Author: emma

Olive Harvest 2017

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This year the harvest was bountiful, beautiful with an unseasonal warmth to it, as you will see from the following pictures!

We started on a Thursday and finished by dusk on the Sunday – 27th-30th October. It was a team effort, with the sturdy help from our amazing volunteers, Marco from Portugal and Kirsten from South Africa. Then most days we had local helpers too.

Day 1 began with a little instruction from Barbara about some basic ‘do’s and don’ts’ of harvesting and how to protect the trees.

And then the fun began….on DAY 1 we had a super team, which made a huge difference. Between dogs, people, music and good food we harvested over 400kgs in one burst! Thanks go to Billy and Roger, Jen, Rena and Albert, Rosso and Adriane, Meline, Alfonse and the little boys!

As we went along we also removed the leaves – this was an activity that was a patient work….

Some enjoyed being in the trees……

Some on the ground…..

Some on the ladders…

some using the extended comb on a stick….

and unfortunately for Barbara – from a chair! She cut her arm with a saw while pruning on day 2, but recovered enough to still be a HUGE help!

On the final day, the Sunday, we had the help from Duarte and Anne – it was a realy valuable boost, and we got done by the end of the day.

Then it was the final leaf separation and the loading of the van….

Monday morning Barbara and Emma headed to the ‘Lagar’ – the press with 1200kgs of beautiful olives!

Here are some snaps of the process….

And home we went with 190 litres of green gold!

We will sell to friends and family this year’s oil, so get in touch if you would like us to reserve some for you!!

Autumn Event: Inspired by OLIVES

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We woke on the morning of the Autumn Open Event to a most beautiful sky!

Warm open-hearted welcomes as folks arrived…..

A group of over 40 came through out the day – we started with the group who came in the morning to do tours of the land…..

We had a mixed bunch, of people who have visited before, and for others it was their first encounter with the project.

The tours were in English, ‘lead’ by Eric and Emma – and the second in Portuguese with Marcia.

Thanks to the team of angel helpers we had a delicious lunch, with veggies from the garden and inspired by the olive theme and fermented recipies from Dearbhla Reynolds book, ‘Funky Ferments’.

The olive oil tasting was great fun – as we decided upon our favourites…..

Most people had a sure sense of what they ‘didn’t like’. It was amazing that neigbour Nick was ‘spot on’ with his diagnosis!

Then the ‘experts’ gave their feedback…..

We had with us professional organic olive oil producers. Luis Coutinho with his brand ‘Tojeira’ has received much attention for its high quality. Also with us, the engineer Joao Mateus with nearly 20 years experience in working with the Portuguese ministry of agriculture and most recently with Sementes Vivas.

We also had the pleasure of the experience of Miguel Fiadeiro, from the Olive Oil Co-operative in Fundao. Miguel shared and answered questions regarding the differences between the methods of pressing olives, amongst many other things!

Conversations continued about the need for a local organic press, and various solutions were discussed.

After much sharing, we got up and picked olives to demonstrate the method we use for curing our olives. One we learned from our local neighbours over 10 years ago!

As we were harvesting a few olives, out neighbour, Tia Adelina’s son, Antonio came passed – it was his MUM who had such an influence on much of what we know now about olives! It was a lovely moment.

Back in the common space, Marica demonstrated the curing process, and the knowledgeable Sr. Eduardo gave some great and easy tips.

The rest of the afternoon we carried on sharing about olive oil production and best practices while enjoying each other’s company!

We had the delight of having Stefan and Bettina of Sementes Vivas with us. They too have been promoting organic and biodynamic production of olive oil. They shared about an upcoming conference on the theme of ‘New Ruralism’. They are bringing together many of the best-known names in the world of rural development and sustainable construction. The link to the conference can be found by clicking on ‘events’ from here

Thank you to all who came and participated, shared knowledge or bought our olive oil inspired products!

Until next year….!

Formation of new Association!

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This is the ‘juice’ from the meeting of the group seeking to create an association, ‘Associação de Produtores Biológicos’ on 12th October in Fundao.

Those present were: Miguel Fiadeiro, Eric, Emma, Manuela Matias, Paulo Pais, Catarina Penim, Ricardo Rodrigues, Alexandre Silva, Hugo Madeira, Vasco Rolão Preto, Nuno Pais, Samuel Freire e Francisco Dinis.

Mission:

The association wants to be a platform for Organic Producers in the region of Beira Interior for those who share the following values:

– ecological and sustainable methods of production- whether Organically Certified in the initial stage or not.

– a spirit of cooperation between the producers.
 
– farms with a spirit of openness for visits with the aim of connecting producers and consumers.

– valuing and contributing to the local economy.

– focusing initiatives in Beira Interior
Goals of the Associação are:
a) Participation and organising: fairs, markets, seminars, gatherings and other events that promote organic agriculture.
b) Creating strategic public and private partnerships to promote the produce of the associates in the marketplace.
c) Developing links for commercial and technical support in organic production for the associates.

d) Promote and help to market/sell the products of the associated including: agriculture, livestock, forestry and ‘agro industrial’ (eg mushrooms)

e) Organise trainings and awareness raising about Organic Agriculture.

Name of the Associação:
So far this is not defined – however Catarina Penim e Francisco Dinis will go to the ‘Conservatória do Registo Comercial do Fundão’, to create the associação – but before they need to check the name available – eg already not in use by another entity.

Base:
 
There needs to be a space where the meetings and the ‘headquaters’ of the association will be located. In the initial phase the suggestion is to ask the Câmara do Fundão for a place.
Costs of set-up of the Associação: The costs will be shared between the founding members of the association

Next steps:

1. There will be an email with questions – like a survey to collect opinions/ideas. The final date for replying to these is 30th Oct. 
2.There will be a meeting on 31st Oct in Fundão to approve the final proposal of the a Associação, the location of the association, the date of the 1st AGM, and recording the founding members. Also at that meeting to be agreed are the ‘workings’ of the association – eg, who will be the president, the secretary and treasurer etc.

3. Creation of the Associação  will be the beginning of November.

4. The first AGM will be in November, with an election for the posts that are required legally. The plan of activities will also be presented.
Bem Haja! Thank you

Poetic Footsteps: Local Walking Trail

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Our local village of Povoa de Atalaia was the birth place of a famous Portuguese poet – Eugenio de Andrade. Earlier in the summer the mayor of Fundao, Paulo Fernandes, opened the ‘Casa de Poeisa’ in what was, the old primary school for the village. The building houses an exhibition of Andrade’s poems and features pictures of the people and landscapes of the area.

For specific details about the opening hours of the exhibition – follow this link

Also opened on the same day was a beautiful walking trail around the village.

With 8 stopping points, marked with a poems from Andrade – the walk takes about 1 hour 1/2, longer if, you like me to stop to take pictures and chat with the old people!!!

Here are a selection of the snaps I took as I finally walked the trail this week, before the Autumn rains…..

The trail passes along an ancient ‘lavada’ or watering channels…

 

Through fields where the farmers still work with hoes and with love.

A common sight at this time of year are the Portuguese cabbage – tall and proud!

 

Passing through the village of Povoa de Atalaia with it’s small cobbled streets…

….and then back out into the countryside again….

 

Meeting ladies walking back from their work, buckets full of veggies….

 

Fruit and flowers in abundance…

In the center of the village, across the way from the house where Eugenio de Andrade was born, is a place to sit and contemplate the olive trees, read poems and chat.

 

The people of Pova are mainly older – with stories and histories worth listening to…

Some are too old to work, others are still growing their food and feeding their animals…

On the walk back home I was marvelling at the views of the Gardunha that we see behind Mount of Oaks….how blessed we are to live in this region and to appreciated the country lanes….

 

There are many of these marked paths in the area – we have most of the maps at hand for reference. Many thanks to the local council for their work in promoting walking tracks in the district of Fundao!

 

Chocalhos: music and laughter

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The festival of Chocalhos in our neighbouring village of Alpedrinha was again this year full of wonderful surprises.

From 15-17th Sept the village came alive with traditional music associated with the pastoral past and present.

People travelled from all over Portugal to enjoy the activities, food, music and dancing.

For the last number of years the Chocalhos, which celebrates the traditional shepherding ways in the region, has twinned with another region in Europe which still has strong links with sheep and goats. This year the region was Extremadura – so the Spanish over the border brought their delicious cheese and local products.

There was a beautiful family feeling in the village. With singing, people eating and chatting together and enjoying the beautiful weather.

Our super team of volunteers, Kirsty (South Africa), Julia, Henrike and Thomas (Germany) along with Marica’s mum Camilla co-ordinated the stall for the duration of the weekend. Eric and Thomas stayed up until late and the girls did the day shifts!

One of the highlights for Eric of the weekend were the conversations that he had at the stall with Portuguese people who had come from the cities to visit the area. He encountered many from Lisbon and Porto who were delighted to experience as sense of community, celebration and simplicity on the streets of the village.

A group friends had travelled from Lisbon and Porto, organised by our friend Duarte, camped at the Mount of Oaks. They took part in the nightlife and the walk from Fundao to Alpedrinha with the sheep and shepherds on the Sunday.

Above is a picture of Duarte and friends as they were handed a few musical instruments and they gratefully created a tune!

Friday and Saturday nights bands took to the street, at every corner of the tiny cobbled streets groups playing drums or bagpipes were found! It is hard not to dance to this music!!

In the week before Chocalhos we had the pleasure of hosting Nuno and Luisa from the Lisbon area – this amazing couple were on a camping holiday with us, and yet helped in many ways, for example tackling an area of brambles next to one of the stone walls.

On the Sunday there is typically a walk from Fundao to Alpedrinha along the old Roman road. People process after the sheep and shepherds. When they arrive in the village they are blessed by the local priest. Here they are arriving to the cheering of the onlookers!

One of the low-lights this year was that there were less local people out in the celebration than normal. We put this down to the fact it was difficult for people from the area to celebrate when so much had been lost this year due to the fires in the mountain behind the village. There was a sadness too at one of the oldest shepherds, 91 1/2 year old Antonio Lopes from the village passing away, the father of Antonio Lopes, our dear friend.

However, despite the lower numbers for the festival in general, the Home Grown Market on the Sunday, after the sheep walk was VERY well attended – and a huge success.

Many thanks for the success of this goes to Francisco from Ananda Marga – he has been working on the promotion of the local organic markets for months. This was the first to take place in the public space in Alpedrinha, after discussions with local producers and the local authorities.

We look forward to next year’s Chocalhos festival. If you would like to stay at Mount of Oaks for that weekend, remember – Chocalhos normally takes place the 3rd weekend of September every year. Options for associates are camping or booking the straw bale guest house.

Nourishing: Mind, Body and Soul

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We organised a weekend of loveliness! The aim of the Saturday was to leave the group feeling energised, grounded and renewed. There was a definate emphasis on the  how to look after your endocrine system, your skin, your general well being and honour yourself in the process.

Programme
08:00 Welcome and energising herbal tea.
08.45 Yoga with Laura or a 15min taster treatment of your choice with Carly
10.15 Breakfast
11.00 Sharing Circle hosted by Laura on the subject of hormonal balance.
12noon Learning self massage followed by Pranayama and meditation.
13:00 Vegetarian Lunch
14.30 Workshop on natural cosmetics
16.30 Tea break and final circle.
17:00 Good byes.

 

The morning was delightful – after a session of relaxing yoga with Laura we ate our breakfast in the soft morning sunlight. Breakfast flowed into a session on our endocrine system…  

 

   

 

A walk into the woods to have an instruction on how to do a simple self massage and a destressing/energising breathing technique….


After the leisurely lunch, the afternoon was devoted to learning about natural cosmetics.

Demonstration of how to make your own deodrant was really fun!

The group had a lot of wisdom and knowledge to share about aromotherapy, natural first aid kits, home made toothpaste and much more!

Hatti shared about the Bach’s flower remedies and Keri showed the ingredients that make up some of her most popular natural products.

 

 

Nicky had brought along some vegan chocolate cup cakes and we finished the day with this celebration and some home made ginger champagne!

 

 

Congratulations and thanks go to Laura, Marcia, Carly and our volunteers Kirsten, Henrike and Juila for a great team effort!

Update on Local Fires, action and reflection

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Sunday, 13th August the fire began in the region of Lourical de Campo, Casal de Serra, and in the following days the fire spread throughout the region to the villages of Sao Fiel, Soalheira, Castelo Novo, Alpedrinha, Vale de Prazeres, Alcongosta and Souto de Casa.

Friends, neighbours, and friends of friends suffered losses to trees, plants, food for animals, food for people, precious fire wood, poly tunnels, expensive irrigation systems, buildings….

The loss to the people who love and use the mountain as a place of refuge, a place to walk or bike, a place sit under trees and enjoy the view has caused a deep pain and many from the outside are wondering how they can help.

In the 10 days following the 19th August, there were self organised work teams visiting and helping out at several farms we were aware of. Some of the work included cutting down burnt trees, pulling burnt trees from the forests, keeping night fire watch, digging channels to water remaining living trees, creating fire breaks, removing burnt plastic irrigation pipes, reinstalling electric to homes, demolishing greenhouses/polytunnels, food was cooked and delivered, even massages offered!……much work, done with love and friendship.

WELL DONE TO ALL THOSE WHO OFFERED HELP/SUPPORT
These operations of the last weeks, were the beginning ’emergency’ works.

There is STILL emergency work to be done.

In the mountain, and on people’s properties, a priority will be to stabilise the earth and as far as possible create ways of diverting and collecting water, to prevent flooding and much of the top soil cascading down before the rains come. This is known to some as earth works – often done by professionals with big machines along contor lines.

We at Mount of Oaks, are not professionals in this action – however we were at a meeting last week – a meeting of civic groups/associations who have an interest in the future of the mountain and it’s people. There at the meeting engineers and others were discussing the interventions needed.

At that meeting there were conversations about the immediate actions that need to be taken and some of the long term goals. In the immediate it was recognised that we cannot let the needs of the people effected by the fire leave the political and social agenda.

There is a definate need to keep pressure on the local authorities to ACT NOW with heavy machines to create ditches and ponds along contor lines to help prevent the soil erosion and possible flooding when the heavy rains come.
 A pressure group is forming, under the banner ‘Cidadãos pela Gardunha’ with those who were in attendance last Monday night. When more information filters through, we will pass this information out. Here is the link to follow the news in Portuguese: https://www.facebook.com/cidadaospelagardunha/

In the medium term, there is a plan for a petition to the Prime Minister and the need for lobbying on behalf of the interests of the reforestation of the mountain in local and indigenous trees.

Also in the medium term, the collection of acorns and chestnuts from the mountain (those that remained) and germinating these to provide for a future nursery to reforest the land will be an autumn activity.

Longer term design and planning will be required for this sort of fire not to happen again – this requires a complex amount of planning around fire prevention, education, fire breaks and much more.

In October there will be an OPEN FORUM in Fundao to hear the ideas, complaints and concerns of the local residents. This gives time to carefully consider and prepare for this public meeting. When a date for this is set, we will share the information.
Solidarity Walk
This Sunday, 10th September a support walk has been organised by the association Guardunha Viva, leaving Fundao at 8:30am. The walk will be 11km. The people organising this were present at the meeting and were sharing that it is a chance for people to show solidarity to the land and people of the effected areas. Here is the link to the facebook link – check the link for more information on the goals, what to bring and how to support. PLEASE SHARE AND CONSIDER COMING ALONG. Some of us will go and document the walk. It’s important to show our solidarity.
Meeting for the Forests
Reforest Portugal Network invites everyone to participate in the moment of collective construction of the project and its ramifications that will happen at the Meeting for the Forests in Elvas on 9 and 10 September 2017.
Registration Form link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UpxI2moDiWddZvqOTQfHn-XjX9Sv50IzPwwjkVe0iZg/edit?edit_requested=true
Solidarity Giving
In the coming weeks we will share ways that from the outside you can give financially to help with the regeneration of livelihoods, and forests. Watch this space.
Active Prayer
As important as our action is, there’s also the need to hold people who have been affected, land and animals in our hearts. Please consider offering Love, Light and Peace.

Many thanks to Keri for the photographs. keri@kerimillardphotography.com

 

Natural Building this summer

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The same weekend as the fateful fires in the Pedrógão Grande and Figueiró dos Vinhos Figerios, Barbara began the second of her Natural Building Workshops on the edge of Pedrógão Grande.

It was a chaotic time for the participants and hosts, especially as one of the participants (Joey from ‘Qunita da Fonte’ Agro-Tourism) property was burned in the process of the fire.

However, they managed to continue despite the feeling of being in a ‘war zone’, with smoke around and the constant noise of helicopters and planes.

The techniques taught and practiced were; Foundations with Gravel bags (“Superadobe” technique), French Drainage, Strawbales, “Adobe” bricks and “Light Earth” slabs, “Wattle and Daub” walls, “Cob” with glass bottles and “Cordwood”, Earth and Lime Plasters and Lime-wash painting with Natural Pigments.

The third practical workshop is fully booked and will take place 26 August – 2 September. It will take place at Keela Yoga Farm with Kimberly and Laurence hosting. For the last weeks Barbara has been in consultation with them about their needs, and designed a space that meet those.

Participants are coming from as far as Hungry, as well as local who are interested in learning these techniques.

We wish the team all the very best for this course and project.

Dates are not yet set for 2018, but watch this space for details. Get in touch with Barbara at cpcn.moo2017@gmail.com to purchase the manual that accompanies the workshop.

Homegrown Local Markets

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The development of a local sustainable economy has been a focus of the Mount of Oaks community since inception. We have the priviledge of living in a area where farmers still farm and produce fruit and vegetables. We have local farmers markets twice a week in Fundao – and there we can buy from a few producers who consciously do not use chemicals to fertilise their crops.

However, we have been meeting with folks interested in promoting the cultivation and consumption of organic produce for a long period of time – and some of the results of these connections can be seen in the projects that have been emerging over the last months.

(photos from Castelo Novo 2.0)

SO far there have been 4 very successful local markets on farms in our area and 3 markets in the historic village of Castelo Novo, just up the road from where we live.

The markets in Castelo Novo are promoted and organised by a local association called ‘Castelo Novo 2.0’ whose aim is to bring life back into the historic village. Ines and Hugo have been working very hard to promote the village and the local economy.

Markets Movement springing up from the Land!

Alongside the monthly markets in Castelo Novo we have been involved in promoting the little ‘Land Markets’. These have been happening on the 3rd Saturday every month since the first in April. The main person to thank in this movement is the kind, wise and beautiful Fransisco from the organisation, Ananda Marga.

The markets have been opportunities for real social interaction between the ‘new communities’ and the local Portuguese population. Alongside the selling of fruit, veggies, herbal teas, nuts, fermented drinks there has been a part of promoting well being. Keri comes and sells her chemical-free cosmetics, Laura and Joy have given massage, Kimberly and Dalia have instructed yoga practice.

We have really been enjoying transforming our herbs into beautiful tea mixes, selling our cured olives, tangerine cordial, soaps and other produce! We are learning by doing and coming up with some good recipes.

The next ‘Land Market’ is here, Mount of Oaks on 19th August, from 9am-12noon.

There will be at least 15 stalls, a kids area and also the opportunity to practice yoga (starts at 9am, bring your own mat and be prepared to leave a donation for laura)

The invite and more info in Portuguese and English about the market can be found here 

Coming next!

In the next blog about the local markets we will share more about the possibility of an association emerging to promote the markets, education and growth of sustainable local farming.

So far 4 different types of markets!

Bi-weekly Farmers Market in Fundao on Mondays and Saturdays

1st Saturday of the month – ‘Eco Mercado’ in the village of Castelo Novo

3rd Saturday of the month – ‘Mercadinho da Terra’ which happen in different farms in the Fundao district.

Quarterly Local Ecomony Fair – using alternative currency in Covilha

Fernanda Botelho in our Garden

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Fernanda Botelho is one of Portugal’s most well known experts on medicinal plants and herbs. We invited her to come and share some of her knowledge with us.

      

Gathered to share and learn were a group of enthuasiastic plant lovers from various places here in Portugal, Australia, Latvia, Germany and England. The workshop began with a walk to identify various useful species.

   

With a bunch of plants we retreated to the cool of the ‘N’jango’, our beautiful natural building by the pond to continue with the learning and sharing. Fernanda had set out a herb spiral and participants introduced themselves through the plants in front of them.

Wild lavander, St. John’s Wort, Lime Leaf, Calendula, Plantain, Lemon Balm, Fennel, Nettle, Thyme, Sage, Rock Rose, Blackberry – to name but a few of the plants we discovered more about!

 

We were inspired to prepare a colourful and healthy vegan and vegetarian meal for lunch. We used many wild and cultivated plants and herbs from the garden and the farm for the salads.

In the afternoon, in the common space Fernanda continued to share about the different ways you can process the plants to extract the goodness. She explained how to dry plants to make teas, and also how to prepare decoctions, tintures and macerated oils. We were all inspired!

                

The little shop we created for the day sold products from the Mount of Oaks and also Fernanda’s informative books and essential oils.

We shared goodbyes with most of the participants and felt assured by a common love of the natural powers of plants to heal. Over the summer months we will continue to harvest and dry many of the medicinal and culinary plants we are growing. Get in touch if you would like to buy or learn more about the plants that are growing locally in central Portugal.

As a little PS – a bunch of us headed to the annunal local cherry festival in Alcongosta after the workshop. We encountered some of the wonderful folk from the village – including the last of the basket makers who makes his baskets from chestnut wood. Fernanda loved the visit and for sure we will invite her back next year!