Graduate Spotlight: Meet Clare, Quantum Botanicals Diploma graduate and Healing Diets student at the School of Natural Medicine, as she shares the story of her forest farm and retreat sanctuary in Portugal.

Welcome to Monte da Vida

My name is Clare. For the past 13 years, I have lived and worked in the breathtaking South-west Alentejo region of Portugal, where I co-founded Monte da Vida—a 90-hectare forest farm and retreat center dedicated to meditation, holistic health, and “living in balance”.

The Forest & Sustainable Stewardship

The heart of Monte da Vida is a thriving Cork Oak forest, with cork serving as the primary harvest of the land. Scattered along the valley lines between rolling hills are ancient olive trees, alongside three hectares of fruit and nut orchards and vibrant forest gardens. We design and steward these gardens using the principles of permaculture, syntropic agriculture, and soil-food-web microbiology.

The land naturally yields an abundance of wild aromatics, including wild lavender, helichrysum, cistus, and potent wild oregano. Every year, I harvest and dry the oregano—a kitchen staple that adds a burst of flavor to fresh garden salads.

Using a traditional copper still, I capture the aroma and freshness of the land after rain by distilling these wild plants into a hydrosol spray blend. Infused with flower essences from our Cork and Holm Oaks, it offers a refreshing blast of forest support to clear stagnant energy.

Our overarching intention is to care for the land, the biodiversity, and ourselves as an interconnected whole. It is an ongoing journey of discovery filled with trial, error, and inspiration drawn from indigenous traditions that hold the wisdom of living in harmony with the earth.

Forest Alchemy & Flower Essences

My journey with Flower Essences began in 2015, guided by the wisdom of the trees on our property. Over time, this unfolded into the Forest Alchemy range of tree essences. To deepen my knowledge and practice, I completed the Quantum Botanicals diploma course at the School of Natural Medicine and now offer personalized Flower Essence consultations.

My newest creation is made from the Loquat tree (Nespereira in Portuguese), a resilient species that flourishes here and yields an abundance of sweet fruit every May. I prepared this essence on a bright day last November while our largest Loquat tree was in full blossom. As the flowers sat in the water bowl under the sun, a unique, magical cloud formation opened in the sky directly above.

Special Offers & Essence Trial

• Loquat Essence Trial: I am currently offering a complimentary Loquat Flower Essence in exchange for your personal feedback! If you would like to participate in the trial, please email me at life@montedavida.com.
• Summer Discount: Enjoy 10% off two or more items in our webshop this summer using the promo code SUMMER26.
• UK Shipping Note: UK residents can avoid international shipping and customs fees by placing orders before August 4th—I will hand-carry your order and post it locally during my upcoming visit to the UK!

Healing Diets & Earth-Grown Nourishment

Nutrition has long been a passion of mine, and my current studies in the Healing Diets course allow me to explore this domain on a much deeper level. Living at Monte da Vida, I am deeply grateful to cultivate much of the food I eat and to craft artisanal products that embody the vital life-force of this land.

Our agricultural focus centers heavily on tree crops, including fruits and long-term nut orchards. Currently, our shop features:

• Early-Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Cold-pressed, chemical-free, and packed with potent antioxidants and nutrition.
• Dried Pomegranate: Harvested at peak vitality for a delicious, nutrient-dense treat.

Transformational Practices & Healing Stays

To cultivate balance, we practice and teach Taoist energy arts, including Tai Chi, Qigong, and breathwork, while holding meditation as the bedrock of our daily routine. Throughout the year, I lead immersive workshops on foraging, plant communication, wild herb distillation, and essence crafting, with dietary coaching coming soon when I graduate from the Healing Diets Coach course.