Storm Kristin & Leonardo hit Passeite
“These storms didn’t just destroy our farm. It took a place where knowledge is shared, where generosity shapes the next generation, and where heritage lives in every corner. Helping us is about keeping this legacy alive.”
Some things disappear quietly, unless someone decides they matter.
Ancient olive groves don’t vanish overnight. They disappear one storm at a time.
One flood. One fire. One neglected season. In central Portugal, around Coimbra, this is already happening.
Century-old native Galega olive trees are being replaced by eucalyptus plantations. Faster. Cheaper. Forgettable.
We chose a different path.
For nearly a decade, this land has been cared for, not exploited. In 2015, what started as a small family project became Passeite:
a farm rooted in respect for land, heritage and time.
- No chemicals - No shortcuts. Only nature
Beyond our own groves, we help protect and manage other forgotten orchards in the region, producing high-quality extra virgin olive oil from a terroir few people even know exists. This isn’t just olive oil.
It’s a way of keeping history alive.
Nature has tested us before.
This time, it hit deeper.
On the night of 27–28 January, storm Kristin changed everything. Our main groves remain under water.
We don’t yet know if the trees will survive the waterlogging.
Our 30-year-old wooden barn — the operational heart of the farm — collapsed completely.
By sheer luck, tractors had been moved the night before.
Our animals were found alive beneath the debris.
Our family is safe.
For that, we are deeply grateful.
But the heart of our operation is gone.
Why this moment matters more than a building?
Right now, we are restoring an 18th-century farmhouse to create a small, high-quality olive mill, not just for ourselves, but for other local producers who want to do things right. It will be a place for tasting, education and shared knowledge. A future-facing project rooted in tradition. We invested our savings there.
But without the barn, Passeite cannot continue in its current form.
Because rebuilding it isn’t just about a building, it’s about keeping this legacy alive. A place of learning, hospitality, and shared knowledge that has shaped far more than our farm: nurturing the next generation of olive oil producers, passing on traditions and skills that might otherwise be lost, and helping to revive Coimbra’s forgotten heritage of centuries-old olive groves and artisanal production.
Asking for help is not something we are used to.
We are usually the ones helping - the land, the community, friends, other farmers.
But rebuilding after this storm is not something we can do alone.
This is not about charity. It’s about continuity...
If you believe...
heritage deserves to be preserved
- small producers are worth supporting
- land should be nurtured, not consumed
…then you’re already part of our story and right now, we need your help to keep it alive. Every contribution moves us closer to rebuilding, restoring, and continuing this work, and every euro directly goes to making that possible.
Whether you can give today or share this with someone who can,
you are helping ensure that our story doesn’t end here...
Thank you!
