03/08/2026
.decentwater, our Regeneration Lead, was recently invited onto the podcast hosted by Koen van Seijen for a great conversation exploring how:
We don’t necessarily have a water problem in Europe. We have a water retention problem.
As a hydrologist and founder of Decent Water Company, James knows watersheds, Portuguese land and, most importantly, what regeneration looks like in practice.
At Ten Lives, we’re addressing this challenge head-on by building Smilands — small, low-tech earthworks built along the contours of the land that slow rainwater down, helping it soak into the soil instead of washing away. By reducing erosion and retaining water, Smilands create the conditions for soil, plants and microorganisms to recover naturally.
It’s a simple intervention, but when Smilands work together across a landscape, they can help rehydrate the land and create lasting change with minimal ongoing intervention.
And that’s what we’re building at Ten Lives: a great team on a mission to restore landscapes, retain water and create more resilient ecosystems.
🎙️ Watch the full conversation between James and Koen to hear more about the challenge, the opportunity and what we’re doing about it!
🌱 Want to be part of our movement and May still feels far? Adopt a Smiland: https://tenlivesfestival.com/
