Can Masdeu Valley: the land belongs to those who regenerate it

We are launching The Land for those who regenerate it campaign both to renew and restore ecosystems and the agricultural systems and to revindicate the legitimate use of Collserola, the Can Masdeu valley, and the farm itself by its custodians.

In the face of the coninued drought and mounting administrative fines, we are asking for your help in order to ensure the continuity of the self-organized and participatory social activities which for 22 years have been a great success!

Who are we?

Can Masdeu is a self-governed community agroforestry project in Collserola. It is a project defending the public administration of the space, climate justice, and the concept that the land belongs to those who work it. This flies in the face of property ownership, as Can Masdeu is a squatted valley.

There are 5 projects within the valley:

• Casa dels Futurs: an international center for climate justice and a school for social movements.

• Community Gardens: allotments that are grown and managed by neighbors, through an assembly and volunteering.

• Regenerades: A group of volunteers who get together once a week to garden and share.

• Punt d’Interacció de Collserola: a participatory social center open to all to share cultural events, debates, and food!

• Community: the group of people who live in the farmhouse, take care of the space and participate in other projects.

What are we asking?

The network of projects of the Can Masdeu Valley are taking a step forward to revindicate our vision for the valley, and the legitimate us of the territoy by those who care for the land.

Funds will go to pay for:

• Legal defense: fund will cover the legal costs of administrative sanctions and fines which we've had to deal with in recent times.

• Access Ramp: Support the paving of this ramp built with bioconstruction techniques that allows accessibility for people with reduced mobility as well as erosion prevention, and hosts a whole ecosystem of edible plants. The participatory process involved in the creation of this ramp and the landscaping also has tremendous value.

• Drought resilience: The climate change that is affecting the society has also had serious affects on our community, we must prepare for climate adaptation and an ecosocial transition. In order to mitigate the consequences of this structural drought, we have been using regenerative agriculturefor many years in the gardens, and are improving the water infrastructure to collect rainwater. Even so, on the one hand we must continue to put efforts into improving the rainwater recirculation systems and on the other hand, raise funds to rehabilitate the main basin for water catchment.

. The restoration proposal combines sustainability-oriented approaches such as forest hydrology, ecological restoration, biolandscapes, permaculture and heritage rehabilitation. This would bring several benefits such as:
- Improvement of the ecological state of the natural environment
- Promotion of biodiversity, including the reappearance of some species
- A water reserve for dry seasons
- Generation of bodies of water in forest areas for fire control
- Promotion of agricultural and livestock activity

We need a lot of energy and resources to make this happen. Can you give us a hand?

Planned Timetable

Part of the funds from the crowdfunding will need to pay fines and lawyers need to reestablish the economy of the valley. Another part will go to imporvements in the accessibility ramp, which will take place from January to June. As for the big reservoir, it is a complex project which will take longer to establish a specific calendar. But from the start we will improve upon our rainwater catchement systems.

Rewards will be possible once when we have completed 100% of the objective 40 days after initiating the campaign. To collect books, magazines, and vegetables form the garden, please contact us before one of the days the social centre is open and pick it up then. If you've signed up for a workshop or a tour, we will contact you with dates by email.

About us

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Keep informed about the events and gatherings in the social centre, as well as volunteer workdays, and other news via:

• Website: canmasdeu.net

• Twitter: @canmasdeu

• Instagram: @canmasdeu

• Facebook: @canmasdeu

• Telegram: @canmasdeu

• YouTube: @valldecanmasdeu