Who are we?
An eco-alternative, a permaculture farm, an eco-village. Dio Pigadia is a community rethinking how we grow food, use energy, manage resources — and live together.
Dio Pigadia is an eco-project and non-profit organization (AMKE) founded in 2018, focused on creating and exploring sustainable ways of living. At its core is the philosophy of permaculture — more than just farming, it’s about rethinking how we produce and consume locally to address environmental challenges and build a better future.
Our mission is to transform how we grow food, how we use energy and manage resources while finding better ways to live together in a sustainable and balanced society. Dio Pigadia is not just a farm — it’s a community working toward a truly holistic ecological alternative.
Welcome to Dio Pigadia ecovillage. Our journey begins with the soil.
Reconnecting with Nature: The Dio Pigadia Way
01 · Soil
A different way to consider the soil
Soil is not just something we walk on — it’s the foundation of all life on land. It holds 95% of terrestrial biodiversity, including plants, bacteria, fungi, and insects. Every living being, including humans, depends directly or indirectly on soil for survival.
Conventional agriculture treats soil as a mere substrate, focusing on short-term yields with chemical inputs. This approach has degraded soil fertility worldwide.
At Dio Pigadia, we restore life to the soil. We use organic matter as mulch to mimic the natural forest floor, regulating moisture, feeding microorganisms, and creating a self-sustaining system. By avoiding mechanical tilling, we protect the delicate soil habitat.
“We embrace biodiversity, not fight against it. Biodiversity is not just something to protect — it is what sustains us.”
02 · Food
A different way to consider food
Modern food systems have distanced us from the natural cycles that sustain life. At Dio Pigadia, we reconnect people with food that is nutritious, flavorful, and sustainably grown. Healthy soil produces stronger, more nutrient-dense plants — which in turn nourish our bodies and gut health.
Recent studies show how the biodiversity of our intestinal flora has weakened drastically in the last 50 years. Digesting healthy plants is the way back. And there is no healthy mind without a healthy body.
Food is also pleasure. The diversity of cultures meeting at Dio Pigadia is reflected in a variety of recipes inspired by local products. Come rediscover food here — it’s world’s cuisine at its best.
- 🫒 Homemade olive paste
- 🌶️ Spicy ketchup
- 🍓 Marmalades
- 🍅 Pickles
- 🍇 Dried fruits
03 · Energy & Resources
A different way to manage energy and resources
Since 2018, all facilities have been self-built using mostly upcycled materials. Our 80 m² workshop enables us to make and repair almost everything ourselves. We always favor local materials.
Solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and gravity systems are installed across the site. Our plant nursery — built from recycled windows — is combined with a shower, because humidity, warmth, and water control benefit both.
Dry toilets contribute to soil fertilization. Disconnected from the cycle of nature, conventional systems transform fertility into pollution. We close the loop instead.
04 · Community
A different way to live and learn together
Community living involves an exchange of knowledge, practices, and life experiences. This sharing is at the heart of our purpose. As a pioneer project, education is central — we see it as a process of learning together, encouraging everyone to find their place according to their interests and skills.
People often come to Dio Pigadia looking for meaning. Some have felt loneliness, are burnt out, or disillusioned by conventional lifestyles. They need a place to share, to bond, to dream — a place to act and feel useful.
Many come tired and leave full of good energy. This might be the main function of a project like ours: to heal and give hope.
Let’s get together, work together, dream together.
Support Dio Pigadia and help us make a better world reality.
