A botanical garden focused on exotic fruit trees
We need to tell you about Miguel Cotton.
Miguel has been a client of Rayon de Serre since April 2021, for which we are grateful, but no, that’s not why we need to introduce him to you.
Actually, what we realy wanted to present to you is The Orchard of Flavours, the project, Miguel’s beautiful folly.
Created in 2019 in the Algarve, in the south of Portugal, the “Orchard of Flavors” is one of those projects that make you feel good, a clever mix of utopia, poetry, passion and science ; carrier of future and, therefore, of flavors.
Exotic fruit trees cultivated in agroecology
As is often the case, this type of project is based on a simple idea: to grow a maximum number of exotic fruit trees on European soil in the most natural way possible, using a minimum of water. Since 2019, more than 400 fruit trees have been planted.
The approach is totally altruistic; the primary objective of this botanical garden is to show which fruit production can be relocated in Europe and to share with all the knowledge necessary to achieve this goal. The principle of open source applied to botany in short. At the same time, Miguel and his team seek to show how an ecological approach can be implemented by any keen gardener.
This meticulous work has just been rewarded with an accreditation from the BCGI (Botanical Gardens Conservation International).
A few words about Miguel
Entrepreneur/traveler first, our man is the founder of www.continents-insolites.com, currently a professor at the University of Brussels, Miguel got into agroecology and permaculture 15 years ago. He trained in Ireland and Denmark. Since then, he has been able to visit and/or participate in the creation of agroecological sites around the world (Belgium, France, Portugal, Japan, Indonesia…). His main field of interest is the implementation of scientific agroecological practices in fruit production. The Orchard of Flavors is the superb implementation of this.
What is agroecology ?
Agroecology is not a new idea, the term was first used in 1928, but the evolution of the climate, the collapse of biodiversity, the impoverishment of soils, and the difficulties encountered by many farmers around the world make it an unavoidable avenue for the future.
Agroecology is a way of designing agricultural production systems that rely on the functionalities offered by ecosystems. It amplifies them while aiming to reduce pressure on the environment (e.g., reducing greenhouse gas emissions, limiting the use of plant protection products) and to preserve natural resources (especially water). It is a question of using nature as much as possible as a production factor by maintaining its capacity for renewal.
It implies the use of a set of techniques that consider the farm as a whole. It is through this systemic approach that technical and economic results can be maintained or improved while improving environmental performance.
The aim of Orchard of Flavours is therefore to identify, within this approach, which varieties of exotic fruit trees can adapt to European climates.
Over 200 varieties of exotic fruit trees!
Yes, you read that right, since the summer of 2019, over 200 varieties of exotic fruit trees have been added to the orchard.
The classics of tropical fruit trees ...
A fruit tree collection would not be complete if it did not contain THE great classics of the genre. In Orchard of Flavours they are all there, or almost. Banana trees, Papaya trees, Mango trees, Guava trees, …
As the purpose of the garden is to know which one is the most likely to grow in Europe, for each of these iconic fruit trees, multiple varieties are tested. Thus, for the Pomegranate tree alone, 15 varieties are cultivated.
... and delicious discoveries.
But what makes the richness of the botanical garden is the ability of Miguel and his team to unearth varieties that are almost unknown in our latitudes. Discover the Tamarillo (tomato tree), the Bixa orelanna, the Moringa oleifera, the Acca Sellowiana,… and so many othe
Rayon de Serre's protégés doing pretty good !
In all, about forty varieties of tropical plants purchased on Rayon de Serre are present in the Orchard of Flavours. In such a climate and in such expert hands, we were not worried, but when in December we received the pictures of the Emblic tree bought in April 2021 and the Kapok tree bought in July 2021, our arms fell off.
A botanical garden opened to the public!
If you are visiting the south of Portugal, don’t miss the orchard. Visits are currently by appointment only: https://www.orchardofflavours.com/
A website full of information
If you are a fan of exotic fruit trees, be sure to visit the botanical garden website. You will find information, cultivation tips and extremely detailed databases.
