About us
Boodaville is an environmental education association, with a permaculture demonstration site in the Matarranya region of Spain and offices in Barcelona. We create opportunities for learning and gaining experience in permaculture design through workshops, collaborative projects, on-line resources, work experience and volunteering. Our current projects include applying regenerative agriculture techniques to grow a Forest Garden in the semi-arid climate of Matarranya, and managing several Solidarity Projects in Barcelona
Since 2008 when Anna Louise bought the land we have built two stone buildings, compost toilets, a shade structure and water catchment system, a geodesic dome, vegetable gardens, showers, and compost systems. In parallel with this development we have created a strong community of collaborators who regularly join our activities and have always taken time to learn from and connect with people and culture in the area. We have welcomed hundreds of participants in building projects, events, volunteering activities and exchanges.
The project has a complex and beautiful story and an important development recently is that we have changed direction away from the idea of establishing an eco-village in the valley, and towards a more collaborative project working closely with the local towns and villages and integrating our activities with a broader aim to encourage a transition to a more sustainable way of life across the region. We are funded entirely by donations and grants for coordination of EU projects within the European Solidarity Corps and the Erasmus+ program. We are a not-for-profit organisation.
the Land
1.5 hectares featuring olive terraces and two piney hillsides at the bottom of the Vall Rovira, Matarranya, Spain. A semi-arid Mediterrean climate with average rainfall of 400mm per year* Our food forest project is improving soil and acting as a pilot project for implementation of regenerative agriculture on a larger scale. *Recognising of course that within the context of climate breakdown there is no such thing as average any more.
The Yurt & the Dome
A little Boodaville history about our first ever collaborative project! In 2010 we built a yurt with only the help of a 12 page leaflet downloaded from the internet. The yurt ended its existence in 2016 when we made space for our geodesic dome, but was hugely important in the development of Boodaville; our first step into self-reliance, working together and hosting a collaborative activity! The dome, designed and produced by Jordi Cavaller, was first put together during an EU youth exchange in 2016, and this incredibly beautiful structure was the space for many more wonderful Boodaville moments. In 2021 we plan to put it back up!
Site development Plan
The future of the Boodaville site is to be an educational space for activities and courses related to permaculture, ecosocial design, and regenerative cultures. We will have infrastructure to spend full days comfortably on site, including toilets, showers, kitchen and dining area. Participants and volunteers will sleep in local accommodation not on site. We will continue to expand the soil regeneration projects, eco-building and water systems demonstrating designs that could be part of your future permaculture house! The site will hopefully be integrated into a much larger regenerative agriculture and education project being developed in the Vall Rovira - “Rovira Regenerativa”.
The Maranya Festival
Boodaville coorganises the fantastic annual Maranya Festival. A weekend music and ecology festival with regenerative activities and fun and games. The next festival will be May 2021 with dj acts, workshops and much much more - maranyafestival.org
ANNA LOUISE
I’m Anna Louise – known on social media as Lou.
I started on the Boodaville path when I bought the land in Matarranya in 2008 and have dedicated an incredible amount of time, and not very many euros, to building up the project over the years.
I am a person who does things and not so much a talker, and I’ve built wonderful relationships over the years with people involved in Boodaville. Relationships based on trust, strong connections developed through collaboration on real projects, and love.
I am driven by the idea that people should use and develop their capacity to make intelligent, informed decisions about the way they live, and the society they want to live in. Permaculture is the best example I have found of a comprehensive set of ideas that show a path towards a truly ethical, sustainable lifestyle. They fit beautifully with the challenge of designing regenerative cultures that will allow us to leave the living world a little, or a lot, better than we found it.
All my energy and spare resources go towards sharing and learning about these ideas. My experience includes over twenty years in formal secondary education, fifteen years studying and writing on global justice issues, ten years learning from the land and studying permaculture and six years learning from my daughter.
The potential within this project excites me, I want to keep working towards a project that inspires people to adopt ecosocial design in their lives, though workshops, nature connection, games, collaboration, dialogue, experience, hands on practice…. but crucially, these learning opportunities must be fun and fulfilling.
JESSICA
My name is Jessica, passionate goat farmer and experienced world traveler. From a very young age, I’ve always been looking for a meaning or message behind things. So I guess I’m also a bit of a philosopher. There is so much beauty in every little thing, if we only took the time to see it…
When I was studying animal husbandry in university, sustainability was a hot topic. But after working for about 10 years on several farms all around the world I decided that for me, simply aiming for sustainability is not enough. There has to be more, there has to be a better, faster way. I decided to quit my full-time job, looking for a meaningful life. Something that doesn’t just look good but also feels good.
Only a few months later, in May 2018, I came to Boodaville to volunteer for a few weeks and basically never left. Today, I’m a key member of the Boodaville association, living and organising whatever needs to be done on-site.
Living a simple life close to nature is what makes my heart sing. I miss the goats, but I found good company and entertainment in my dear chickens who live with me in Boodaville.
