Project
Cal Tut - A cooperative regenerating 70 hectares of forest and agricultural land

Cal Tut
Among the volcanoes, next to a town in Catalonia, lays the Cal Tut estate where no one has lived for 50 years. It consists of a neglected vineyard, an orchard, several terraces, three ruins, and an extensive dense forest.
Much has changed in the world sinceCal Tut was inhabited for the last time:climate change, water scarcity, loss ofbiodiversity, agricultural intensification,and land degradation are putting ourfuture and that of our children at risk.At the countryside, young people haveleft to find another life. The formerlyproductive farms have disappearedunder the bushes In the city it isalmost impossible to find anaffordable house. And we are lostconnection with nature and withothers. If it continues like this

A chanding world
Much has changed in the world since Cal Tut was inhabited for the last time: climate change, water shortage, loss of biodiversity, intensification of agriculture and degeneration of the soil. All putting at risk the future of our children. Young people have moved away to the city and the once so productive farms have been covered by blackberry bushes. It is nearly impossible to find affordable housing in the cities and we have lost our connection with nature and each other. If this continues like this for much longer...

Our answer to these crisis? Back to the land, back to Cal Tut!
With a core group of five people + supporters we want to join forces so that this farm flourishes again and is resistant to the changes that await us. So that it becomes a place where the forest and nature can take their natural course and where people can come to live, work together and learn. A place where, asbefore, living and working go together and where we use our skills to give this piece of land what it needs.

Global & local threats
We will protect the forest from the global "hunger for lumber" and manage it so it become more diverse and climate resilient. And this way capture more carbon, infiltrate more water into the ground, provide more cooling and help maintain the current humid micro climate. In order to achieve this we are cooperating with expert organisations. In order to provide the gift of priimeval trees and biodiversity to our future generations.

To achieve this, Cal Tut will consist of a housing cooperative, a working cooperative and a forest sanctuary.

The housing cooperative represents the sharing of housing services and a sustainable community life. This means that Cal Tut homes will also be affordable for future generations because we are taking property off the market and private hands and therefore there will be no speculation. With the social rent that the inhabitants pay, we can rehabilitate the farm over time.

Our working cooperative manages the land and carries out projects in Cal Tut. These are projects aimed at ecological and social regeneration and at the same time raising income for the residential community. This includes agroforestry, workshops and courses on natural construction, ecosystem regeneration, forest baths, and group facilitation. We 5 form the core of this, but we also involve local entrepreneurs who can carry out their project here. Either using the land for their regenerative business or organising a workshop or meeting.

Our goal in the end is to put 42 of the 62 hectares of forest in the forest sanctuary foundation that will ensure that it is never cut down and that guarantees its continuity. This foundation will be governed by someone from the cooperative, a local governor and an expert from the international community. This is the best way to ensure that the local community keeps backing conservation and can influence how it is done. The cooperative manages the remaining 20 hectares in a regenerative way and we will use them for agroforestry, we also want to set up an ecosystem restoration camp and much more.

Our goals:

  • Restore the ecosystem functions of the 62 hectares of forest and provide protection against forest fires.
  • Guarantee the long lasting storage of 68 tons of CO2 per year.
  • Remove the estate from the speculative land and housing market and thus contribute to the transition in society.
  • Offer affordable housing and workspace to residents, visitors and local entrepreneurs.
  • Contribute to people's physical and mental health through. (Re)connection with nature.
  • Inspire a new way of life based on cooperation and a social, solidarity-based economy.
  • Boost rural economy and provide local employment.
  • Re-appreciate the knowledge of older generations regarding sustainable agriculture and forestry.