HortaFCUL

HortaFCUL is a community-based permaculture project based in Lisbon University’s Faculty of Sciences (FCUL). The initiative was launched by a group of biology students concerned about the gap between sustainability ideals and the university’s environmental impact.

This bottom-up project has developed an important role as a catalyst of practical scientific-based knowledge. Nowadays, HortaFCUL is a resilient, sustainable and inclusive community, allowing the general public to learn more about nature-based solutions. It has five subprojects at campus level and relies on a volunteer-based horizontally-organised guardians collective to maintain the project’s green areas.

HortaFCUL, as a permaculture project, achieves its central goals by closing functional loops related to human activities. For example:

  • Social cycle: HortaFCUL has organized more than 200 workshops, talks and guided tours with over 5,000 people. Topics are related to food production, ecosystem management and social group dynamics. HortaFCUL has also held more than 450 working days inviting volunteers to join activities.
  • Knowledge cycle: So far, HortaFCUL has produced more than 10 scientific written outputs.
  • Production cycle: HortaFCUL has produced nearly 50 metric tons of compost made by guardians and volunteers using the organic residuals from the campus gardens.
  • Ecological cycle: HortaFCUL has four complex ecosystems, which include an edible garden, several agroforests, two tiny fast growth forests and many raised beds. HortaFCUL has on average 20 perennial plant species per 100 metres squared.
  • Materials cycle: Most of the infrastructure present in the project is upcycled from used materials, like woods, metal or carpets.
  • Community, Ecosystems, Food
  • 2025
  • Permaculture Magazine Award
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