Voyage. The Farm Ibiza
Welcome to The Farm Ibiza, Alonso & Francesca's farming world. July 2021. San Miguel de Balasat, Ibiza.
Alonso Colmenares, a biologist by training, a farmer, and a publicist by profession, along with his Chilean wife, Francesca, a floral artist, settled in the north of the island in an old 19th-century farm to make it their life project. The Farm Ibiza is an agritourism property with a constantly evolving farm, a vibrant laboratory that has given rise to, in addition to the organic garden, a floral workshop, and The Farmers Club, a training project for farmers. The organic garden produces mainly native vegetables and greens. From here, under the "farm to table" model, the produce is delivered to the island's restaurants. Inside her greenhouse, Francesca, inspired by the flowers of the Mediterranean and those from her own garden, unleashes her imagination to create the most exquisite floral arrangements on the island. The interior of the house follows the same philosophy: there's nothing new here, it's all about vintage , old pieces, and pieces with soul rescued from the Sant Jordi flea market, unpacking sales, or auction houses.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT IBIZA THAT CAPTIVATED YOU?
Francesca - It's the perfect place to settle as a family because of the freedom you can feel. Growing up in Chile under a dictatorship, I always knew my children needed to live in freedom. To be free so they could be whoever they wanted to be.
Alonso - Ibiza is about the locals, but also the people who have arrived on the island. It's extraordinarily cosmopolitan. There are interesting people from all over the world who arrive with a wealth of experience and begin a second life by deciding to settle here.
HOW DOES THE FARM IBIZA BEGIN?
Alonso - After meeting Francesca, we started with the idea of building an agritourism property. And in that quest, they called us to show us this Indian-style house from 1870. I had imagined a house with a forest or terraces. And this house was completely different from what I had in mind. It was 8 flat hectares, and the building, with its characteristic Indian façade, was more prominent than a traditional farmhouse. The house wasn't love at first sight, until I walked into the living room and immediately changed my mind. Spacious, with a powerful energy, and unlike any interior in a house in Ibiza. Buying it was the best decision of our lives. And the fact that it's 8 flat hectares has allowed us to achieve what The Farm Ibiza is today.
Francesca - The idea of building a hotel has evolved much further. The goal was for our children to be born here. This house has given us so much. We've developed personally and professionally. It's given us a vegetable garden, flowers, children, interior design, and a shared project as a couple, in addition to family.
WHAT IS YOUR FARM?
Alonso - We started the farm from scratch. It had been inactive for 40 years. We developed a permaculture design, planted 1,800 pomegranate trees, then almond trees, olive trees, vegetables, and finally, flowers, and recently, chickens. The olive and citrus trees are more for personal consumption. But we serve the rest of the harvest to restaurants on the island. The pomegranate plantation is a more long-term project because we plant them when they're one year old, and we won't have any pomegranates for another five years. The goal of this plantation is to make our own pomegranate juice.
WHERE DOES YOUR LOVE FOR FLOWERS COME FROM?
Francesca - I've always loved flowers. I had my children and stopped working, and as soon as I had my own space again, it was a completely natural thing. The idea was in my head. They started nursery school, and I went to study in London. Growing flowers was also very important to me, to close the circle. In Ibiza, there's only one flower supplier, and growing them was a necessity. I love the idea of having our own organic flowers.
This lab is an absolute joy. Having a space to create and work with flowers right in front of a field connects you so much with them! I look at them, I care for them, I water them, I clean them...
"We don't buy anything, things find us, that's the great wonder of vintage." |
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WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT HAVING YOUR OWN GARDEN?
Alonso - Here we're very purist about regenerative agriculture. We work all winter to ensure the soils are as fertile as possible, so we have the best produce. The most rewarding part of all this is delivering to the restaurants. I hop on the two-horse team, load up my boxes, and get to work delivering. My contact is directly with the cooks and chefs, and when you see the excitement they get from the quality of the product you provide, all the work, all the effort, and all the love you've put in has been worth it. They're our allies; they value it, and that's a luxury.
WHAT IS THE FARMERS CLUB?
Alonso - It's about helping people have what we have here. It's a school for farmers, people who aren't farmers but have a house and land, and are motivated by caring for the environment and themselves. With this project, we want to give back to the island everything it has given us. There are only 8 hectares here, but in this way, we're recovering what the island once was in a much more organic and holistic way.
HOW CONNECTED IS YOUR LIFE WITH THE DECOR OF THIS HOUSE?
Alonso - We like to give things a second life. We're flea market souls. We try not to buy new clothes; we try to keep everything vintage . Consumerism doesn't apply to fashion in this house; we love the pre-loved concept. We like old things, patinas, rust, things that have had a life. And the same goes for clothes. When we move away from vintage , we try to support brands that are committed to the environment.
We don't buy anything; things find us. That's the great wonder of vintage . When I go to a flea market, I don't go there to buy anything in particular; it's the other way around; things find you. And that, for me, is one of the greatest pleasures in the world. There's no rhyme or reason here; this is eclectic; we just add things. Travel has had a huge influence, so much so that we choose destinations based on their flea markets.
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"Working with flowers right in front of a field of flowers connects you so much with them!"
HOW DO YOU SUMMARIZE YOUR LIFE PHILOSOPHY?
Alonso - I'm in the process, I continue to grow every day. We're building the entire path toward sustainability day by day. It's not that we're like this, it's that we're becoming. This house has given us this, it's Josian, my partner and teacher, has given us this. But the one who has radically changed my way of seeing life has been my son León. At 4 years old, he's the one who is making me 100% like this. He's the one who truly has no doubts, he's honest with himself, and I follow suit. He's radicalizing me in caring for the earth, because I see it in his eyes. While Lola lives and enjoys it in a more naive way, she observes, touches, eats, and savors it.
Francesca - We believe in regenerating the land; it's our way of life. At first, we weren't like that, but living on a farm has changed our priorities.
IBIZA SPOTS
Here are our favorite spots, walks, coves, restaurants, and artisans on the island.
STAY
Located in the north of the island, right on the seafront, it's eclectic, fun, and cool, just like its owners. It also has the best shopping on the island, curated with a very special selection.
DAY RESTAURANTS
It's in a secluded cove, and the best salt-baked fish and crayfish on the island are served. You can go during the day or at night; it's always wonderful.
In a more modern beach bar with exceptional fish and seafood.
We have a fisherman's hut in the Es Cubells area. We have a small dinghy that we leave in the sea all summer, and when the island gets busy, we have our own spot in the sea—paradise! Next door is this restaurant, a place without any pretensions. Its owners are fishermen, and they have spectacular produce. The Padrón peppers, squid, and good baked fish are always on offer.
Farm-to-table food , a mix of Italian and Middle Eastern. It's a wonderful location with the most delightful waitstaff and atmosphere on the island. It's completely child-friendly , which is very important to us.
It's a creative hub, a concept store, and also a restaurant. The food is simple and delicious. It's beautiful, full of toys and games, and there are workshops and creative spaces for children and adults. We love it for breakfast and afternoon tea; it's next to the Santa Gertrudis playground. At home, we spend all summer wearing its organic cotton dresses.
NIGHT RESTAURANTS
Without a doubt the best Italian on the island, an institution.
HUNGER
It opened a year ago and is the new hot spot, located in Santa Eulalia. It's a small, unpretentious place, but with the best food on the island, young, well-traveled, fun, and very professional staff.
The best Japanese restaurant in Ibiza Town. He's Japanese, she's Ibizan, unpretentious like a restaurant lost in Tokyo.
WALK
CALA DE EN SERRA
It's our favorite beach, and it's lost in the north of the island, with no beach bar or chairs. It's wonderful, with the best swimming on the island.
THE CHIRINGAY BEACH
It's the closest thing to Formentera on the island, the same sea, you have to walk from Es Caballet and that's scary in summer, but it's so worth it.
CRAFTS
I'm addicted to vintage in Ibiza. We shop here all the time for our home and clothing. There's a stall called @loveibizavintage , which has sensational pieces, a mix of big brands with beautiful clothes from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Alba is an artist who makes kimonos from natural silk, which she dyes with botanical dyes featuring flowers and fruits. Each piece is unique, a work of art that will last a lifetime.
HANDMADE CANDLES BY INÉS VENTOS
The daughter of Spain's best nose, she has created a candle collection based on the scents of the Ibizan countryside, all-natural essences we're addicted to at home.
Unique pieces with a brutalist tendency, with soul and a lot of character.
Deco and fashion, an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
Clothing and accessories for children and mothers.
In addition to the collection of beautiful Indian dresses and kurtas, your store also has a vintage section where I love to lose myself in order to find treasures.
DRESS TO IMPRESS! If you want something to go out and dazzle on one of those crazy Ibiza nights, this is the place.
