H

er move to Mallorca was unplanned. After visiting the island in 2018 for a wedding, Scarlet fell in love with its climate and vegetation. “I have never felt at home anywhere else as much as here,” she shares. In September 2022, she bought the property near Portocolom and launched Son Selva, her permaculture project. Her decision to settle in Mallorca was motivated by the long-term commitment required for permaculture projects. “Permaculture comes from permanent agriculture,” she explains, emphasising the importance of choosing a location where one can stay for life, especially when planting trees that take years to grow.

Scarlet chose the 22,000 m² plot in Portocolom for its affordability and its proximity to the sea, village and wild forest. For now, she only comes to Son Selva to spend the day and work. “There is no house. If all goes well, I'll build one in the coming years but I’m still waiting for the building permit”, she explains. Despite many volunteers who come to help, as well as support from her family and Swiss community, she maintains control of the Son Selva project to ensure she can make decisions on her own. However, visitors can participate in “Volunteer Thursdays,” and individuals can sponsor trees or become members of her project to help cover costs, with supporters coming from places as far as China and Australia.

At Son Selva, permaculture principles guide every aspect of the project. One key concept is the “guild,” where plants are grouped together to form a symbiotic relationship and support each other’s growth. “Permaculture is all about working with nature, not against it,” says Scarlet. Animals also play an essential role in maintaining the balance and sustainability of the ecosystem. Scarlet’s companions include her dog Pino, cats, chickens, three ducks and her pigs, two Mallorcan “porcs negres” called Wendy and Wanda. Scarlet is experimenting with rotational grazing by using the pigs to till, regenerate the soil and help with insect control. “I'm still struggling with keeping them inside the electric fence”, she adds with a laugh. Beekeeping, which Scarlet started for self-sufficiency, boosts pollination in her food forest, increasing fruit tree production by 30-40%. 

Furthermore, Scarlet’s creative sustainable approaches include the no-dig method for the vegetable garden, using cardboard and compost instead of digging, which ensures soil health and minimizes disturbance of microorganisms. It proved successful despite initial scepticism from neighbours. Her forest garden features a mix of tall and low-growing trees. On the one hand, there are native species such as carob, fig and strawberry trees. However, Scarlet is also experimenting with plants that typically thrive in warmer climates, such as a guava tree that is already bearing fruit. While the property includes a variety of plants, the focus lies on long-term sustainability rather than short-term profit. “Selling is not my main goal,” Scarlet explains, noting that trees, which take time to mature, are her priority.