Life continues to be not good, but great on my wwoofing stint here at Mike & Janine’s Cortijo el Cura. Despite constantly sketchy weather, we’ve been getting a lot done. There’s been quite a bit of rain, almost every day we’ve gotten some kind of precipitation. And, two days since I’ve been here we’ve received a fair amount of snow. I couldn’t take a picture of it as none of it accumulated.
One addition to the family here at Cortijo el Cura is Jack, the adopted overweight vanilla labrador retriever. Jack is a great dog, and the changes in him since he arrived are excellent! He was way overfed and weighed almost 40 kilos when he arrived. The first day here he probably had more activity than he’d had in months. We think he took 6-8 shits that day - he had been staying at a kennel where he was way overfed by the attendants. He probably lost a kilo on the first day! It took Bobby a little time in getting adjusted to his new mate, but now they play and bark and growl together like friends. Jack mainly just lies around most of the time, but he can be entertaining when he wants to be (mainly when he’s getting food …).
Our main project over the past week or so has been the chicken shack. Before I arrived, Mike had constructed the stone walls with a previous wwoofer. I helped finish the job off for the most part and it has been a great experience! Unfortunately, I don’t think I will get to see chickens running around in it before I leave on the 17th … which is too bad. Mike will have to send pictures, or I’ll have to swing back through Mecina Fondales at some point in the future. This picture is not the finished product. I’ll have to take one later today when the light is better!
Alas, I hate to say my departure is approaching quickly. This has been the fastest month of my trip so far! I guess it has to do with working and routine. That’s when the days start to fly by, when everyday is similar to the one before. While I was traveling all over the place, no two days were the same. I had new scenery, new people, new experiences every day. Every day here on the farm I’ve definitely done new stuff and felt new feelings, but it’s all been in the same place. It’s been nice and I haven’t and don’t wish time had gone slower.
My next stops, then, are Granada for a couple days, and then on to wwoof on another farm in Cabo de Gata called Kasbah de Bornos. My friend Adrian and I will be wwoofing there for six weeks, working with Paola and Bernardo, who both seem like fascinating people and I can’t wait to get there! Paola has apparently had a documentary made about her life, and you can check that out on the site “Für Mich Und die Anderen - For Myself and the Others.” Watch the trailer - I think it’s worth the download. I know I will have to let go of the luxury I have experienced here at Mike & Janine’s. Here’s the wwoof description:
17.5 hectares agriculture in the near-desert national park of Cabo de Gata. Many animals: goats, chicken, pigs, turkeys, peacocks, pigeons, geese, ducks, cats, dogs, horse and donkey. We have a vegetable garden for self-sufficiency and also sale -? strictly organic with an interest in permaculture and applying parts of Fukuokas philosophy. Tree planting to reforest the land is also in progress. Stone houses around two old windmills in a calm location with sea view. Sea is in walking distance. Our own well yields drinking and irrigation water. Alternative energies in use (wind and sun), but also a generator for the pump in the well. Life is primitive, we do not eat meat often, except if one of our animals is due on time. We expect a minimum stay of 6 weeks, a practical approach to work and prefer people with agricultural or handicraft experience. Open to all lifestyles and ways of thinking. Spanish classes in the next village possible, but Spanish is not everyday language on the farm. I can teach Qi Gong.
in contrast, here’s the write-up on Mike & Janine’s (though they withhold the juiciest bits):
Cortijo set in 5 acres of almonds, fruit trees and vegetable garden in La Alpujarra. We need help with land clearance, tending the vegetable plots, almond harvest (September / October) and, occasionally, light building work. We have a friendly little dog and plan to have chickens and bees in Spring 2007. Accommodation is in a double room within the house or you can bring a tent and camp outside. Meals provided, we can cater for vegetarians. Beautiful views and only 15 mins walk from the nearest village and bars.
It will be quite different, and there won’t be an excellent cook (like Mike) to make all our meals for us! We’ll have to work in the fields AND feed ourselves. I’m looking forward to it, but like I said … I’ll miss the luxury of Cortijo el Cura!!!
In other news … I am going to travel with my Mom and Gary in Germany and Denmark and possibly Sweden for a week in May! Mom and Gary are taking a week long bicycle trek in Holland and I talked them in to extending their time in Europe for a week so we could see each other. We’re gonna meet in Bremen and rent a car to drive up north into Scandinavia. It should be cool, and I am sure I will appreciate the week-long break from wwoofing on Paola’s farm. I’m grateful Paola and Bernardo have agreed to let me split my six-week stay on their farm to visit mom.
What’s after wwoofing in Cabo de Gata, I’m not sure yet. It’ll be June, and hot in Andalucia. Maybe head to the Basque Country in northern Spain. Southern France? Do some freelance work? I dunno!