Country: Portugal
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Bee Serra da Estrela is a project connecting the origins, nature and people of the Serra da Estrela, aiming to promote regeneration, environmental education and the resilience of the territory. Through its Forest, Agriculture, and Wild branches, Bee Serra da Estrela brings together ancestral knowledge and innovative practices to create living landscapes where people and nature coexist in harmony. They believe it is possible to revitalise rural life by bringing people closer to the land and promoting local education, culture, and economy, always with respect for natural cycles and the unique value of place. Through regenerative practices and syntropic agriculture, they care for the land to create balanced agricultural systems that nourish people and strengthen ecosystems. In Bee Forest, the focus is on regenerating the Serra da Estrela, planting native species and caring for the territory with sustainable practices that reinforce biodiversity and protect the future of the mountain. Through responsible practices, it ensures a balance between conservation and production, highlighting honey as one of the main products resulting from the harmony between nature, biodiversity and human activity. Through buggy tours, Bee Wild offers a unique way to explore the landscape of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, guided by a sensitive and insightful interpretation of nature, geology, and the stories of the mountains. The revenue from these experiences contributes directly to the development of the other aspects of the project.
Product
Manuel Lagoa is a young entrepreneur who decided to revitalize his great-aunt’s farm and, respecting the growing seasons and prioritizing the local and sustainable economy, supplies the restaurants in the village of Manteigas with fresh, seasonal products. In addition to eggs, honey, fruits, and vegetables, the cultivation of the Manteigas bean stands out, thus responding to local incentives for the production of a legume that is typical of the regional cuisine. The Manteigas bean is a variety of large bean that, when cultivated at altitude on the slopes of the Serra da Estrela mountain range and irrigated by the crystal-clear waters of the Zêzere basin, acquires a unique flavor and velvety texture that deserves to be tasted and promoted.
