Explore what makes soil thrive
Celebrate World Soil Day and discover what makes soil healthy and how we can help it thrive.
Through engaging presentations, hands-on field activities, live soil microscopy, and a behind-the-scenes look at composting, explore the living world beneath your feet and learn how healthy soil supports plant growth, captures water, and sustains life. Whether you’re a gardener, farmer, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about soil, there’s something here for you.
👉 Participation is free, but pre-registration is required.
🌐 This program is presented in both English and Portuguese.
5 December 2026
11am to 4pm
Quinta Vale da Lama, Odiáxere
Activities free of charge
Reasons to participate
Discover what makes soil healthy
Explore the hidden world beneath your feet
Learn how to build healthier soil
Turn knowledge into practical action
Program Schedule
🌐 All sessions and activities are in both Portuguese and English.
Learning and Doing sessions
There are two Learning and Doing sessions. Each features some brief educational presentations on soil-related topics to share knowledge, and then we will go outside for some interactive, hands-on discovery work so you can experience the practical side of working with soils. You can attend either or both sessions. There will be a short lunch break between them.
Engagement Area
The Engagement Area consists of stations with a variety activities and information that you can interact with at your own pace throughout the day.
Learning and Doing Sessions
Soil and Soil Health
🕑 11:00am – 1:00pm
- Learn about what soil is and what it is made of, and why healthy soil is important.
- Discover what “healthy” soil is, how it is defined and measured, and what we do with the information. We will share the 6 key metrics we use for measuring soil health.
- After the knowledge sharing section, we will go outside and conduct soil sampling. This interactive session will allow you to get your hands dirty as you participate in the sampling. Be prepared to learn and then do!
Lunch Break
🕑 1:00pm – 1:30pm
Feel free to bring your own lunch. You can enjoy time exploring the beautiful surroundings of Quinta Vale da Lama during this time.
Composting and Creating Healthy Soil
🕑 1:30 – 3:30pm
- Learn about how composting creates healthy soil and some of the different composting methods. See the results of some of the recent composting tests conducted by the Soil Lab of Mud Valley Foundation.
- Discover how you can start composting at home.
- You will take a tour of the composting area at Quinta Vale da Lama and gain insight into all the methods used here in the farm operations. Then, there will be a hands-on composting activity so you can have a practical experience working with compost!
Closing
🕑 3:30pm – 4:00pm
We will finish the day with a brief closing session and answering any other questions you may have. This is also a great opportunity to visit the display and information tables we have set up at the facility.
Engagement Area
This is an area of tables and stations that share information about a variety of soil-related topics. The area is open continuously throughout the event, so you can explore and interact with it at your own pace.
🕑 11:00am – 4:00pm
Planned stations include:
- Soil microscopy – Bring your own soil or compost sample and we will analyze it under a microscope. You will be able to see the living organisms in your soil!
- Soil Lab tools and samples – See the equipment we use when we analyze soil.
- Germination test results – We will presenting live results of a recent germination and seedling test to show how different soil and compost mixtures affect germination and growth.
- Soil sample table – Did you know there is not just one type of soil in this part of the Algarve? Examine some of the different soil types we have here and learn about each.
- ECHO Soil Health program – Learn about this Europe-wide citizen science program focused on soil health.
- How geology affects soil – Dr. Floris Calkoen will share some of his work on how the geology of the western Algarve affects its soil.
About
World Soil Day
World Soil Day is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources.
95% of our food comes from soils;
There are more living organisms in a tablespoon of soil than people on Earth;
Over the last 70 years, the level of vitamins and nutrients in food has drastically decreased.;
33% of soils are degraded;
Up to half of our household waste could be composted to nurture our soil.
About Quinta Vale da Lama
Living and Learning Closer to Nature
Quinta Vale da Lama is a 43-hectare farm, featuring an organic market garden, applying regenerative agriculture and ecosystem restoration methodologies to improve soil quality, water availability, biodiversity, and local livelihoods.
It is also an active member of Ecosystem Restoration Communities, a group of 60 global hubs pursuing diverse restoration initiatives rehabilitating degraded lands to create flourishing ecosystems.
Quinta Vale da Lama is located in southwestern Portugal, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains of the western Algarve.
Quinta Vale da Lama is a partner of Mud Valley Foundation.
How to Get Here
Click for Google Maps directions
Click for Google Maps directions
Questions? Email us: programs@mudvalley.org
Join us!
A few details to keep in mind
Who
All ages are welcome and you can bring others with you. Children will need to be supervised.
When: 5 December 2026
The first session begins promptly at 11:00am, so please arrive a little earlier. You can attend any session or activity you wish, and leave when you wish.
Where
We’ll meet at Novas Descobertas Association. Please park there. → Find it on Google Maps
What to bring
The educational sessions are indoors, but the hands-on activities are outdoors, so dress accordingly. Both outdoor sessions involve working in soil or compost, so gloves and appropriate clothes and shoes are recommended.
Any questions?
You can email us at programs@mudvalley.org
Register using the form below.
Register for the Soil Day Event
Register using the form below
With the support of:
Learn about Quinta Vale da Lama here.
