What does it mean to be a small artisan distiller in the 21st century?

Kurt Michael Arruda is native to the Açores Islands. He also lived in Canada for a brief period and is currently developing his Savia Íbera project with his partner in Spain.
His first encounter with ecology began to surface as a way to understand the environmental degradation of water and soil in the Açores, which led him to acquiring a certificate in Permaculture and other diplomas related to organic farming, specialising in non-traditional cultivation, water management for farm use. A naturist at heart, his interest in agroecology, regenerative agriculture, holistic management, microbiology and soil science continues to grow.
Around 2014, together with his partner, they began the journey of slowly constructing their dream project by moving to Spain to be able to live off grid on a farm and start an enterprise related to farming in a truly sustainable way.

Savia Íbera was born as a way to connect all the variables of sustainability, wild harvest, conservation and production, specialising in aromatic and medicinal plants. Furthermore due to Silvia’s specialization, emphasis on working with the local Iberian flora put Savia Íbera in a unique position of producing high quality essential oils and hydrosols from the local region without the need of importing or re-selling.