Regenerative Agriculture Archives

For over a decade, Mariana Santos led the Chicas Poderosas movement, a global community empowering women in media. While Santos’ work in this space resulted in tangible change, it also left her exhausted. Santos told us she was “personally depleted,” and in pursuit of a life change, she “decided to return to my roots in the Algarve, Portugal, to a piece of land that belonged to my ancestors.” When Santos arrived in this passed-down haven, located in the southern region of Portugal, she found the land was “as burnt out as I was.” Thus began a project to not only regenerate the land, but also her nervous system. In 2022, Santos launched Animame Algarve, a wilderness sanctuary that offers retreats and workshops focused on getting guests back in touch with nature through gardening, yoga classes and wild swimming in the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Here's our lightly edited Q&A, from The Story Exchange 1,000+ Stories Project. How is your business different from others in your industry? In the Algarve, tourism is often an "extractive" industry in that they largely involve big crowds and shallow wellness experiences that disconnect people from the local culture. We are the antithesis of this. Our experiences focus on three main pillars: Land, by restoring biodiversity through agroforestry; people, by facilitating deep reconnection through nature and sport; and culture, by honoring local traditions and slow travel. Tell us about your biggest success so far. Experiencing a profound shift in my metric for "a life well-lived." After being forced to drop the corporate pace due to burnout, I successfully transitioned to a life connected to the wild. The first time I harvested a meal grown entirely from toxin-free soil – which I had nurtured myself – I felt a level of achievement that no corporate board room win ever could have provided. Today, that success is mirrored in the eyes of the people who attend our Wild Women Retreats or our open-water swim gatherings like the Swim Party 10km. Seeing someone arrive "stuck" and leave with a regulated nervous system and a sense of community is my greatest professional point of pride. What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? Redefining "impact" in a world obsessed with traditional KPIs, or key performance indicators. It is difficult to quantify the "return on investment" of a rejuvenated ecosystem to traditional stakeholders. I address this by treating my business as a living laboratory for systemic change. Rather than focusing solely on monetary gain, I focus on the "wellbeing economy." I am building a business model that proves kindness, humanism and a slower pace are not just "nice to have," but essential for a sustainable future. Have you experienced any significant personal situations that have affected your business decisions? The fast-paced nature of my previous career eventually broke me. That collapse was the catalyst for every decision I make today. I have intentionally decided to reject shortcuts and the hustle culture that dominates the startup world. This personal history makes me a very different kind of founder. I choose to take things slowly, as I believe that real, lasting growth takes time – much like the soil I tend to every day. What is your biggest tip for other startup entrepreneurs? I often use the phrase "fail fast, succeed soon," but I would take it a step further in this case: Embrace failure as a gift of insight. Real growth only happens outside of your comfort zone. If you are trying to create something truly original or groundbreaking, you will likely stumble. Don’t let that stop you. Those moments of failure are actually the most honest teachers you will ever have. They provide the specific data you need to make your next attempt even more powerful. How do you find inspiration on your darkest days? I turn to the wild. I go to the ocean. Open-water swimming in the cold, salty Atlantic acts as a total reset for my nervous system. It forces me into the present moment, because you cannot worry about the future when you are focused on your breath and the rhythm of the waves. I also practice radical gratitude – I remind myself that every day is a second chance, and I take it with both hands. What is your go-to song to get motivated on tough days? "Unstoppable" by Sia. Who is your most important role model? I am deeply inspired by Ernst Gotsch, the Swiss farmer who revolutionized syntropic agriculture in Brazil. He taught me that we don't need to fight nature to be productive – we need to work in harmony with it. I apply his agricultural philosophy to my journey in that, if we can view humanity as a degraded system, we can use his principles of regeneration to bring our communities – and our individual souls – back to life. Instagram: @Animamealgarve Share your story! Check out our Advice + Tips for entrepreneurs starting-upWatch our latest videosSubscribe to our podcast

Regenerative Agriculture

A Burnt-Out Founder Built a Sanctuary – For Herself and Others

Our Pig Podcast: Touring Wild Harmony Farm

How an Organic Farm Hopes to Heal the Land

The Story Exchange

Regenerative Agriculture

A Burnt-Out Founder Built a Sanctuary – For Herself and Others

Our Pig Podcast: Touring Wild Harmony Farm

How an Organic Farm Hopes to Heal the Land

The Story Exchange

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