Agroecological design of a small rural property in the Serra da Mantiqueira, south of the state of Minas Gerais

Abstract

Conflicts between conventional land use and occupation and tougher environmental legislation are believed to be rising. In the region of the Serra da Mantiqueira, small rural land owners see their modus vivendiunder threat, as they are forced to adapt to legislation inconceivable to them, and which goes against their usualway of living. In the search for sustainable societies, a new world vision associated with adequate practices is expected to emerge as alternative for old-fashioned living standards. Gaia Terranova is a small rural property located in the south of Minas Gerais where studies, research and practices towards sustainability are being carried out with aview to offer rural land owner’s solutions to conflicts caused due to environmental legislation, soil and water management, impoverishment, food production instability and rural exodus. This paper is based on the concepts of the Ecological Design, Permculture and Agroecology.