Vale da Sarvinda are
wwoof hosts - here's their link
WWOOF Portugal - Vale da Sarvinda
Now, back to the tour.
This is a privacy screen for outdoor showers, for those who don't like to
shower indoors.
Compost loos.
Loo with a view!
There are 180 hectares to explore, so time to get walking!
With so much building going on, clay is a valuable resource. Here's one of the sources.
This olive tree's
roots have become exposed, and I thought they were rather beautiful.
The hill in the background has been terraced and is being prepared for planting mulberries, which will be grown as a part of a
polyculture. I don't know which other plants will form part of the polyculture, but they are varying them according to the exact location and microclimate. I'll be very interested to visit again in a few years and see how things are developing.
This vegeatble garden is further away from the main settlement and is going to focus on perennial vegetables.
I'm exceedingly interested in this, too. Especially as it's close
enough for me to take cuttings...
This vegetable garden runs along a 'dry' valley, which is a very typical pattern locally. My own farm is much the same, and also my olive grove and secondary broad-acre type garden in the forest follows the the same pattern. The soil is deeper and moister along these valleys and nutrient flows into them from the surrounding hills. They often have
wells or fonts along them, and structures to prevent erosion so that the soil stays put instead of gradually escaping down the valley.
A mandala garden. These are a good way of concentrating all the effort and materials into a small space and the paths are designed so that all areas can be accessed without having to set foot on the soil and compact it.
They are also very ornamental and many people find them good places to meditate and enjoy the spiritual aspects of
gardening and being in contact with nature. I have to admit, I get that just setting foot outside the door and I've never felt the need to create one in such a definite shape, but I appreciate that a lot of other people find them very therapeutic and beautiful.
One of the
water sources further up the valley from the perennial vegetable garden.
Modronos! Nom, nom, nom...
AKA Irish Strawberry Tree.
There was a rumour going around that they are hallucinogenic or something if you eat more than five. I tested it, to no effect. Very nice though!
One of the income-raising projects here is a commercial
mushroom growing set up. Not the best designed project, and it's proving to be a bit of a challenge getting those dug-out areas for the greenhouses not to turn into lakes during heavy rain. They're working on it!
Another major project being undertaken is the tourist camping (or is it 'glamping'?) area. This is one of the straw-bale buildings under construction there.
Several 'roundhouse style'
straw bale buildings are going up across the valley. The mandala gardens don't do much for me, but I find this area and those roundhouses rather magical.
A giant gloppitta-gloppitta machine! It's something to do with preparing the clay and separating the rough bits out.
Overall, I have to admit I was highly impressed. The whole project started when a group of friends got together to rent the
land and get things started. An arrangement has been made so that they have first option on buying the land, at a pre-arranged price. Two million euros of funding has been secured in total for the various projects, which is a bit of a double edged sword as it does restrict the way the projects can be run. The projects include mulberry orchards, shiitake mushrooms, olive orchard regeneration, eco-camping site, restoring ruins, building ponds and lakes, and installing a
solar park.
I intend to return to the site regularly, and keep everyone updated with progress there. On my bike, of course, when I get that pedal fixed. And maybe with a pair of snips and a bag for a few cuttings...
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