Blog Archives - Semilla Besada

Reforestation

The conventional farming is transforming the typical diverse landscape into a monoculture of stones, while sustainable farming should be the applicable law. The overall guidelines are often neglected, diverse landscapes aren’t reflecting any of the facts that are defined by law implemented by the Natural Park and UNESCO. Typical signs from suffering land by depletion andContinue reading “Reforestation”

Saffron

Semilla Besada is sharing the sunny pictures of that amazing crocus that is an indispensable item in Spanish cuisine, including their national dish the paella. Just a few stigmas of fresh saffron is enough to enhance the flavor and color of the entire recipe. Saffron is one of the highly prized spices known since antiquity forContinue reading “Saffron”

Aquaponics

A quick apology! We sourced the photos in this blog a long time ago and have not noted the sources. If you are the owner of the photographs, please let us know so we can credit you properly and accept our apologies and gratitude for being our inspiration. On with the blog… Aquaponics refers toContinue reading “Aquaponics”

Swales and Water Harvesting Systems

Harvesting water was once a worldwide technology, but was replaced by tubes, drip-lines, canals, sprinklers; an inefficient and wasteful strategy that results in running dry. The local and global world water situation is becoming urgent. As humans in first world nations our consumption of natural resources is generating sufficient pollution and depletion, to damage and impair the healthyContinue reading “Swales and Water Harvesting Systems”

Meet the Animals

Our neighbour, Sarah from Caballo Blanco, provided us with five geese back in 2015. They help to graze (six geese + one gander = grazing of one cow!), fertilise the land, provide eggs and meat! They love their pond and in the summer heat it’s rare to see them out of it. Although they don’t live onContinue reading “Meet the Animals”

Beehives

The last two weeks we have spoken here about our buildings, current and planned. Today, we would like to introduce you to someone else’s homes – the bees! We are lucky enough to have forty beehives have at Semilla Besada. They belong to our friend, José, and produce chestnut and wildflower honey for his friendsContinue reading “Beehives”

Eco-building

Following on from our renovations post last week, we wanted to talk to you this time about some future building plans. Passive house building techniques are an important part of the ongoing efforts to solve the energy crisis. Conventional buildings consume more energy than any other sector, accounting for approximately 75% of energy produced and nearlyContinue reading “Eco-building”

Our renovations

Bastian has been working tirelessly to create something from the original farmhouse that was on the site when we arrived here. It has been, and continues to be, such a labour of love. These are just a few snapshots of the renovations as they continue. The new terrace with new windows with double glass. Double glassContinue reading “Our renovations”

Composting Techniques

We never feed the plant. We feed the soils. Soils are the crucible of health from which all things spring. It’s not the soil itself – it’s the soil life that is the most important element. Geoff Lawton Soil is like a banking account, we can add or take. A living and fertile soil makes a good incomeContinue reading “Composting Techniques”

Irrigation

Thanks to the high altitude Sierra Nevada held southern Quaternary glaciers in Europe, as well as it happened during the little ice age. The Arabs implemented the acequia system canals, one of the first devices for artificial recharge of aquifers. A network of irrigation channels distributes water across the agricultural terraces and southern slopes. This redistribution and management of waterContinue reading “Irrigation”