Permaculture farm in Catalonia, Spain

Hi! I'm writing from Catalonia, a region located in Spain which have 700l/year of rain and lower temperatures as 5F (-15 C) and 95F higher (35C). We are 3 families who bought a farm from 1300s, 3 years ago. The first year we have to install windows, create heating systems, rebuild all the entire roof. We had 2 kids and we did a crazy hard work... with perspective, I think we were a little bit crazy... anyway, I would like to share some pictures from our farm.. Hope you like it and visit sometimes!! You're all invited! (by the way, we have had some huge US volunteers and we love all them!).
You can find us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/MasLesVinyes/


The house


Our first year video


Cob construction (all the materials, including logs are from our farm)




Some garden's pictures



Some resilient stuff





Greenhouse



Animals time!



Food forest

Hi Sergi!
Thanks for sharing your site with us. I can't see all the photos but did see the ones of you erecting a building. We are thinking of moving to Catalonia-Gandesa and I am keen to know how difficult and expensive it was to get planning permission for renovation and new build. Are they open to alternative/natural buildings?
I was also interested in local climate. It seems that there are various climate zones in a very small area due to topography. I was quite surprised to see you mention -15C! How often (nights/month)does the temp sink to below zero? During which months?
How do you sustain the 3 families?
I look forward to further posts.

Hi Sarah! First, I'm awfully sorry about my english...

Second, as I know, it's really hard to get permissions for natural building without and architect. So first, you should find one who can work with straw, cob and wood... For example, we have an ecovillage with a big problems, as some of their habitants have been accused for this and judge is asking for 4 year prison... let me attach an spanish article http://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20170414/421693639228/piden-carcel-y-una-cuantiosa-multa-para-seis-repobladores-de-un-pueblo-abandonado-de-guadalajara.html

Of course, in Spain we have lots of different climates in small places. Around us you can get 5 months below 0C or any day of cold days (Pirinees vs Barcelona)...  in our region, we have at least 4 months with really low temperatures, and maybe 2 weeks a year below -10C. We even don't plant tomatoes since 15 May, while in other places they can plant tomatoes in february (Gandesa, by the way )

We earn money from eco-tourism, selling eggs, chickens, vegetables, fruit, sheep & formation courses... now it's getting hard because you can find a lot of places to learn permaculture. But we keep trying!

Best wishes!

Hola Sergi!
Perdona por favor mi falta de español. Todavía estoy aprendiendo. I must confess, I used google translate.

I think your English is much better than my Spanish. So far I have learned the pronouns, male and female, eating and drinking. I think I have very far to go to be able to communicate with authorities in Spain!

Thank you for the advice and I am very impressed with your project and the stand you have made with the authorities. It shows huge commitment and passion on your part to risk fines and imprisonment. As much as I admire you, I cannot afford to go to jail for "crimes against the community" even though I believe you are correct in following age old customs that didn't require legislation until recently. I shall have to abide by the laws of the land-being a foreigner means I have to stay within the law or risk deportation. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

We plan to come to Spain in December for a month to look around and see the region in the winter. We are from South Africa originally and like warm weather . After working so long in UK, we feel the need for a little warmth so we are looking for a spot that has mild, short winters. I really hope we can stop by and see your place, I know it's further north than we are looking but it will be nice to see what you are up to. Do you offer overnight accommodation?

I hope I will be able to make use of your local knowledge. And if there is anything I can bring for you-I was thinking seeds-maybe Moringa or something else you struggle to get, please let me know.

Hi Sarah,

please don't hesitate to contact us when you come (maslesvinyes-at-gmail-dot-com)! and don't worry about seeds, all of them are welcome but better they must live in cold places. In any way I also provide you a friend's site who is also a PC teacher from US (12pdesign.net) Maybe he can also help you with your questions... I'll do my best!