From greenhouse work to papaya bowls. A day at Alma Farm — August 2025
What do you get when you mix greenhouses, a surprise tea ceremony, and a group of locals and internationals armed with buckets and laughter?
Nope, it’s not the setup for a joke, it’s exactly what happened when Madeira Friends spent the day at Alma Farm** in Gaula** on 22 August 2025.
Getting our hands dirty (literally)
Sure, we picked some fresh tomatoes, but most of the real work? It was all about cleaning and preparing the greenhouses, clearing out old cucumber plants, and making way for new growth.
It was sweaty, earthy, and surprisingly… fun. There is something about working side by side, pulling out stubborn vines and brushing off dirt, that turns a task into laughter. And with 17 greenhouses on the farm, you quickly realize the sheer amount of dedication that goes into keeping a place like this thriving.
100% Biological and cleverly sustainable
Alma Farm isn’t just big, it’s smart. Everything here is 100% biological, supported by a clever irrigation system that keeps water flowing efficiently without waste and the use of coconut fibre. Seeing the behind-the-scenes systems gave us a new level of respect for the daily grind of farming, it’s hardcore, but also inspiring.
A local business to support
This is more than just a farm; it’s a local business we are proud to support. Owners Lilia Oliveira (real estate professional) and Carlos Oliveira (a former real estate agent and surf instructor) have reinvented their lives to build something sustainable and community-driven.
Backing Alma Farm isn’t just about enjoying fresh produce, it’s about helping a local family grow a dream.
A pause for tea and fruit bowls
Just when our arms were tired and our shoes dusty, Lilia and Carlos surprised us with a tea ceremony hosted by their friends. And then came the bowls: strawberries, bananas, and papayas, all harvested from the farm itself. Forget “farm-to-table, this was more like “farm to the bowl”
Locals and internationals = magic
One of the most beautiful parts of the day was the mix of people. Locals and internationals coming together, sharing stories, exchanging Portuguese words for things in their own languages, and laughing at accents and mix-ups.
How to Get Involved
Alma Farm offers:
If you know someone who would love to get involved, let us know, because this is a local business worth supporting.
Full hearts, dirty hands
We left Alma Farm that day with dirt, papaya-filled bellies, and a few typical Madeiran words such as “semilha” (meaning potato) added to our vocab. More than anything, we left with a deeper appreciation for the behind-the-scenes hard work that makes this biological farm run.
And its true what they say, community grows best when you plant it together.