custom_padding=”50px||||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_width_all_image=”1px” border_color_all_image=”gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329″ box_shadow_style_image=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-463fe3dc-cb3d-43c1-986b-2b4b0abaa92c%22:%91%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-7f0e497c-529a-4953-b0d4-92935468c329%22:%91%22arrows_custom_color%22,%22dot_nav_custom_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22%93}” sticky_transition=”on”]

Co-Founder<\/p>[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_slider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”About” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” disabled=”on” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/erc-regen-12.jpg” background_position=”center_left” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” height_tablet=”60vw” height_phone=”60vw” height_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MVI-shape-pattern-4.png” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”8%|8%|8%|8%|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”ffefe2d7-fe4d-4226-a5ef-9f2dc47a14ae” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Our History<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”e07ea7c3-74cf-4e56-adac-067319c9e2e1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”0d7125e8-6144-4e5e-b524-b89530281cb3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

Mud Valley Foundation was founded by Walt Ludwick in 2010, originally to support Projecto Novas Descobertas, an eco-social regeneration educational nonprofit in the Algarve, by funding their summer camps and some of their other projects. In 2021, we re-organized and changed our organization type with the Portuguese government, and are now a non-governmental development cooperation organization (which is a fancy way of saying we are still a nonprofit!). Now we have more flexibility to do more things, and focus on three types of activities\u2026
1) developing and presenting our own programs and training;
2) supporting academic research, and
3) offering grants for other non-profits, all in the areas of eco-social regeneration and regenerative agriculture.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”About” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” disabled=”on” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MVI-shape-pattern-4.png” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”8%|8%|8%|8%|true|true” custom_css_main_element=”order: 2;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”ffefe2d7-fe4d-4226-a5ef-9f2dc47a14ae” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Our Founder<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”e07ea7c3-74cf-4e56-adac-067319c9e2e1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”0d7125e8-6144-4e5e-b524-b89530281cb3″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Walt Ludwick founded Mud Valley Foundation in 2010. Prior to that he was a co-owner and operator of Weight Watchers franchises across Eastern Canada and the State of Maine in the United States for over 20 years before moving to Portugal in 2006. Since moving here, he has developed a regenerative, organic farm (Quinta Vale da Lama), an agrotourism business (Casa Vale da Lama), a nonprofit educational and recreational association (Projecto Novas Descobertas), and an extended farm-family of fellow travelers on the path of “Living and Learning Closer to Nature”. He is the founder of Funda\u0327c\u00e3o Abra\u00e7o Fraterno, the registered organization that operates Mud Valley Foundation. Personally, Walt is a private pilot, nature enthusiast, avid reader and researcher, and a devoted husband and father.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/quinta-vale-da-lama-main.jpg” background_position=”center_left” custom_css_main_element=”order: 1;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” height_tablet=”60vw” height_phone=”60vw” height_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” admin_label=”TBVS – Light – Features 24″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _module_preset=”ffefe2d7-fe4d-4226-a5ef-9f2dc47a14ae” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Learn more<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjE5In19@” button_text=” Learn about Bioregional Learning Centers” _builder_version=”4.25.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”515a6e83-da98-466f-b0eb-c3abd7259a40″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-89f30470-60e2-4f62-9930-b3c11e531654%22:%91%22button_text_color%22,%22button_text_color%22,%22button_bg_color__hover%22%93,%22gcid-77d1acf0-d340-4905-8f54-a6c24f676f3a%22:%91%22button_text_color__hover%22%93}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

H\u00e1 mais de uma d\u00e9cada que a Mud Valley Foundation apoia os esfor\u00e7os de regenera\u00e7\u00e3o eco-social no sudoeste de Portugal.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1089429,"parent":12,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1099151,"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions\/1099151"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1089429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudvalley.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}