Quinta das Abelhas

We have been very busy, especially Oli and Kirsten our wwoofing volunteers, putting in new fence posts and electric fence for the horse terraces. These treated posts arent cheap, but are very easy to put in with a ‘post whacker’ (which don’t seem available in Portugal), and should be good for at least 10 years. So far we have put in about 200, including some thin ones in the gardens as support for beans and tomatoes, and along the edge of terraces to make new vine trellises with wire. The terraces that the horses originally had is now completely fenced. I guess we’ll need another 200 posts before we’ve finished the vines and the terraces that we bought last year.

Daan (age 24) grazing in the newly fenced zone:

Kristen happily collecting horse manure in the midday sun:

We have also done a lot of work on the kitchen caravan area. Vine posts are in, just waiting for the wire to be attached. Henrique and Oli built a new table for visitors and guests, using some of our eucalyptus trees and a few bought planks of wood. Several recent wwoofers rebuilt the steps up to the mongolian yurt, and a rope handrail has been added. Toivo, a neighbour has done some work for us, replacing the floor in the kitchen caravan with tongue and groove. Its all coming along very well, with facilities over on that side of our land much improved.

And finally, here a picture to convey just how many seedlings we are still growing to put in the garden. There are still maybe a dozen trays up on the balcony too, which I am moving down to this area, now that the weather is drier and slugs & snails are less active. In these trays we have all sorts, from monkey puzzle trees, alder, jatropha, silver birch and paulownia trees to okra, courgettes, pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, oca, butternut squash and moonflower plants. Plus much much more. As well as growing the normal and unusual annuals, we are germinating a lot of perennials that will require less work, although our diets may need to change somewhat when we start harvesting these.

I have bought Plants for a Future database of medicinal and edibal plants. Its searchable, and i intend to try to acquire as many of the plants that are rated 5 for edibility or medicine uses over the next year - and perhaps then collect seeds to make them available to others.

Plants for a Future website. A truly fantastic information resource for those seeking self sufficiency, edible diversity or to build a permaculture garden.

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With the help of wwoofers the new table, canvas roof and washing-up area are now completed for the campers’ kitchen caravan.

I also planted a little garden next to the caravan with lemon verbena, 2 types of mint, marjoram, sage, rosemary and thyme for making herbal teas and flavouring foods.

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It has been quite an interesting week here at Quinta das Abelhas. There has been making garden beds, two attempts at making strawberry jam (which finally worked the second time), but most interesting of all would have to be the fact that a little baby boy was added to the family last sunday. Alice had the boy at home here on the farm after 17 or so long hours of labor. He is the cutest little thing, but still sleeps quite a bit. So I think that it is going to be difficult beating that for a while as far as big events. But there is always something interesting going on either way…Merina

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The photo opportunities have started for Afonso - no doubt he will be appearing here a fair bit!

We have two wwoofers staying with us at the moment, who were lucky enough to get to be around for the home birth. Oli is a young german, who stayed with us last year for a few months, and came back a few weeks ago. It is nice when people come back - they already know how things work here, and can normally figure out what work is needed, and just get on with it.

Oli sat up with us until about 3am when Aliss was in labour, and then went to bed so that he had energy the next day to take over all the housework etc. He was dead keen on holding Afonso:

Merina is american. She has only been with us for a couple of weeks, and is leaving in a few days.

Its quite a privilege to have been here while Aliss was in labour, and to have seen new born baby within minutes of his birth. Our sincere thanks to both Oli and Merina, for feeding the animals, doing the washing up and generally allowing us the space to crash once Afonso’s birth was over. Parents and grandparents alike were truly exhausted, and we appreciate the help at that very special time. I’m sure this was one wwoofing experience they will never forget!

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I thought i would upload a few photos of what we’ve been doing.
This is our potting bench area, surrounded by vines - the old trellises were rotten, so I’ve put in some new posts and wire.

Here is the bath area, before we put in new posts and screen. The old woven mimosa screen had rotted away in one year!

Now a few photos of the new posts, screen and people working.

And, voila, a finished outside bathroom, ready for climbing plants.

Here are a few pictures of my garden terrace, with all the new trees and beds. I hope to remember to take regular pictures as the garden fills up through the spring. The transformation is amazing.

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