Organic living in Spain
Mar 22nd 2010, 10:16 pm
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: near Colmenar, Prov de Malaga
Posts: 5,174
Re: Organic living in Spain
Sorry Fiona, not really useful.
1. snail killing. with some 2,000 sq metres intensively planted with trees, soft fruits, veg and flowers, I'd need hundreds of buckets, eggshells by the kilo and a river of beer. The dog would go mental if he thought I was using his beer ration for snails.
I would be deeply impressed if you can find a non chemical treatment for leafminer, woolly aphid and the like. DEEPLY impressed.
Strimming, don't like it, as weeds propagate nicely when cut. Mostly the whole garden is hand weeded, there are just a few areas which would be beyond me. As for goats, please, I wouldn't have a flower left. Same goes for chickens.
Using as little as possible isn't a start, it's a realistic approach. There's a level of use that it is effectively impossible to reduce if you wish to still grow eatable produce.
1. snail killing. with some 2,000 sq metres intensively planted with trees, soft fruits, veg and flowers, I'd need hundreds of buckets, eggshells by the kilo and a river of beer. The dog would go mental if he thought I was using his beer ration for snails.
I would be deeply impressed if you can find a non chemical treatment for leafminer, woolly aphid and the like. DEEPLY impressed.
Strimming, don't like it, as weeds propagate nicely when cut. Mostly the whole garden is hand weeded, there are just a few areas which would be beyond me. As for goats, please, I wouldn't have a flower left. Same goes for chickens.
Using as little as possible isn't a start, it's a realistic approach. There's a level of use that it is effectively impossible to reduce if you wish to still grow eatable produce.
.(btw I guess a lot depends on your gardening style too.... we've got 5,000sqm; mostly just very steep 'land' with no more than 10 fairly small walled beds plus the veg plots on terraces; the beds I weed by hand. The veg plots I cultivate by hand. The rest I strim or Juan's goats deal with.)
Mar 22nd 2010, 11:17 pm
#32
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 536
Re: Organic living in Spain
So, at the present time, you are succesfully able to grow your own fruits and vegetables in Spain?
Mar 22nd 2010, 11:53 pm
#33
HOODIE
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: The Woolpack
Posts: 536
Re: Organic living in Spain
Planted a seed squozen from a fat tomatoe. (All the tomatoes in the bag were fat, but no fatter than any other). Then watered it and let it grow, hey presto with the help of the sun and my water, I got some lovely tom toms.. If it wasn't an organic tomatoe that I got the seed from. is my new tomatoe organic because it hasn't been pestified? Or is it still classed as a dirty rotter..??
I have tried in the uk but I was even less succesful. Spain one nil up on this to me..
Mar 23rd 2010, 5:54 am
#34
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: near Colmenar, Prov de Malaga
Posts: 5,174
Mar 23rd 2010, 5:48 pm
#35
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
Posts: 7,653
Re: Organic living in Spain
I think this is one of those agree to disagree moments. Have never used, and don't plan to, any shopbought mainstream chemicals in any garden I've ever had & still used to get (not here, irrigation not on stream yet!) plenty to feed the family. I'll recycle the style over substance being for idiots quote some other time - branding, packaging, not sure yet.
(btw I guess a lot depends on your gardening style too.... we've got 5,000sqm; mostly just very steep 'land' with no more than 10 fairly small walled beds plus the veg plots on terraces; the beds I weed by hand. The veg plots I cultivate by hand. The rest I strim or Juan's goats deal with.)
.(btw I guess a lot depends on your gardening style too.... we've got 5,000sqm; mostly just very steep 'land' with no more than 10 fairly small walled beds plus the veg plots on terraces; the beds I weed by hand. The veg plots I cultivate by hand. The rest I strim or Juan's goats deal with.)
Collecting the snails for food isn't much use as the bulk are small conical ones rather than the eating ones.
It's all very well being a purist, but to be honest I think that as with most things a sensible course between the extremes is the best bet.
Apr 1st 2010, 12:08 pm
#36
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Posts: 12
Re: Organic living in Spain
At least here in Barcelona we have quite a strong representation of different diets - you can find organic food shops, organic restaurants and even organic fast food 
I guess it is nowadays better in all bigger cities.
I guess it is nowadays better in all bigger cities.
Apr 1st 2010, 7:44 pm
#37
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
Posts: 7,653
Re: Organic living in Spain
I think it's the usual thing. No-one can afford to supply a need unless the population is big enough to support the business.
