The Monastrell experience is based on a passion for the Mediterranean and celebrating the essence of the products from our land and sea. However, these elements, undisputed pillars of our gastronomy, also require a treatment based on care, respect, and the proper use of them
For this reason, most of the fresh and seasonal ingredients that our chef María José San Román and our team use to prepare each dish come from our Terramón Garden
To this land, which we also refer to as a ‘living garden,’ we dedicate the cultivation of products in a sustainable manner, embracing the philosophy of regenerative agriculture and all the consequent benefits it has for the soil, food, living beings, and the environment in general.
What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is an increasingly established practice that stems from awareness of soil protection. As its name suggests, it proposes the ‘regeneration’ of land that currently suffers from overgrazing, deforestation, or intensive farming practices, which deteriorate it relentlessly.
Regenerative agriculture is conceived as a set of techniques that seek to regenerate and encourage the fertility and biodiversity of the land.
Principles of Regenerative Agriculture
Environmental sustainability and human health are inherent concepts in the meaning of this type of agriculture.
Under this premise, the principles of regenerative agriculture are consolidated, from which more sustainable cultivation techniques are derived:
- Mechanical and physical use of the field is dispensed with. However, it is not about returning to past techniques, but about relying on technological and scientific innovations for better utilization of the soil in a sustainable and enriching way for its ecosystem.
- Cover crops are preferred, as they allow us to utilize the soil throughout the year, both to grow new foods and for use as forage and grazing material for birds and livestock.
- Livestock that, moreover, is incorporated in a respectful and conscientious manner to aid in crop production
- Techniques such as crop rotation, silvopasture, ecological aquaculture, or agroforestry help to promote and preserve biodiversity.
The design of our garden following regenerative agriculture
Many of these principles are applied in our Terramón Garden for the cultivation of crops, from which we obtain healthy, fresh, and locally sourced fruits and vegetables
The best way to learn about what we do in regenerative horticulture is to experience it firsthand. We organize workshops, training sessions, and volunteer opportunities to foster, share, and promote this way of caring for our land and our food among all those who wish to participate
Meanwhile, we continue investing in different strategies that regenerative agriculture allows us to leverage in our Terramón Garden:
- We use organic fertilizers that we produce ourselves, such as worm humus, compost, biochar, bokashi, or bioles, among others
- We take advantage of crop rotation and include green manure in it. In this way, we help fix nitrogen in the soil and ultimately improve the quality of the food we cultivate as much as possible.
- Preventing pests is another goal of regenerative agriculture. We rotate and associate our crops to achieve this.
- We also shred pruning residues for compost and to mulch, protect, and nourish the soil. With exquisite care, we also achieve greater efficiency in water use
- Animal manure is used as a raw material for organic fertilizers, thus avoiding non-natural elements that could be aggressive to the soil.
- We even make our own natural pesticides with plants that grow in the garden. For example, nettle slurry, horsetail, or tobacco.
As you can see, the same commitment to excellence that we always maintain in all the preparations of our restaurant, we maintain in our Terramón Garden when it comes to caring for the soil. We consider it one of our most valuable living resources!
For us, agriculture is not only a means to obtain the food we consume, but also the best way to constantly care for the land.
Just as in our dishes, harmony reigns as the main characteristic in our crops. Everything maintains a healthy and harmonious order and balance. The health of the soil is like a hymn to life, the essential foundation for the well-being of the ecosystem and all living beings.
We invite you to discover this way of leveraging regenerative agriculture in our Terramón Garden or, directly, to experience the unique foods it provides at our Monastrell restaurant.
