Mediterranean Garden Spain

Reforestation of City Space Milan, Italy

2011-11-13T14:24:00.001+01:00

Architects have been struggling with the incorporation of renewable energy components into their projects as demanded by planning authorities. An example being solar panels on tower blocks in city centers. The electricity generated is intended to be used for space heating and ; the problem is that roof space is a relatively small area and incorporating technology into building facades is costly and not always effective.

Stefano Boeri has a different approach in his Vertical forest, Bosque Vertical

for apartment blocks in Milan, Italy.

William and Catherine Christmas Caganers

2011-11-08T19:49:00.002+01:00

Christmas in Cataluna sees the addition of two new Caganer figurine figures for your christmas nativity scene,

Prince William and Catherine (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge).

Here they are shown wearing their wedding outfits, and having assumed the position of the pooping caganer.

See previous post on Obama Caganer here to learn about the tradition of this fertility symbol.

2011-11-01T00:00:00.000+01:00

Caga Tió - Christmas in Catalunya, Spain

Christmas is coming and the poop logs are in the shops click on the link above the photograph to read about them

Apple fair photographs L'Armentera 2011

2011-10-31T21:45:00.000+01:00

Fira de la Poma L'Armentera 2011

2011-10-09T17:36:00.004+02:00

Cartell 2011 obra d'Inés Bordas

Local artist Inés Bordas was chosen to produce the poster for this years 'Fira de la Poma' (Apple Fair) in the town of L'Armentera.

The apples are now harvested and off to market.

Diversification in Catalunya - El Litoral overfishing and mass tourism

2011-07-22T14:10:00.003+02:00

Diversification in Catalunya - La Sureda Cork forest

2011-07-22T14:00:00.003+02:00

Diversification in Catalunya - Farmers creating landscapes

2011-07-22T13:42:00.003+02:00

Diversification in Catalunya - River Ebro

2011-07-22T13:32:00.003+02:00

Flor de Temps Girona 2011 - Flower festival

2011-05-23T15:44:00.006+02:00

Springtime mediterranean garden

2011-05-21T12:53:00.000+02:00

Piquancy in salad leaves

2011-05-21T11:50:00.003+02:00

To add add a splash of welcome colour and a hint of piquancy to your salad leaf mix try growing giant red mustard leaves.

Pick the leaves when small and the plant will continue to produce,

it is also capable of standing through a mild winter before going to

seed in late spring. Save the seed for more salad leaves.

Prunus Cerasifera pissardii flowers

2011-05-21T11:44:00.001+02:00

Prunus Cerasifera pissardii in full bloom in early spring.

Bats in the mediterranean garden.

2011-04-08T17:22:00.004+02:00

Although this bat was dead when I found it in the garden, we appear to have a healthy colony of bats living in the top of our disused water tower. Each evening as the sun sets over the mountains we see them emerge. Their effectiveness at insect pest control is often debated but they are always welcome visitors in our garden.

On an evening we often see bats praying on night flying insects under the street lights of our village. Particularly on roundabouts along the highway.

Primavera peeps through Mediterranean winter

2011-02-25T22:22:00.004+01:00

Spring is definitely in the air, in the garden and surrounding land blossom adorns the branches of the cherry trees and the Hoopoe is claiming territory ready for the breeding season.

Got a head start in the vegetable beds by visiting the supermarket and buying a packet of Thai organic vegetables which were rapidly approaching their sell by date. The bag contained garlic, shallots and lemon grass which I rooted before planting out in the raised beds. The Garlic and shallots are thriving. It might still be a bit cool for the lemon grass but well worth a punt.

It was March the 8th. last year that heavy snowfalls blanketed L'Alt Empordà wiping out power supplies for several days. Hopefully we haven't jumped the gun.

Achatina Fulica Giant snail invades Spain

2011-02-08T22:04:00.003+01:00

Achatina Fulica the east african giant snail is now resident in Andalusia in southern Spain. As if we don't have enough snails of our own. This invader is known to carry several parasites which are dangerous to humans who should avoid contact with the pest. The snail should never be eaten without intensive cleaning. Consumption has proven fatal to animals.

Categorized as one of the worst on the invasive species on maturity the snail can reach 20cms long (8"). It feeds on all manner of vegetation, bones, sand and even concrete. It is able to seal itself inside its own shell enabling the snail to survive droughts as long as three years.

GM lobby opens door to EU food chain

2011-02-06T01:21:00.002+01:00

Photograph: Martin Argles for the Observer

Genetically modified crops will be allowed to enter the UK food chain without the need for regulatory clearance for the first time under controversial plans expected to be approved this week....

Relaxing the EU's zero-tolerance position would greatly benefit US feed exporters. The push for Europe to drop its zero-tolerance policy began in 2009 after EU authorities found traces of GM maize in soy shipments from the US and refused to allow its entry. Such recalls are expensive and those affected are unlikely to receive compensation.

GM supporters warn that the current zero-tolerance policy could result in a dramatic shortage of feed for livestock. But critics dismiss the claims as scaremongering and say there is no evidence to back up them up.

"This is a solution without a problem, and the price could be very high indeed when unknown genetically modified organisms are let loose in the food chain," said Eve Mitchell, food policy adviser at Food and Water Europe, a campaign group.

"Rather than ignoring EU food safety laws to help the US soy industry cut costs, we should simply buy the stuff from countries that segregate their GM properly. If it hasn't been tested, why eat it?"

Many of the GM crops, notably soy and maize, that have been found in animal feed imported into Europe are resistant to multiple herbicides. Critics blame these new GM crops for the recent rise of "super weeds" across vast tracts of the US farm belt.

Friends of the Earth Europe said it had obtained expert legal advice questioning the legality of the EU's plan. But European regulators believe that allowing the import of animal feed containing no more than 0.1% of GM traces does not jeopardise food security.

Jamie Doward

Repairing garden hand tools - Mattock

2011-02-05T21:44:00.002+01:00

This post illustrates how to fix the wooden shaft onto the head of the various garden tools that are sold in Spain, in this case a mattock. The metal wedge which secures the shaft is called a cuña heirro forjado.

If you have to buy a new shaft for your garden hand tools, a good garden tip passed onto me by a blacksmith or farrier; is to rub up and down the handle with a hammer head or metal shaft, thereby flattening the grain and polishing the handle. A light coat of linseed oil will help keep the handle weather proof and comfortable in the hand.

Grafting citrus fruits -

2011-02-03T21:19:00.003+01:00

If you like us are still praying that the winter has been kind to your citrus, here is something you could achieve if you master the green art of grafting. The citrus tree in the picture carries 81 different varieties of fruit, all grafted by Joe Real the owner of the tree. Read his description of what he has achieved and see further photographs by clicking on the link.

Winter weather weary, bring on Spring

2011-01-27T00:12:00.000+01:00

Madrid (EP) .- The General Directorate of Civil Defense and Emergencies of the Ministry of Interior warned by minimum temperatures "many areas of the country" and "especially" in Catalonia.

Thus, Civil Protection warns that the minimum temperatures are very cold in many parts of the country and which may extend to -10 degrees Celsius to the regions of Catalonia.

Estate agents when selling you a house often tell you that,

Whilst sitting on your patio you can pick your own lemon for your Gin and tonic...

They never tell you that you can take the ice from the swimming pool to chill your Gin and tonic too!

Fruit squash

2011-01-26T01:55:00.005+01:00

We bought a juicer and have been playing around with recipes with both fruit and vegetables for their health promoting benefits; but today we have been outclassed.

Down the road in Lleida a wagon overturned whilst carrying 39,000 kilos of oranges; thankfully nobody was hurt!

Stratification of stone fruit

2011-01-21T16:45:00.003+01:00

Cold weather is rather unusually welcome at this time of year in the Mediterranean garden. Freezing temperatures help control bugs and diseases amongst the plants. They also provide an important service to growers of stone crop fruit and nut trees, after shedding their seeds the pits (or stone) of fruit and nuts need to go through a period of stratification, intense cold, before the seed is able to germinate.

Once the seed has grown to a tree the cold spell is again important. This is the reason fruit and nut orchards are at risk from rising winter average winter temperatures; without sufficient number of cold days for that particular variety the fruit will not set.

When you pick your apricot, peach, nectarine, plum, or cherry on a sunny summer day perhaps you should remember that early cold spell with a little more affection.

Tonight temperatures will range from freezing on the Mediterranean coast to -15C in the Pyrenées just a few miles away. We once recorded temperatures of -12C in our Mediterranean garden though a thick coat of mulch meant almost all of our plants survived.

Last year the cold spell was a little later falling at the beginning of March resulting in the loss of our cherry and Nispera / Loquat crop.

SEAE Organic agriculture in Spain

2011-01-05T22:03:00.002+01:00

¿ Qué es la SEAE?.

La Sociedad Española de Agricultura Ecológica (SEAE), es una asociación privada, sin fines de lucro, con estatutos propios, constituida y registrada en 1992, inspirada en las sociedades técnico-científicas de otras ramas existentes en nuestro pais, con el propósito de aglutinar los esfuerzos de agricultores, técnicos, científicos y de otras personas, encaminados hacia el desarrollo de sistemas sustentables de producción agraria, fundamentados en los principios ecológicos y socioeconómicos promovidos por los movimientos de Agricultura Ecológica, cuyo objetivo fundamental es la obtención de alimentos y materias primas de máxima calidad, respetando el medio ambiente y conservando la fertilidad de la tierra, mediante la utilización óptima de los recursos locales, potenciando las culturas rurales, los valores éticos del desarrollo social y la calidad de vida.

What is SEAE?.

The Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture (SEAE) is an association private, non-profit, with its own statutes, established and recorded in 1992, inspired by the technical-scientific societies other existing branches in our country, for the purpose of uniting the efforts of farmers, technicians, scientists and others aimed at developing sustainable production systems land, based on ecological principles and

socio-economic promoted by the organic farming movement, which aims is essential to obtain food and raw materials of the highest quality, respecting the environment and conserving the fertility of land, through the optimum utilization of local resources

promoting rural cultures, ethical values development social and quality of life.

Spain helps out neighbour France in green power surge

2010-12-30T19:49:00.002+01:00

Spain has bolstered its credentials as a world leader in renewable energy by exporting electricity to France for the first time. Heavy rain and strong winds during 2010 meant that renewables - principally hydro, wind and solar power - met 35 per cent of Spanish demand.
Wind power rose by 18.5 per cent in 2010 and now meets 16 per cent of demand. Luis Atienza, managing director of Spain's electricity grid, predicted that "within three years wind power will overtake nuclear as an electricity source". At its peak, on November 9, wind power met 43 per cent of demand.

This greening of the Spanish grid has not benefited the consumer, with prices likely to rise by nine per cent in 2011. The government sets electricity prices which have no direct correlation with production costs. (The Guardian)

Electricity prices will rise 9.8 % in 2011 and that is almost 40% since 2002.

Organic composting guide - online

2010-12-27T20:46:00.002+01:00

If you are beginning composting or would like to understand what goes on in your heap an ebook

Organic Gardeners' Composting by Steve Solomon

will help and guide you; in choice of materials,siting the heap and constructing a compost box. The guide will also inform you of the nutriment available to plants within your compost.

PART ONE:
Elementary Backyard Composting

Chapter One: What is Compost?

Chapter Two: Compost Basics

Chapter Three: Practical Compost Making

Chapter Four: All About Materials

Chapter Five: Methods and Variations

Chapter Six: Vermicomposting

PART TWO:
Composting for the Food Gardener

Chapter Seven: Humus and Soil Productivity

Chapter Eight: Maintaining Soil Humus

Chapter Nine: Making Superior Compost

Bibliography

Catalan dairy products

2010-12-24T21:44:00.006+01:00

Our dairy farm is backed by ISO 9001-2000 quality certificate. Girona Provincial Council gave the award for best milk in the surrounding region

La Fageda has an annual turnover of 10 million euros and sells 35 millions yoghurts. Competing with some of the world’s largest food producers, La Fageda offers high-quality dairy products while ensuring social and labour integration for people with mental disabilities.

La Fageda is a cooperative of 270 workers, of which 150 suffer some form of mental illness or handicap. The cooperative is owned by the workers, who become shareholders by paying 60 euros upon entry. A support programme has also been developed and comprises of a group of psychologists who follow each worker's personal and professional rehabilitation.

Case Study by Delphi Jarrett

Karlos Arguiñano Nochebuena Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T15:39:00.003+01:00

Karlos Arguiñano the chef on the Antena3 TV channel shows you how to cook a celebratory dinner for Nochebuena (the good night or Christmas Eve) The broadcasts are in Spanish but the demonstrations are easy to follow.

Click here to watch the videos - no need to download.

Feliz Navidad

2010-12-23T02:11:00.000+01:00

Forest horse craft

2010-12-23T00:02:00.001+01:00

The snowfall of March 8 (2010) left most forests of the region looking bleak.

Trees on the ground, broken branches ..The job is enormous. ...However, we continue the work of clearing.

There are several options. For example, entering the forest machines and do a thorough cleaning.Obviously the machine accelerates the tasks, but also has consequences for the forest, as well as the necessary damages trees and plants, and wildlife, the environment.

A greener and less invasive alternative is the use of horses. Horses like Ainat, four years, owned Rafael Mariner, working in some woods dragging logs and branches to remove(them).

The horse race is a Ainat Asturcón (small horses, but very strong, rustic and brave, very suitable for the drag). The Asturcón are one of the oldest breeds in Europe and have the same trunk that genetic extinct horse Catalan.

These days, Ainat is working on a private estate in the neighborhood of Verneda of Cassa de la Selva. It is a mountain of 3 hectares of cork oak and strawberry tree alsina.

Jose Homs, owner of dressage Vilert center, along with people of Arc Can Puig de Sant Ferriol, works in the mountains with Ainat.Homs is hook for dressage and horse-drawn carriage and has the Ainat to perfect it.

Usually takes about three months to teach them to drag. "We can not blow them all the weight you are able to, drag so much (at the) expense (they) lose confidence, and then not do it. We must start with little weight to increase it, "says Homs.Mariner explains how a horse of this kind can drag 200 or 300 pounds.

Homs and Ainat to penetrate between the trees on the mountain. The trainer collects logs and branches, which binds with ropes and chains behind the horse. Then ... down the mountain until the road where the rubbish left on the sidelines.

When the wood is going to ...a clean machine crusher which will revert all the vegetable matter and shoot again in the forest crumbled (mulch) . The entire process for the estate of 3 acres of Cass, will last about a week. After (they are) already waiting in Canet d'Adri.....

Jordi Nadal EL Punt

Preservation of bird life through tree planting

2010-12-22T21:48:00.003+01:00

If you own a garden which borders a road which is higher than your land which is common across Spain; you can have a significant impact on the preservation of the neighbourhood bird-life by planting tall shrubs or trees along your perimeter.

The effect of the planted material is that the birds are forced to climb higher on take off enable them to cross roads without being struck by traffic.

The trees and shrubs are often used as visual and noise screening but if the boundary is a little further off it can be overlooked.

U.N.'s International Year of Forests 2011

2010-12-22T01:11:00.002+01:00

U.N.'s International Year of Forests 2011

“Som lo que Sembrem” - We Are What We Sow

2010-12-20T21:26:00.004+01:00

The map shows towns and regions in Spain which are rejecting Genetically Modified crops (GMO)

“Som lo que Sembrem” (We Are What We Sow)

Wiki Leaked

Catalonia and the Basque Country, continue to seek more autonomy viaa vis the central government.

In March 2008, the Canary Islands were declared GM-free. Since fewer than 1,380 acres of corn are
grown in the Canaries, this is considered mostly a symbolic gesture.

However, on February 5, 2009, an initiative was proposed in the Catalonian Regional Parliament to declare the region GM-free. The initiative has not yet come up for a vote, and its prospects are uncertain. Such an action would be cause for serious concern, since Catalonia is a center of GMO corn cultivation.

More recently, on April 21, 2009, the Basque Parliament passed stringent biotech coexistence legislation which could likely force farmers to halt planting of MON810 due to strict compliance issues. The Spanish
Association of Biotechnology Industries (ANOVE) will challenge the Basque legislation.

Minerals of Catalunya

2010-12-17T15:47:00.003+01:00

Grup Mineralògic Català

minerals catalans

En aquet apartat intentarem donar a conèixer els millors exemplars de la mineralogia catalana, a través d' un treball de recerca de col.leccions particulars, públiques, i de treballs de camp.

Aquesta secció està oberta a tothom que hi vulgui aportar la seva col.laboració.

In this great section we will try to present the best examples of Catalan mineralogy, through a research paper from private collections, public and fieldwork.

This section is open to anyone who wants to bring their collaboration.

Increasing threat from desertification

2010-12-16T12:33:00.004+01:00

Damian Carrington writes in the Guardian

Desertification and land degradation is "the greatest environmental challenge of our time" and "a threat to global wellbeing", according to the UN's top drylands official, Luc Gnacadja, who says people must be paid via global carbon markets for preserving the soil. The executive secretary of UN's Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), will today launch the UN decade for the fight against desertification in London.

"The top 20cm of soil is all that stands between us and extinction,"

he told the Guardian. Conflicts and food price crises all stem from the degradation of land, he added

Pampas Grass plumes

2010-12-16T00:01:00.000+01:00

The striking plumes of the Pampas Grass put on a spectacular show against the clear blue of the Alt Empordà sky. Tall growing plants with bold architectural structures give definition and a sense of scale to the mediterranean garden landscape.

Domestic animal breeds seen in Catalonia

2010-12-15T00:01:00.000+01:00

If you are touring the Catalan countryside you may have wondered about the breeds of animal you see on the hills and pastures of the region. If so you may like to visit the website of the

Department of Animal and Food Science where Jordi Jordana Vidal has an interesting well presented page.

Silvoarable agroforestry

2010-12-14T00:01:00.000+01:00

Silvoarable agroforestry comprises widely-spaced trees intercropped with arable crops.

This project builds on recent findings that indicate that modern silvoarable production systems are very efficient in terms of resource use, and could introduce an innovative agricultural production system that will be both environment-friendly and economically profitable.

Growing high quality trees in association with arable crops in European fields may improve the sustainability of farming systems, diversify farmers incomes, provide new products to the wood industry, and create novel landscapes of high value.

New Vineyard in the Emporda

2010-12-13T22:18:00.003+01:00

I collected wood from last years vine pruning, from the floor of of a vineyard in the D.O. Emporda wine growing district at the foot of the hills behind the Costa Brava coast.

After a couple of weeks in grit and compost you can see roots forming at the base of the vine wood and that the buds are beginning to break. It will be a while before Carol treads the grapes or we can invite you to a tasting!

Map of wine producing areas of Spain

2010-12-13T22:06:00.004+01:00

If you are interested in learning more about the wines of Spain read Quentin Sadler's wine page

Market forces

2010-12-13T00:02:00.000+01:00

This photograph was taken early on the morning after the final night of the sheep flocks stay in their nearby summer home. It didn't seem appropriate to disturb them by venturing nearer for a better photograph.

The sheep had been walked as usual through the neighbouring farmlands clearing weed and fertilizing the land as they moved across it; those thousands of tiny feet lightly tilling the top soil as they walk as grazing animals do so well. Constant movement prevents overgrazing and allows grass fields and native crops to re-grow.

Throughout the night the sheep circled constantly treading their straw bedding into the ground; and huddling together for protection against any predators, able to negotiate the electric fence that surrounded them. When morning came they happily walked away over the familiar territory unaware that today they were heading for market.

Return of the gardeners

2010-12-12T22:16:00.003+01:00

The garden has been at a virtual standstill for the past year. We had the opportunity to build a house on a plot around half the size of this finca though with marked gradients on a mountain side. Soil on the new plot was thin but fertile benefiting from high mineralisation.

Whilst considering the move to fresh pastures we received several enquiries about buying the finca; though the Spanish banks are not able to provide mortgages to match the aspirations of the vendors.

In the course of negotiations the prospective purchasers expressed ideas for developing the house and land in ways which meant our gardening endeavors were reduced to maintenance.

Some of the interested purchasers wanted to rent to buy and although they were often nice people, we would have effectively have acted as a secondary banker to their purchase. Thus we would have been unable to move on ourselves as our capital would have been tied up for several years.

We have spent our time over those months on further work to modernise the house, which was built in 1985. Now we can return to the garden.

a moratorium on the introduction into Europe of genetically modified crops

2010-12-12T16:41:00.004+01:00

Environmentalists, backed by more than 1,200,000 signatures, asking the Commission

"a moratorium on the introduction into Europe of genetically modified crops"

and the "establishment of an ethical and independent scientific body to investigate the impact of crop and decide regulation. "

75,000 of the 110,000 hectares of GM maize planted in the EU are in Spain.

El Mundo report

Wild Seed bank

2010-12-12T02:47:00.003+01:00

Scientists have announced a plan to collect and store the wild plant relatives of essential food crops, including wheat, rice, and potatoes.

The project, co-ordinated by the Global Crop Diversity Trust, will collect and catalogue seeds from across the globe.

The aim is to safeguard valuable genetic traits that the wild plants contain, which could be bred into crops to make them more hardy and versatile.

This could help secure food supplies in the face of a changing climate

By Victoria Gill
Science and nature reporter, BBC News

Hilary Clinton and George Bush to join Obama for Christmas

2010-12-03T16:40:00.003+01:00

Last year I told you about the Christmas nativity figure the Caganer of Barack Obama and also the history of the figurine; this year he is joined by Hilary Clinton on the Caganer world stage.

Many people will be wondering about the missed opportunity that is a Sarah Palin figure for the huge american market.

George W Bush is also back in Caganer focus....

Girona flower festival Temps de Flors 2011

2010-12-02T21:04:00.003+01:00

Correct date for the flower festival are the above not those on the original poster which is shown below. So we are altering our plans and may well have missed it altogether thank you to anonymous for the tip off!

The city of Girona will be staging the annual flower festival of Girona 2011 Temps de Flors from the 7th May until 15th May 2011.

Watching flowers in the rain!

2010-05-06T23:23:00.002+02:00

Im just sitting watching flowers in the rain

Feel the power of the rain making the garden grow,

Im just sitting watching flowers in the rain

Feel the power of the rain keeping me cool.

Flag Iris

2010-05-06T23:16:00.003+02:00

Ain't necessarily so

2009-12-25T01:29:00.002+01:00

Merry Christmas to all our friends.......

it's not really like this.............

In good Sorts for Christmas?

2009-12-20T21:12:00.004+01:00

It is that time of year when everyone in Spain is hoping for a little luck, El Gordo (the fat one) the Spanish national lottery Christmas draw is about to take place. Work colleagues, groups of friends and families often share part of a ticket for the big draw, so that if their numbers come up then the luck is shared within the group.

Another colourful character from Catalan popular culture that you may encounter when purchasing your lottery tickets is, La Bruixa d'Or or La Bruja de Oro (the witch of gold) She is a witch that comes from out of space to sprinkle gold dust representing good luck.

The La Bruixa d'Or originates from the town of Sort which in Catalan means luck, and just coincidently is the town which boasts the most winners.

For your perfect Catalan christmas this year you will need your Cagana (Obama), cagartió your La Bruixa d'Or and of course you will need to buy that winning lottery ticket too!

Bird of Paradise seed

2009-12-14T22:33:00.002+01:00

This is the seed of a Bird of Paradise flower as seen through a scanning Electron Microscope. Click on the links below to see the image gallery.

Welcome Trust Photographic Awards 2009

ECO clean your personal computer

2009-12-09T16:55:00.003+01:00

Eco friendly computer maintenance product that everyone should try, no harmful chemicals completely bio degradable.

Olive blossom

2009-12-07T13:34:00.004+01:00

The olive trees finally produced fruit this year it is particularly rewarding after such a difficult time keeping them alive in the early years.

Spring time flowers on the olive tree are white and quite insignificant but each tiny bud holds the promise of a fruit maturing in the winter sun.

Our neighbours tell us that a major pest which can prevent the tree fruiting is the ant.

If you look carefully you can see the tiny olive blossom.

In this part of Spain nurserymen often quote the price of olive trees as €1 per year of growth; they will happily show you trees (they estimate) of 1000 years of age at the corresponding price of €1000.

We chose to grow our own from seedlings and now have small established trees.

Pipe cleaner

2009-12-05T22:08:00.004+01:00

Joseph and I spent hours trying to unblock the drain from the chacca. We found that roots from nearby tees had crept into the pipe work forcing the valve open just a little and costing us our rainwater. Joseph who is a retired engineer and keen fruit and vegetable grower, cleaned up and restored the old brass valve which controlled the flow to the pipe. Harvesting rainwater to feed our crops was again possible.

One day on our return to the Finca we found that the old brass valve had been stolen, and with it went our water supply once more. We have replaced the valve with a PVC unit no doubt the brass has been scrapped. What a waste!

Many of the gardeners in our and neighboring villages are suffering thefts of equipment, tools and crops.

Grape vines in l'alt Pendes region

2009-12-05T21:49:00.002+01:00

Christmas garden gift

2009-12-03T19:20:00.004+01:00

If you are shopping for your best friends christmas present and are unable to decide how to follow last years gift of the Obama Caganer, then this could be the gift you are looking for!

An Elephant Poo Planter! Perhaps you could use it to plant your Elephants Ears ?

Apple harvest is counted

2009-11-24T22:23:00.002+01:00

Local farmers have produced over 4,500 metric tons of apples, despite a difficult growing season, which should be enough for christmas stockings this year.

The Lotus of the ancients a tree for today

2009-11-22T21:11:00.005+01:00

If you are looking for a large and semi ornamental and fruiting tree to plant in your own Mediterranean Garden, then the European nettle, Celtis australis or the Hackberry as it is commonly known maybe for you. The tree is believed to have been the Lotus of the ancients and has been referred to by both Homer and Tennyson in their writing. Rocks formed during the European Miocene period (between 23.8 and 5.32 million years ago) are found to have traces of the Hackberry. This plant is a therefore a survivor. Modern Mediterranean gardeners will appreciate this plant for its drought tolerance once established. It requires a sunny position and light sandy or loamy soil which is slightly alkaline. The long lived tree produces timber which is prized by wood turners, and a yellow dye can be extracted from the trees bark. Smaller thinner branches are often selected to be walking sticks. The small flowers of the tree are self fertile (hermaphrodite) though pale yellow or green and will produce small edible purple drupes (berries) which can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves of the Nettle tree are astringent as you may have guessed and have curative properties for stomach disorders. Autumn colour occurs as the leaves turn yellow before falling.

....The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came.

Branches they bore of that enchanted stem,

Laden with flower and fruit, whereof they gave....

Lo! in the middle of the wood,

The folded leaf is woo'd from out the bud
With winds upon the branch, and there
Grows green and broad, and takes no care,
Sun-steep'd at noon, and in the moon
Nightly dew-fed; and turning yellow
Falls, and floats adown the air.
Lo! sweeten'd with the summer light,
The full-juiced apple, waxing over-mellow,
Drops in a silent autumn night.
All its allotted length of days
The flower ripens in its place,
Ripens and fades, and falls, and hath no toil,

Fast-rooted in the fruitful soil....

Alfred Lord Tennyson - The Lotus eaters

They went and found themselves
Among the Lotus-eaters soon, who used
No violence against their lives, but gave
Into their hands the lotus plant to taste.
Whoever tasted once of that sweet food
Wished not to see his native country more
Nor give his friends the knowledge of his fate ;
And then my messengers desired to dwell
Among the Lotus-eaters, and to feed
Upon the lotus, never to return.
Homer - The Odyssey

Humping Hackberry

2009-11-22T21:04:00.004+01:00

If you have been transplanting trees of late you will spare a thought for those tasked with transplanting a large specimen tree within the Catalan city of Barcelona (about 135km south of us).

The Lledoner tree as it is known in Catalunya is better known internationally as Celtis Austalis or the Hackberry measured 4’0” in diameter and weighed 60 metric tonnes with it’s root ball intact.

The Hackberry was transported on a gondola supported on a tree platform (see pictures)

Acorn harvest failure threatens Spanish Ham

2009-11-12T19:55:00.003+01:00

Around our Finca the holm oaks are producing their annual acorn harvest elsewhere in Spain the harvest is failing.....

Pigs bred for Jamon Belota are raised free range in the oak orchards, gorging themselves on acorns that produce the rich flavour and oily texture for which the meat is known.

Photo: REUTERS

The trees, which for generations have provided Iberian pigs with the rich acorn diet necessary to ensure the succulent texture of Jamon Iberico, are under attack from a strain of phytophthora, a fungus with its origins in Australia.

The fungus attacks the roots of the trees, choking off a water supply that has been made scarce by successive years of drought.Experts have discovered at least 500 serious outbreaks of the disease in the pastures of south-western Spain and predict that the situation will worsen unless a widespread forest management programme is introduced."The soil has been eroded, the droughts are getting longer, and air pollution is worsening - all factors contributing to the spread of the plague," explained Gerardo Moreno, a biology professor at the University of Extramadura, who led a recent study.

"The problem is compounded by the fact that the orchards have been over-exploited, leaving little room for regeneration," he told the Spanish newspaper El Pais. Producers of the Spanish product, which can fetch up to 1,500 euros (£1,380) for the very best quality leg of ham, fear their livelihood is at risk.

Pigs bred for Jamon Belota are raised free range in the oak orchards, gorging themselves on acorns that produce the rich flavour and oily texture for which the meat is known."There are huge areas of trees which have been seriously damaged," said Alejandro Hernandez Matamoros, whose family breeds 500 pigs annually in Jerez de los Caballeros near Badajoz.

"So many people rely on this industry that we have to find a solution," he said. "Without acorns, there can be no pigs."

Drought and effective fertilizer

2009-11-11T21:15:00.003+01:00

With the aim of developing effective fertilizers which can be applied even in drought conditions.

A team of researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas have deciphered the structure of the receptor of a hormone that can increase the resistance of crop plants to drought. This was announced by the researcher CSIC, Pedro Rodriguez Egea, who has stated that

"the discovery would help develop more effective plant protection products with synthetic molecule that mimics the effect of the hormone abscisic acid (ABA)".

Researchers have managed to elucidate the three dimensional structure (atomic level) of one receptor, called PYR1 of the ABA. This hormone is essential for plants to tackle the drought, and researchers have succeeded in describing how the receptor interacts with the phytohormone PYR1 to trigger the plant response to water stress. The result, which is published in the online version of the revista'Nature ', encourage the development of synthetic molecules that mimics the effect of ABA, overcoming the limitations of using this phytohormone in agriculture, since it is sensitive to light and their chemical synthesis is expensive. This work lays the groundwork for identifying these molecules in the field of drought resistance.

If you go down to the woods today...

2009-09-27T23:01:00.003+02:00

The forest is full of unemployed people looking for mushrooms to sell

...this year's mushroom picking is strong seeping into a new sector of the population, the unemployed workers who see and an opportunity to make extra money.

Not surprisingly, the market vendors mushrooms

can pay their suppliers up to

18 euros for a kilo of good milk caps.

writes JOSEP SALLENT
Olvan

El Periodico

Vilabertran

2009-09-24T23:00:00.005+02:00

Señora Rosa has been helping us with our meat selection at the Intermarche supermarket for the last couple of years, I tell her what I want to cook (which is whatever Carol wants to eat basically) and she advises me on the cut of meat (labelled in Catalan) best suited for our needs. It was during one such a conference that Rosa told us of the impending Fiesta Mayor to be held at the village of Vilabertran, just outside of Figueres.

Vilerbertran is famous for its 11^th. century church -Santa Maria de Vilabertran which features a Lombardian bell tower; originally an Augustinian church, the town was founded here because of the availability of fresh water and proximity to the trade route that is the Mediterranean sea.

Fira L´Horta y Poma Relleno

2009-09-24T22:59:00.002+02:00

So it was that on the 20^th. September 2009 we visited the village and experienced the celebration of village life; which is known as Fira L´Horta y Poma Relleno ( Fair of the Farm and stuffed Apple).

This is harvest time in L´Alt Emporda and the fields are filled with young African men, many of whom were illegal immigrants, and who today form a large part of the hard working agricultural labour force.

Sìnia

2009-09-24T22:58:00.001+02:00

The Sìnia is an ancient form of well using an Archimedes screw mechanism powered by horse or donkey and was brought to the L´Alt Emporda by the Greeks who settled the area; the name L´Alt Emporda is derived from the greek for market place.

The horse powering this sìnia seemed a bit skitterish and was not easily held by the handler who explained that he was upset at drawing the short straw whilst his stable mates pulled carts around the village as they taxied the visitors to the village centre.

A few examples of the sìnia have been restored and are preserved on the old horta's of VilaBertran, hortas which are still actively farmed and produce high quality fruit & vegetable crops.

Pualanca

2009-09-24T22:56:00.002+02:00

Another Greek introduction was the Pualanca a lever mechanism with counter balance to raise water from the well.

The village people (no not them) rather the people of the village enthusiastically demonstrated the water extraction techniques for each new arrival at the show.

Carol was invited to try the Paulanca and was 'well impressed' (pun so obviously intended) with its efficiency though she seemed a little disappointed to learn that modern day pumps lift the water nowadays.

Horta exhibition

2009-09-24T22:50:00.003+02:00

The Hortas were immaculately presented and despite the dry hot windy summer exhibition standards were presented by all concerned with the land cultivation. The route around the village was well signposted. I was particularly impressed with the attitude of the people of the village everyone tried to be helpful and they all smiled. Thoughtfully there were albums of photographs showing the seasonal crop production which occur outside of the Fiesta period, were exhibited alongside historic photographs of village life. A young African man was only too pleased to show us photographs of he and his colleagues at work in the plant nurseries of the village.

Fira L´Horta y Poma Relleno plant sales

2009-09-24T22:49:00.003+02:00

Catalan Donkey

2009-09-24T22:49:00.000+02:00

The black coloured Catalan donkey is not famed for its easy temperament but these two fine looking youngsters responded to my Dr. Doolittle impression and were only kept away from us by an electric fence. Hard working donkeys were the beast of burden in many Mediterranean countries in the past and some are working just as hard today in poorer countries.

Take a look at the Spana web site if you have a few moments to spare.

Sooner or later

2009-09-23T22:59:00.004+02:00

Having planted a young lemon tree we have high hopes of being self sufficient in lemons one day, though it may be quite a while till we have fruits like this fine example, which was a gift from Noellia who had picked it from her own mature lemon tree.

Nerium Oleander in flower

2009-09-23T22:55:00.000+02:00

Mediterranean Garden plants

2009-09-22T23:33:00.003+02:00

The evergreen Rosebay or Nerium Oleander (Apocynaceae) is the foundation plant of our garden continuously displaying a wealth of pretty funnel shaped flowers in various shades according to the variety. We have also planted a variegated form with cerise coloured blooms, and have placed it in front of climbers with darker green foliage. Throughout the Costa Brava in particular and the Ált Emporda district as a whole, this dependable plant is often used to screen boundaries as a hedge or also as a feature shrub in its own right.

Dependably hardy down to – 10° C. once established, the Oleander will thrive in any Mediterranean Garden. And will create an impressive shrub up to 3m high and 4m wide. The willow like leaves, sage green coloured with a silver underside, rustle like paper in the winds that shape this land; and with a little water during the flowering stage Oleanders will largely take care of themselves. Tip pruning will create a bushy shrub and removal of the seed pods will prolong the flowering period. It can be shaped easily and soon recovers from over enthusiastic clipping.

If you want to propagate this species then seeds are easily germinated in the springtime though the colours of the flowers may vary from the parent plant. Summertime will produce semi ripe wood ideal for cuttings, our friend Gabby recommends taking longer cuttings which she says root quickly.

All parts of the plant are poisonous to both humans and animals so care must be taken when planting Oleanders in your garden; as is the case with many other plants. Don't let that dissuade you from planting this pretty Mediterranean shrub which is the perfect flowering shrub in all other respects.

Virtual Herbarium Mediterranean Plants

2009-08-21T22:40:00.002+02:00

HERBARIO VIRTUAL DEL MEDITERRÁNEO OCCIDENTAL

The western Mediterranean Virtual Herbarium is a web page born out of the VH of the Balearic Islands. It collects information and a wide gallery of images of the vascular plants in the western Mediterranean basin. This project is led by the Botanical Area of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). At present the Universities of Barcelona and Valencia are also participating.

The Virtual Herbarium has been structured in index entries or individual web pages for each vegetable species considered. The most important aim of each entry are the images of the plants; however, a brief information in the form of a text is also included together with the scientific names of the plants both in Catalan and Spanish. The main image has been obtained by scanning a fresh specimen.

Most of the represented species correspond to autochthonous plants, although several cultivated and garden plants have been incorporated, thus, being a useful tool for studious of botany as well as garden and horticulture lovers. The western Mediterranean Virtual Herbarium is a lively project, and like any data bank its value is found in the constant incorporation of new images and information.

The Virtual Herbarium can be looked up in its whole, or either by restriction of the different territories included up to date: the Balearic Islands (Illes Balears),Catalonia (Catalunya), Valencian Community (Comunitat Valenciana).

Tamarix (Tamaricaceae) Tamarisk

2009-08-17T23:18:00.001+02:00

Tamarisk can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs and trees. Mild areas produce trees that are very wind-resistant and therefore they are often used as barrier hedges in exposed coastal areas. They like a sunny position in well drained fertile soil; where they produce abundant racemes of small pink or white flowers in the summer.

Spring time is the optimum time to prune trees and hedges, and it is then that the new growth of purple stems contrasting with the blue grey foliage gives a second season of interest. Semi ripe cuttings are easy to propagate.

Here in northern Catalunya farmland which has been reclaimed from marshland is rich and fertile and produces apples, peaches and pears in profusion. The farmland extends down to the beaches of the Costa Brava and is subject to high winds; it is the Tamarisk which is used to separate the agricultural land from the Mediterranean sand carried by the wind. Anybody who has used the campsites around the coastal region will have sheltered behind the Tamarisk tree.

In some parts of the USA the Tamarisk has become an invasive species and is weeded out of the native forests.

I have seen fine examples of a specimen tree and will try to add a photograph to this entry.

Caramelized figs with Peaches

2009-08-04T23:43:00.002+02:00

Caramelized figs with Peaches.

Nutritional value per serving:

Energy: 287 kcal.

Protein: 1.5 g.

Carbohydrates: 45.2 g.

Fat: 7.8 g.

saturated: 4.7 g.
Monounsaturated: 2.3 g
Polyunsaturated: 0.26 g
Cholesterol: 22.7 mg.

Fiber: 3.9 g.

Vitamin C: 20.9 mg.

Ingredients for 4:

20 g. mint

100 g. brown sugar

35 g. butter

50 g. brandy

140 g. peach

80 g. Greek yogurt

460 g. apple green

30 g. lemon

120 g. fig

Steps to follow:

Peel the apples and crush with a little lemon
In a skillet with some butter, skip the peaches, figs, mint and a little brown sugar. Add the brandy and let it reduce.
In a bowl, put a little yogurt, chopped apple and sautéed fruit (peaches and figs)
Crown with a little fresh mint

From El Mundo

Got to get ourselves back to the garden

2009-05-31T23:06:00.000+02:00

Proverbial Spanish wisdom is that 'more grows in the garden than the gardener sows'.

As the head of the seeds and weeds department on our Finca I have returned from an enforced absence accompanied by the recently retired Carol, who deals with the identified weeds and all the heavier and rougher work with relish. Our first week's work is beginning to show results and we are claiming back the garden from nature's grasp. Carol's war on the freely spreading Fenel is being won.

Winter has seen the demise of our young Mimmosa tree. The bougainvilla has died back to almost ground level but is producing new shoots. Everything else seems to be prospering.

Fuchsia Futures - Easy propagation & Care.

2009-05-10T15:05:00.007+02:00

You may have killed them with kindness. That would be my diagnosis on the failure of your fuchsia cuttings to germinate. If you are new to plant propagation and would like a fool proof method of germinating small quantities of fuchsia plants from existing plants; then the following method may help you.

Take your cuttings from non flowering stems 3" to 4" long and from just above a leaf joint.
Pinch out the growing tip and shorten any large leaves by half.
Using an opaque container i.e. a plastic beaker, to hold your cuttings.
Place the cut stems in a little water in the container, ensuring that the leaves are clear of the water.
Change the water every three days.
After 10 - 14 days you will see roots forming at the base of the stem. Pot up the rooted cutting in your usual manner.

The opaque container will help to diffuse (soften) the light, place it near to a window but out of direct sunlight.

Fuchsias do grow in Spain but are best kept out of the hot summer afternoon sun. If your patio or balcony specimens have suffered from the heat a solution would be to double pot them.

Using a larger pot than you plant is growing in place any inert material such as polystyrene around the circumference of the outer pot and place your potted plant in the middle of the outer pot. You have created a thermal barrier between the roots of the Fuchsia and the outer pot which will absorb the sunshine.

Once the sun has gone down water and feed your plants. Misting the foliage with water will prevent red spider mite. Fuchsia do best if the roots are restricted if you are potting on young plants do so 1/2 a pot size at a time. I find a very dilute feed more often gives the best results.+

Rural Spain

2009-04-30T10:27:00.006+02:00

The Spanish landscape offers a rich and diverse natural habitats which the population view with much pride. They enjoy the wild rugged places for recreational activities and like to see arable land in full production.

Protected natural areas of Spain now amount to 28% of the land (6.3 million hectares) with 42% of the population living within those reserves. The marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean are less protected and the authorities are trying to bring coastal bio-diversity schemes up to the standards of neighbouring countries. A budget of €1,000,000 p.a is allocated to bio-diversity conservationism.

If you are contemplating a holiday this year try rural Spain it is a land full of delights. Every village in the country will be celebrating a fiesta or two, giving the artisans a chance to showcase their handicrafts and traditional food.

Tour Spain

The summer wind, came blowin in - from across the sea

2009-04-23T23:45:00.004+02:00

Amongst the estimated eight thousand (8,000) endemic plants of the Iberian peninsular there are plants worthy of inclusion in the Mediterranean garden, but please do not collect those plants from the wild. Photograph what you see in it's natural habitat and then source your plants from reputable sources. If you can not identify a plant somebody on the Internet will be only too pleased to help you

Semi arid poor and stony soil can be easily washed away by the infrequent though often torrential rains that fall on the Spanish peninsula. Even on those hot summer days flash storms can wash away trees, embankments and street furniture. Watch the news broadcasts on Spanish television to see how wide spread and devastating the damage can be. Terraced walls can be undermined in an hour by the rains, and your carefully nurtured garden or orchard can wash away before your eyes. Try to use the rain running off the land by channelling it away from fragile areas to where you need it most if you can collect it for reuse so much the better.

If you dot your plants around your garden leaving vast tracts of bare soil, you will find that the soil will rapidly dry out making your plants weaker and therefore prone to the effects of plant disease or infestation by insect attacks. Plant your plants closer together and protect the exposed earth with a mulch of composted material or even stones and you will minimise water loss to the atmosphere. The shade afforded to the ground by the leaf canopy of the growing plants will create a micro-climate in your garden in which your plants will prosper. Look out for seedlings between the older plants, they will enable you to regenerate the older specimens and keep your garden fresh.

An important consideration to the land conservation in Spain is the clearing of debris from the land. Fire here can spread quickly with horrendous and sometimes fatal results. Endemic plants like the Cistus and those useful aromatic herbs are filled with flammable oils; those hot summer winds and the lightening strike are enough to start a wild fire. Barbecue and camp fires add to the risk of such events happening. I have seen wild fires burning on three sides of my property, even though the fire fighters and local authorities managed them well, acres of native forests were lost.

Much of the debris that you clear up around your plot can be composted in your own garden. Anything else that you feel you are unable to recycle, can be placed in the plant waste receptacle provided in each village for commercial composting.

Corn popped -Transgenic Maize

2009-04-14T22:37:00.005+02:00

Transgenic maize otherwise referred to as genetically modified is the subject of much controversy across European lands. MON810 marketed as Yeildguard in the USA, is permitted as a foodstuff in Europe but has been rejected by both France and Greece.

Germany too has banned MON810 the countries representatives were lobbied by Greenpeace in what turned out to be an effective campaign. (see photograph).

Here in Spain Transgenic maize is authorised. If like many garden bloggers you grow your own vegetables you could still be exposed to the crop which is used as an animal feed in countries like Argentina.

World wide use of the product opens many paths for GM food to enter the food chain and is often not apparent to the end user.

Even South American countries who fight hard to maintain the integrity of their native maize varieties are at the mercy of the wind during pollination periods. If you save your own seed you too could be affected.

Ewe Tube from Wales

2009-04-13T22:02:00.002+02:00

We spend our spring and summer watching the Catalan shepherds controlling 500 head of sheep using just two Gos Catalan (sheepdogs) so when we saw this Welsh sheep farmer use his flock to put on a display we thought other bloggers might appreciate the film.

Seismic Spain

2009-04-12T19:43:00.006+02:00

Seismic activity is not unknown in Spain and the recent events in Italy will have many people wondering about the likely hood of experiencing the effects of an earthquake. We live close to a volcanic region near to the city of Olot.

Emilio Carreno, director of the National Seismic Network is quoted in today's El Mundo, he says that,

"The Mediterranean is an area of seismic importance" because it is a contact zone between the African and European plate, adds Mercedes Ferrer Gijón, the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain, 'but while Turkey, Greece and Italy have a risk seismic high in Spain is moderate or low. "

It is in the southeast, especially Grenada, Murcia and Alicante and in the Pyrenees where underground activity is most intense and where most earthquakes are recorded.

2009-04-12T15:02:00.002+02:00

...His feet are shod with gauze,

His helmet is of gold;

His breast, a single onyx

With chrysoprase, inlaid.

His labor is a chant,

His idleness a tune;

Oh, for a bee's experience

Of clovers and of noon!

(Emily Dickenson - The Bee)

Cane and Able

2009-04-11T12:37:00.007+02:00

Frustrating gardening has been my experience of late. Chronic arthritis in my right knee meant that I was unable to walk very, far let alone dig the garden or move anything other than myself. Surgery I was advised was the only solution for the condition, so I have had to have a total knee replacement operation back in the U.K.

Forbidden to fly for twelve weeks post operation it is impossible to reach our Spanish Mediterranean Garden whilst receiving treatment.

Physiotherapy strengthened the muscles around the joint enough for us to embark on a ferry journey from Newcastle up on Tyne to Eindhoven in the Netherlands (Holland) to see the bulb fields and Keukenhof gardens near to the town of Lisse. This is a garden venue we have wanted to visit for many years and this year celebrates the gardens 6Oth. anniversary.

Anna the Physiotherapist thought that my attempting to walk around the vast acres of parkland would serve as a useful substitute for the therapy session I would miss. I can still hear her laughing.

Four and half hours of walking left us both feeling tired, Carol often looked enviously at my chestnut walking stick.

The gardens were not at their best the cold weather throughout the European area has pushed back springtime and we were too early to see the fields of colour that the Netherlands are famous for. One of the plant and bulb growers thought that visitor numbers were down by several thousand this year representing a sizable drop in income this year for the growers.

Our visit took place on a bright spring day and the visit was pleasurable; though I would advise potential visitors to visit the gardens later in the season so that they enjoy the best of what Keukenhof has to offer.

British gardens have absorbed many horticultural ideas from other nations and enjoy a great reputation around the world, the British formal garden tradition owes a great deal to the skills of the Dutch horticulturalists who crossed the channel following King William of Orange on his ascension to the British throne.

I should mention the 'amazing' experience of getting lost in the Garden Maze and being led back to civilisation by small schoolchildren, though personally I blame Carol.

Needless to say we did buy some Tulip bulbs which will be shipped out to us in October ready for planting. Our choice of bulbs was collection D from Warmenhoven - Export B.V.

Often we have looked at the perfection of plants offered in the plant brochures thinking them to be unbelievable, having looked at the plants in the exhibition hall we now believe and would not hesitate to order from them.

Tool tips for Spring.

2009-04-08T19:23:00.004+02:00

Many gardeners will be admiring the display of spring flowering shrubs in the coming weeks. Those blooms are the result of careful pruning of the shrub following the flowering period, and because the sap is rising at this time of year the tools you use to maintain the form of your shrub soon becomes sticky with sap which can spoil the cutting action.

Essential garden tools like pruning shears or secateurs benefit from frequent cleaning and sharpening which will prolong the life of the product; as well as ensuring that plant material is cut cleanly and therefore minimising the risk of disease affecting your plant. My own choice is the Felco Brand.

The company website produces a useful guide to dismantling and servicing their products which

can be found on the web site.

Felco

Scattered Almond Blossom

2009-03-26T12:09:00.000+01:00

A bitter rush of air has scattered

the almond’s blossoms.

The flower on yonder rosemary

is not swept away by wind.

Tomàs Garcés
(Barcelona, 1901 - 1993)

Mediterranean plants and land restoration

2009-03-11T23:25:00.004+01:00

A group of experts in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, University of Sevilla (U.S.), along with researchers from the University of Abdelmalek ESSAADI (Morocco), has found that the remains of dates and olives, as well as the leaves of certain plants of the Mediterranean region, act as adsorbents of pesticides.

Scientists have studied how adsorbed, ie attract-and retain 22 types of natural pesticides in ten, five organic waste (peanut shell, bamboo and olive stones, dates and avocado) and five leaves of plants ( Eucalyptus, horseradish, oregano, oleander and jara), which were previously crushed. The results of the study, published in 'Journal of Hydrology ", show that the remains of the dates and olives are an average value of adsorption of 93% and 90% respectively, and the leaves of the radishes and rockrose, of 80%.

"The direct application of natural organic adsorbents on farmland not only retains the pesticides and reduce their consumption, but also improve soil fertility," says Hicham El Bakouri, co-author of the study and researcher at the Department of Chemical Engineering and U.S. Environmental.

The Bakouri stressed that the addition of this organic material crushed to the ground also favors the biodegradation of contaminants, and to increase microbiological activity, reduce the vertical movement of pesticides from surface to groundwater. These waters are commonly used for irrigation and human consumption.

Conservation Delta del Ebro

2009-02-02T16:15:00.003+01:00

Plazas libres a partir del 30 de enero Programa Voluntariado en Ríos

Te esperamos en las reservas de SEO/BirdLife en el Delta del Ebro (Tarragona).

Conviviréis con los otros voluntarios en la Reserva Natural de Riet Vell, y realizaréis trabajos de censos de aves y seguimiento de fauna, flora y calidad del agua, mantenimiento y gestión de las reservas, forestación, nidos de aves, mantenimiento de márgenes e itinerarios, atención al público, huerto ecológico, compostaje y otros trabajos de conservación y colaboración con la investigación de las reservas y el arrozal ecológico.

Además tendréis tiempo libre para conocer el Delta del Ebro, disfrutar de las aves desde nuestros observatorios y os dejaremos binoculares.

El tiempo mínimo de estancia está en torno a los diez días. No hay máximo.

Para más información escribir directamente a reservarietvell@seo.org o llamar al 616 290 246

Esta actividad está apoyada por el Programa Voluntariado Ríos concedida por el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino y se prevé renovar para el resto del año 2009

Vacancies from January 30

Rivers Program Volunteer

We hope that in the reserves of SEO / BirdLife in the Delta del Ebro (Tarragona).

Living with other volunteers at the Nature Reserve Riet Vell, and work in realizing the bird census and monitoring of flora, fauna and water quality, maintenance and management, afforestation, bird nests, maintaining margins and itineraries, customer service, organic garden, composting and other conservation work and cooperation with the investigation of ecological reserves and rice.

In addition you will have free time to learn the Ebro Delta, enjoy the birds from our observatory binoculars and you'll stop. The minimum stay is around ten days. No maximum.

For more information write directly to reservarietvell@seo.orgor call 616 290 246

This activity is supported by the Rivers Volunteer Program granted by the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Environment, and is expected to renew for the rest of 2009.

Sociedad Española de Ornitología (SEO)

Melquiades Biencinto 34

E-28053 Madrid

Spain

Tel: +34-91-434-0910

click here for the

complete reserve list

Heritage trees

2009-01-16T22:01:00.003+01:00

All over the country there are trees

that have become part of our collective landscape heritage.

They are usually either very large, or of extraordinarily beauty or age,

and many are part of history and popular lore,

having played a role in historical events,

or figure in local stories and legends.

How Popular is the poplar tree?

2009-01-14T22:13:00.005+01:00

Investigators of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) have succeeded in genetically modifying female Poplar trees for the decontamination of water and soil of the pollutant TNT (trinitrotoluene). This explosive, highly toxic and difficult to dispose of pollutant is a problem throughout large parts of Europe and the United States of America.

Deep rooted Poplar trees can reach down to aquifers to absorb water and pollutants deeper embedded in the land. Enzymes in the plant material converts the TNT in to a harmless substance mostly stored within the trees roots during their lifetime. Because the contaminant does not reach the leaf fallen leaves do not present a risk to grazing animals.Using female trees eliminates the risk of pollen from modified trees spreading to the wider environment. The decontamination process takes up to 15 years.

The highly explosive TNT is toxic to living organisms and very difficult to remove, there is no 100% effective method:

"For the time is used excavation and incineration, an expensive and not very kind to the environment, "says Pieter van Dillewijn of the Experimental Station Zaidín. “There are other more economical methods such as composting, but its implementation is more limited and often without reliable data,” adds the investigator.

Once absorbed by the plant or when the tree dies the Dutchman believes that it would be necessary to remove the mature plant, including much of its roots, so the TNT or its derivatives do not return to the ground. Then incinerate the tree and thereby generate energy.

Doñana Biological Station Exhibition

2009-01-13T20:23:00.003+01:00

Doñana Biological Station

The Doñana Biological Station is a public Research Institute belonging to the Spanish Council for Scientific Research CSIC in the area of Natural Resources. Our fundamental mission is to carry out multidisciplinary research of the highest standard directed to understanding, from an evolutionary viewpoint, the way in which biodiversity is generated, maintained and how it deteriorates, as well as the consequences of its loss and the possibilities of its conservation and restoration. An inseparable derivative is also to promote the transfer of this knowledge to society.

The Institute is formed by its main building in Seville and two field stations, the Doñana Biological Reserve ICTS (Doñana Natural Space, Almonte, Huelva) and the Roble Hondo Field Station (Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Natural Park)

HARMONY AND THE FRACTAL DOÑANA MARSHES

A stroll through harmonic forms sculpted by the mud, the weather and water in the marshes of Andalusia.

Doñana fractal harmony and wetlands is an initiative of the National Research Council which is composed of a popular exhibition, a book and you're visiting this site.

Through the original and stunning aerial photography Hector Garrido has done in the marshes and the Atlantic Andalusian scientific direction of Professor Juan Manuel Garcia Ruiz, visitors can approach the complex and fascinating world of fractal geometry of the forms of nature.

The report "The Skin of Doñana," published in El Pais Semanal (26/10/2008) has won the National Journalism Award in the category Sustainable Doñana Photography in November 2008.