Living in Spain - the good things!
Mar 8th 2010, 4:48 pm
#61
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Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Aracena area Huelva Spain
Posts: 1,631
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
[QUOTE=bil;8404470]
Yes we have. I need to get a second one because the first one is full.
Our poor garden receives the water outfall from all the houses above it. This both brings and carries off our soil. Yesterday the water in our BIG well was above ground level. That's frankly weird as we live on a hill.
We were building raised beds to avoid the problem but stopped to build our house! (long story). Do you put cooked foods and meat etc in yours?
We've been known to add some 'liquid organic starter'
Our poor garden receives the water outfall from all the houses above it. This both brings and carries off our soil. Yesterday the water in our BIG well was above ground level. That's frankly weird as we live on a hill.
We were building raised beds to avoid the problem but stopped to build our house! (long story). Do you put cooked foods and meat etc in yours?
We've been known to add some 'liquid organic starter'
Mar 8th 2010, 7:42 pm
#62
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Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
Posts: 7,653
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
[QUOTE=angiescarr;8404496]
Yes we have. I need to get a second one because the first one is full.
Our poor garden receives the water outfall from all the houses above it. This both brings and carries off our soil. Yesterday the water in our BIG well was above ground level. That's frankly weird as we live on a hill.
We were building raised beds to avoid the problem but stopped to build our house! (long story). Do you put cooked foods and meat etc in yours?
We've been known to add some 'liquid organic starter'
We have a special container for waste cooked food etc. It's called a labrador. His crap gets collected and buried deep among the fruit trees as a fertiliser boost, as I don't want it on the compost for a variety of reasons....
If liquid organics means what I think, ie a nitrogen solution, I tend to apply that on a tree by tree basis, by hand, so to speak.
What I read is that nitrogen is very high in most household and some garden waste (eg grass) so it's good to add cardboard and paper.
As wood is so expensive, I built ours out of uncemented heavy breeze blocks, so I can enlarge it etc easily. Plus, as it dries badly in summer, it has its own irrigation line to wet it, plus I try and cover it with a tarp.
We have had a problem with runoff too, but I dug a canal to take the water out so it did no damage.
Yes we have. I need to get a second one because the first one is full.
Our poor garden receives the water outfall from all the houses above it. This both brings and carries off our soil. Yesterday the water in our BIG well was above ground level. That's frankly weird as we live on a hill.
We were building raised beds to avoid the problem but stopped to build our house! (long story). Do you put cooked foods and meat etc in yours?
We've been known to add some 'liquid organic starter'
If liquid organics means what I think, ie a nitrogen solution, I tend to apply that on a tree by tree basis, by hand, so to speak.
What I read is that nitrogen is very high in most household and some garden waste (eg grass) so it's good to add cardboard and paper.
As wood is so expensive, I built ours out of uncemented heavy breeze blocks, so I can enlarge it etc easily. Plus, as it dries badly in summer, it has its own irrigation line to wet it, plus I try and cover it with a tarp.
We have had a problem with runoff too, but I dug a canal to take the water out so it did no damage.
Mar 8th 2010, 9:30 pm
#63
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Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Aracena area Huelva Spain
Posts: 1,631
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
[QUOTE=bil;8404949]
We have a special container for waste cooked food etc. It's called a labrador. His crap gets collected and buried deep among the fruit trees as a fertiliser boost, as I don't want it on the compost for a variety of reasons....
If liquid organics means what I think, ie a nitrogen solution, I tend to apply that on a tree by tree basis, by hand, so to speak.
What I read is that nitrogen is very high in most household and some garden waste (eg grass) so it's good to add cardboard and paper.
As wood is so expensive, I built ours out of uncemented heavy breeze blocks, so I can enlarge it etc easily. Plus, as it dries badly in summer, it has its own irrigation line to wet it, plus I try and cover it with a tarp.
We have had a problem with runoff too, but I dug a canal to take the water out so it did no damage.
Our garden had an ancient canal but the neighbour on two sides built buildings and a swimming pool which prevent natural runoff.
Yesterday we were in the garden inspecting the 'habas' when we heard a loud crash. It was the neighbour's outhouse roof falling in. (it was on it's way out. They didn't maintain it and yet made us rebuild the wall which bordered our garden. This would have been less likely if he hadn't trapped the natural watercourse into our garden, Presumably the 'seepage' from this will be partly to blame...but not our fault. They had already filled in the drainage hole. It's a complex area natural water courses.
We have a special container for waste cooked food etc. It's called a labrador. His crap gets collected and buried deep among the fruit trees as a fertiliser boost, as I don't want it on the compost for a variety of reasons....
If liquid organics means what I think, ie a nitrogen solution, I tend to apply that on a tree by tree basis, by hand, so to speak.
What I read is that nitrogen is very high in most household and some garden waste (eg grass) so it's good to add cardboard and paper.
As wood is so expensive, I built ours out of uncemented heavy breeze blocks, so I can enlarge it etc easily. Plus, as it dries badly in summer, it has its own irrigation line to wet it, plus I try and cover it with a tarp.
We have had a problem with runoff too, but I dug a canal to take the water out so it did no damage.
Yesterday we were in the garden inspecting the 'habas' when we heard a loud crash. It was the neighbour's outhouse roof falling in. (it was on it's way out. They didn't maintain it and yet made us rebuild the wall which bordered our garden. This would have been less likely if he hadn't trapped the natural watercourse into our garden, Presumably the 'seepage' from this will be partly to blame...but not our fault. They had already filled in the drainage hole. It's a complex area natural water courses.
Mar 8th 2010, 9:40 pm
#64
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Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
Posts: 7,653
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
[QUOTE=angiescarr;8405335]
Our garden had an ancient canal but the neighbour on two sides built buildings and a swimming pool which prevent natural runoff.
Yesterday we were in the garden inspecting the 'habas' when we heard a loud crash. It was the neighbour's outhouse roof falling in. (it was on it's way out. They didn't maintain it and yet made us rebuild the wall which bordered our garden. This would have been less likely if he hadn't trapped the natural watercourse into our garden, Presumably the 'seepage' from this will be partly to blame...but not our fault. They had already filled in the drainage hole. It's a complex area natural water courses.
Yeah, you mess with the natural flow of water at your peril.
Our garden had an ancient canal but the neighbour on two sides built buildings and a swimming pool which prevent natural runoff.
Yesterday we were in the garden inspecting the 'habas' when we heard a loud crash. It was the neighbour's outhouse roof falling in. (it was on it's way out. They didn't maintain it and yet made us rebuild the wall which bordered our garden. This would have been less likely if he hadn't trapped the natural watercourse into our garden, Presumably the 'seepage' from this will be partly to blame...but not our fault. They had already filled in the drainage hole. It's a complex area natural water courses.
Mar 9th 2010, 8:18 am
#65
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,171
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Thank you, I didnt want to have to say that for the millionth time 
Rotor. Just compare tomatos. Buy the average salad tomatos in the UK and Spain. I've always found that the UK ones have a plastic texture and taste of water, nothing else.
The Spanish ones actually taste of tomato and are juicy.
I could say the same about eggs and chicken, although UK milk is much better
However, you can buy fresh organic Spanish milk from Hypercor, Eroski or Carrefour and it is very nice if not a little expensive.
Anyway, we've been here before. Food is an emotive subject. It all depends on what you are used to, what you choose to eat (and cook) and where you buy your food from.
Rotor. Just compare tomatos. Buy the average salad tomatos in the UK and Spain. I've always found that the UK ones have a plastic texture and taste of water, nothing else.
The Spanish ones actually taste of tomato and are juicy.
I could say the same about eggs and chicken, although UK milk is much better
However, you can buy fresh organic Spanish milk from Hypercor, Eroski or Carrefour and it is very nice if not a little expensive.Anyway, we've been here before. Food is an emotive subject. It all depends on what you are used to, what you choose to eat (and cook) and where you buy your food from.
Most of the veg and certain fruit inc tomatoes in UK supermarkets come from Spain!
The geen house grown ones from Almeria down to motril are tasteless crap, but get the home/small business out door grown ones and thats a different matter
Mar 9th 2010, 8:35 am
#66
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Yes when I was in the UK I noticed that most the veg was from Spain and it was tasteless cr*p. But these are not the same suppliers of most the shops in Spain.
I dont know the ins and outs of vegetable suppliers in both countries, but it is obvious to anyone with tastebuds that these are not the same vegatables.
Mar 9th 2010, 8:56 am
#67
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
If you keep repeating your mantra then maybe one day you'll be right
Yes when I was in the UK I noticed that most the veg was from Spain and it was tasteless cr*p. But these are not the same suppliers of most the shops in Spain.
I dont know the ins and outs of vegetable suppliers in both countries, but it is obvious to anyone with tastebuds that these are not the same vegatables.
Yes when I was in the UK I noticed that most the veg was from Spain and it was tasteless cr*p. But these are not the same suppliers of most the shops in Spain.
I dont know the ins and outs of vegetable suppliers in both countries, but it is obvious to anyone with tastebuds that these are not the same vegatables.
Mar 9th 2010, 9:07 am
#68
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Location: Alicante province
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
We eat a lot of vegetables and have experimented with buying them from different places to get the best quality, and have found that local markets are not always the best. Carrots and salads generally are better from Carrefour than Mercadona, Brussels, when available, from Consum, Potatoes from Lidl, nothing at all from Aldi, Mercadona is fine for fruit etc etc.
We grow our own oranges and pomegranates, but the apricot and other fruit trees in the garden have died – I blame the neighbours, they’re forever out with large containers of weed killer strapped to their backs.
We grow our own oranges and pomegranates, but the apricot and other fruit trees in the garden have died – I blame the neighbours, they’re forever out with large containers of weed killer strapped to their backs.
Mar 9th 2010, 9:35 am
#69
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
ScienceDaily (Oct. 29, 2008) — According to various studies undertaken by researchers from the University of La Rioja, exposure to light reduces the quality of cauliflower, broccoli, chard, leeks and asparagus, which have been processed for sale.
Mmmm wander if that is the reason.
Mmmm wander if that is the reason.
Mar 9th 2010, 9:45 am
#70
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
The UK can grow certain vegetables and fruit much better than Spain and vice versa, to suggest you cant buy veg as good in the UK is absolute rubbish, your just going to the wrong supplier.
Mar 9th 2010, 10:01 am
#71
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Thats silly!
Its clear to me that I am very lucky in that I live in an agricultural area and it seems that at the market here we get superior veg and in many cases fruit as well. I don't have rose tinted glasses. I'm telling you what I see here and what I eat compared to what I eat in the UK. Of course some vegetables in the UK are Spanish. They have been picked, often taken from the farm by truck to a depot, loaded to an international vehicle, shipped on a trailer for 2-3 days to a distribution centre in the UK, then redelivered to a supermarket after its been quality checked to ensure that they are the absolute perfect shape, colour for the British people. Fresh food eh? You cant beat it!
Me ....... I just pop down the local farmers market
Its clear to me that I am very lucky in that I live in an agricultural area and it seems that at the market here we get superior veg and in many cases fruit as well. I don't have rose tinted glasses. I'm telling you what I see here and what I eat compared to what I eat in the UK. Of course some vegetables in the UK are Spanish. They have been picked, often taken from the farm by truck to a depot, loaded to an international vehicle, shipped on a trailer for 2-3 days to a distribution centre in the UK, then redelivered to a supermarket after its been quality checked to ensure that they are the absolute perfect shape, colour for the British people. Fresh food eh? You cant beat it!
Me ....... I just pop down the local farmers market
Mar 9th 2010, 10:18 am
#72
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Or you could shop in the small pueblo shops where their fruit and veg stays so long on the shelf it could walk out alone
Ever bought any of the pre-pack from mercadona, they look fine but open the packaging and at least one is brown and mushy underneath.
Ever bought any of the pre-pack from mercadona, they look fine but open the packaging and at least one is brown and mushy underneath.
Mar 9th 2010, 10:20 am
#73
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Posts: 5,008
Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
Mercandona were advertising a job for a person to put 1 piece of rotten fruit in each pack, so it is not by accident....................
Last edited by JLFS; Mar 9th 2010 at 10:22 am.
Mar 9th 2010, 10:22 am
#74
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
The amount of bad experiences you've had, you must live in a hell-hole!
Mar 9th 2010, 10:25 am
#75
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Re: Living in Spain - the good things!
I have even found a rotten kiwi, so that must mean that I am up s**t creek without a paddle................