Juntos Farm: Regeneration, Community, and the Future of Ibiza’s Soils

When most people hear the word Ibiza, they think of nightlife, music, and beaches. Yet beneath the island’s surface, another reality exists. Centuries of intensive cultivation, modern pressures, and a hot, dry climate have left much of Ibiza’s land degraded. At Juntos Farm, however, a new story is emerging - one of regeneration, resilience, and community.

Calling themselves a “living lab” for regenerative agriculture, the team at Juntos Farm is working to restore the land, rebuild soil health, and reconnect people with the food they eat. Their work is not only about growing crops, but also about creating experiences that bring soil, community, and even tourism into harmony.

Juntos Farm describes itself as a “living lab” for regenerative agriculture. How did your journey with soil health begin, and why did it become the foundation of your work in Ibiza?

Our journey with soil health really began with a desire to reconnect with Nature and to understand where our food comes from and how it is grown. When we realised that without healthy soil, nothing else on the farm could truly thrive. We saw how conventional practices were depleting nutrients and harming the ecosystem.

Looking back, Ibiza’s long agricultural history has also shaped the soil we work with today, centuries of intensive cultivation, changing land use, and modern pressures have left their mark. As highlighted in our report Ibiza’s Agricultural Landscape, these shifts have altered soil structure and fertility, reminding us how deeply the past influences the present.
At Juntos Farm, we’re working to restore that balance, observing the land, learning its natural rhythms, and rebuilding soil life so that future harvests can grow from a foundation of true regeneration.

Ibiza is hot, dry, and much of the land has suffered erosion. What were the first steps you took to bring depleted soil back to life, and what have you learned from that process?

We began by covering bare soil with mulches and planting cover crops to protect it from the sun and wind, while slowly reintroducing organic matter through compost and manure and integrating animals like goats and chickens, whose grazing and manure contribute to soil health. The biggest challenge has been patience: regenerative practices take time and since there's often a lack of rain and a lot of strong sun here in Ibiza, we've really learnt to work within natural cycles rather than trying to force results.

As you’ve regenerated the soil, what changes have you observed in the wider ecosystem - and how has this affected the community around you?

As the soil has regenerated, we’ve noticed a remarkable return of life across the farm. Insects, birds, and especially bees and butterflies have become more abundant, thanks in part to companion planting, particularly flowering plants. Healthier soil holds more water and nutrients, resulting in stronger plants and more resilient crops.

Restoring the land has done more than just improve our fields, it has transformed the farm into a community hub. Bringing life back to the soil has made the farm a welcoming place for people to visit, offering hope and connection. Here, people of all ages can engage with nature, whether through farm activities, family days, or the food experiences we host right on the farm. Seeing the community come together around local food production has been incredibly rewarding for our whole team. On Saturdays, we love opening the farm for families and watching children explore, play, and discover the wonders of the land.

Juntos Farm is not only about growing food, but also about sharing it through experiences, kitchens, and a farm shop. How does healthy soil translate into community impact?

Healthy soil is the starting point for everything we do at Juntos Farm. It produces vibrant, nutrient-rich food and forms the foundation for meaningful experiences in our Farm Shop, kitchen, and events.

Restoring soil health has also connected us with other farms and producers on the island who share the same focus. Together, we’re building a local network, not only of producers but also of customers who care about where their food comes from. When visitors join farm experiences or enjoy meals made with our fresh produce, they see firsthand how healthy soil creates healthy food. It sparks curiosity, encourages learning, and inspires people to think about how their own choices impact the land and the wider community.

Ibiza imports most of its food, and tourism often puts pressure on local ecosystems. How is Juntos Farm using soil regeneration to create a different story, where tourism and farming can support one another?

Tourism doesn’t have to be at odds with farming. Visitors who come to our farm, participate in tours, or enjoy meals made from our produce experience firsthand the value of regenerative agriculture. By connecting people to the land and the food it produces, we build awareness and appreciation for local ecosystems.

We’re seeing a noticeable uptick in eco-tourism and agrotourism on the island, with more visitors each year genuinely interested in this side of Ibiza. At Juntos, we aim to approach this authentically, not just following a trend, but creating meaningful experiences that showcase regenerative farming in action. It’s why our volunteering activities remain the most consistent and popular part of the farm, attracting both tourists and locals alike. In this way, tourism can actively support farmers and sustainable practices rather than putting pressure on the environment.

If someone wanted to build a closer relationship with soil, where would you tell them to start - with their hands, their plate, or their mindset?

Really, it’s all three… hands, plate, and mindset. Engaging physically with the soil, eating consciously by getting curious about where your food comes from, and shifting how we treat the land and the ecosystem, seeing them and ourselves as connected rather than separate, all come together to create a full, meaningful connection with the Earth.

Looking ahead, what role do you envision Juntos Farm playing in Ibiza’s future of food and regeneration - and how do you see movements like Save Soil supporting that vision?

Looking ahead, our hope is that Juntos Farm becomes a reference point for regenerative farming in the Balearics and beyond, a lighthouse project where farmers, chefs, policymakers, and visitors come together to explore what’s possible when we care for soil. We know the farm itself can only grow so much, so more than anything, we aspire to grow the movement.

Juntos also serves as a base for testing, experimentation, and research, generating insights that we hope will be useful to others on the same journey, not just in the Balearics, but internationally. If initiatives like Save Soil shine a light on the importance of healthy land worldwide, we aim to be a living example of how that vision can take root right here in Ibiza.

The work on Ibiza’s fields proves that when we care for soil, we grow more than crops. We grow resilience, connection, and the possibility of a different future.