Ferment Academia 2027
A five-day fermentation residency in Portugal
For those ready to go deeper - into craft, culture, and the meaning behind fermentation.
Aterra Eco-Lodge, Alentejo
Late May 2027
The next residency is taking shape.
If you’re even considering joining, this is where you start.
This isn’t for everyone.
Most people find fermentation through recipes.
A jar of kraut.
A kombucha SCOBY.
A workshop or two.
But at some point, that stops being enough.
You start asking different questions:
Where does this come from?
Who carries these practices?
What am I actually participating in?
Ferment Academia was built for that moment.
What is Ferment Academia?
Ferment Academia is a five-day residential experience.
You don’t drop in.
You arrive, stay, and immerse.
For five days, you live, learn, cook, and ferment together - with a small group of people who care deeply about this work.
It’s hands-on.
It’s grounded in place.
And it’s built around conversation, not just instruction.
This is fermentation as practice - not performance.
Get early access + the 2026 brochure
What happens across the five days?
Each day is structured, but never rigid.
You’ll move between workshops, shared meals, conversations, and time to reflect.
You’ll explore:
– Koji, miso, and umami-rich fermentation
– Wild fermentation and yeast foraging
– Fermented grains, pulses, and preservation
– Vinegars, alcohol, and flavour layering
– Sensory tasting and developing your palate
You’ll experience:
– Daily hands-on workshops
– A Discovery Day on the Ribatejo region
– Shared meals, prepared and eaten together
– Conversations that don’t fit into a schedule
– Time to slow down and integrate what you’re learning
See what it looks like in detail → get the 2026 brochure
Where it takes place
The residency is held at Aterra Eco-Lodge in the Alentejo region of Portugal.
Cork trees.
Open-air kitchens.
Clay soil underfoot.
This isn’t a neutral venue.
It shapes how we cook, how we gather, and how we learn.
Fermentation thrives in places like this - and so do people.
Meet the founder
Ferment Academia was created by Paula Neubauer - fermentation educator and founder of Get Pickled Somerset.
Paula’s work brings together food, culture, and community - teaching fermentation not just as technique, but as something rooted in place and people.
Her approach has been shaped through years of teaching, alongside time spent learning from traditional fermentation practices, including work with the Guarani e Kaiowaa community in Brazil.
Ferment Academia is an extension of that.
A space for deeper, shared learning - built through practice, conversation, and experience.
Paula doesn’t lead from the front.
She creates the conditions for learning to happen - together.
Be first to hear when applications open
Confirmed contributors for 2027
Kenji Morimoto
Food writer and fermenter working between Japanese technique and modern flavour - bringing precision, intuition, and depth to every process.
Kirsten Shockey
Founder of The Fermentation School. Author and educator known for making complex fermentation practices practical, grounded, and teachable.
Mara Jane King
Fermentation practitioner and chef exploring the relationship between food, land, and culture
More contributors will be announced as the residency develops.
Who this is for
This residency is for people who want more than surface-level learning.
You might be:
– A fermenter ready to go deeper
– A chef or creative working with flavour and process
– An educator, researcher, or grower
– Or someone who feels the pull toward this work
You don’t need to be an expert.
But you do need curiosity, care, and a willingness to participate.
If this sounds like you, don’t miss early access
Why join the interest list now?
This residency is intentionally small.
And it fills quickly.
Joining the interest list means:
→ You’ll hear first when applications open
→ You’ll receive early access before public release
→ You’ll be offered early bird pricing
→ You’ll have time to plan and prepare
You’ll also receive the 2026 residency brochure - so you can see exactly what this experience looks like.
If you’re thinking about it, start here.
You don’t need to decide anything today.
This is simply a way to raise your hand early - and stay close as things unfold.
Enter your details in the form to:
– Join the 2027 interest list
– Receive the 2026 brochure
– Get early access when applications open
Not sure yet? Join anyway.
You’ll get all the details before deciding.