Regenerative agriculture and biodiversity at El Jardín de las Lilas

El Jardín de las Lilas is a company that produces organic plant extracts and raw materials for both the food and cosmetics industries, located in the heart of l’Empordà in the province of Girona. Ana had already been making her own handcrafted natural cosmetics for some years, using plants she collected in the wild and others she bought. Together with her partner, Albert, they bought a 13-hectare estate, and that was when the idea arose: he would cultivate the land to produce organically grown plants that would serve as raw materials for Ana’s work.

MATARRANIA: What is the philosophy and what are the values that guide your work?

EL JARDÍN DE LAS LILAS: Our main goal has always been to turn our space into a haven of biodiversity at every level. It is a permaculture project where we not only apply organic and regenerative farming to our crops, but our home and all the living beings that interact here form a whole that grows along with the land, and from El Jardín de las Lilas we aim to do our bit.

M: El Jardín de las Lilas produces the plant oil macerates (oleomacerates) that serve as the base for Matarrania’s cosmetics. Can you tell us briefly how you make them?

JL: Once the plants are harvested at the right time, when they contain the highest concentration of active ingredients, we leave them to macerate in extra virgin olive oil from organic producers in the Matarraña region. They macerate in the traditional way for 28 days (one lunar cycle), naturally releasing their properties into the oil and creating high-quality bases made with local, Zero KM plants.

M: How do you select the plants and flowers for the macerates? What criteria do you follow?

JL: The most important thing when preparing Matarrania’s macerates is the quality of the ingredients. Part of our philosophy, which we share with Matarrania, is to grow the plants on our own land or, whenever possible, collect them in the wild. Throughout the year, we harvest each plant at its optimal point of maturity, picking them by hand at the exact right moment, always working with fresh, newly harvested plants.

M: What is the main difference between an organic macerate and a conventional one?

JL: An organic macerate must be made with 100% ingredients from organic farming, which follows strict standards to obtain certification. They are free from pesticides, and no synthetic fertilisers are used, among many other criteria. In addition, at El Jardín de las Lilas, we actively promote biodiversity; our crops are non-intensive, and everyone involved in the project works with deep love and respect for Mother Earth.

M: How has your experience been working with Matarrania? What values do both projects share?

JL: Collaborating and being part of a company like Matarrania makes us very happy. Going out to collect wild plants that grow naturally at El Jardín de las Lilas is one of the most magical parts of our work. Both projects share a deep love for the land and for nature; we are sister companies, and through our cosmetics and extracts we try to bring people closer to nature in its purest and wildest form, contributing our small part to the world around us and to our communities.

M: We know about your love for nature and your commitment to protecting the health of the soil. What sustainable practices do you apply in your company?

JL: Our space is designed as a permaculture project, where we move forward in harmony with everything around us. Permaculture is a way of life, a philosophy that understands our environment as a whole, and projects it at every level in a self-sufficient way, generating abundance and biodiversity. At El Jardín de las Lilas, the whole area has been designed to make use of natural resources provided by our land and to help the project grow and generate more life. Everything that grows in our surroundings can be useful to us; the key lies in finding the most natural way to connect all the processes.

• Our land and crops are on a slope, and to make the most of the rainwater, we work with keyline design so that water stays longer in the soil and nutrients are not lost through erosion.

• We have water ponds that serve both as reservoirs, gradually filtering into the ground to keep it moist, and as aquatic ecosystems, home to newts, frogs, dragonflies and local aquatic and semi-aquatic plants. Some are used in our extracts, and they also provide water points for animals in the warmer months.

• We avoid ploughing the soil because turning it over destroys the microbiology near the surface; we want the soil to become richer and more fertile.

• We plant green manures using different native seeds. Some help to decompact the soil with their roots, others fix nitrogen. When we cut them and leave them to decompose, they add organic matter and fertilise the soil.

• Our donkeys move freely through the crops, naturally clearing the vegetation as “natural brush cutters” while fertilising the soil.

• Our hens, besides providing delicious eggs, help with the composting process, which later becomes rich compost for our garden and crops.

• From our vegetable garden and seedbeds come the plants we propagate: some will feed us throughout the year, while others will become crops used to make hydrosols.

• We leave field margins and hedgerows of native species to encourage wildlife, creating habitats for insects, animals and plants that keep the ecosystem in balance. Our crops are planted with wide spacing and keyline design, allowing grass and life to grow between them.

• We have several beehives, one of our most precious treasures, ensuring pollination.

• We grow native plants that require little water, species that belong to our local flora and bloom throughout the year. This allows us to harvest by hand and control the entire process ourselves, as our project is fully artisanal.

• Our home has been renovated using natural building materials, aiming for energy efficiency and full integration with the project.

And so we continue designing, observing and striving to make El Jardín de las Lilas a garden full of life.

M: Lastly, an expert tip: which plant is essential for self-care in autumn and winter?

JL: Speaking of some of the macerates we prepare for Matarrania, I would say we should look at the plants that are now in their optimal phase of maturity. For example, rosehip, inula and rosemary. If we talk about a plant to use at this time of year, I would suggest horsetail, as it is a highly remineralising plant that works internally. We know that, with the arrival of autumn and the aftermath of summer excesses, our body needs a mineral boost to balance seasonal hair loss and support us during this time of the year.