What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is a sustainable design system that provides for human needs while having positive effects on the surrounding environment.
It is based on the ethics of earth care, people care and fair share, and provides practical solutions to the global crises we are currently facing.
Permaculture is for EVERYONE, regardless of their education, background, or previous experience.
Permaculture is NOT just about trees, or just about gardening! You don't need loads of land to practice it and it's a design method that can be applied to all social systems.
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This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words. Serge is one of our longer staying volunteers, and has kindly agreed to share his diary.
A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s Diary
A week has passed since my latest trip back to Lisbon (this time to spend a few days with Yoska and her parents, who were visiting from Holland), and life on the farm goes on as quickly as ever. It took me very little time to adjust back to the rhythm compared to my last holiday, which may have something to do with it. The weather has, for the most part, remained unchanged, and we are still enjoying plenty of sun. This allows for uninterrupted work and productivity; much is getting done.
Spring is truly upon us, with buds and blossom everywhere. The main focus for WWOOFer related activity has been on preparing the land (primarily the lower pastures and raised beds) for planting. Watering has also been necessary to ward off the ill effects of the dry spell on the plants and earth, along with weeding, planting out seedlings and digging water channels. Apart from the seasonal labour there have been some other projects, ranging from the educational and interesting to the mildly unpleasant (the latter referring to the emptying of the compost toilets- don’t worry, the poo had already been composting for a year!).
I was given the opportunity to slaughter my first animal: a duck. The five ducks (now four) don’t lay, and serve little purpose other than being eaten. An effective and painless method was employed to kill the duck, which involved breaking the duck’s neck by placing it on the ground and standing on a broomstick on top of it, then taking it by the legs and pulling them sharply upwards. Not knowing what to expect, I yanked with all my might- and pulled the poor duck’s head clean off! Needless to say, it made a huge mess and I felt sorry for it, but the method was effective in that it suffered little. This was immediately followed by the plucking (much easier while the body is still warm), gutting and removal of the feet. The following day the duck, expertly prepared by Andrea, appeared on our dinner plates in the form of arroz do pato (duck rice). It was a satisfying and delicious experience.
Working on, but unfortunately failing to fix, the rotavator.
I am now entering my final month as a Casalinho WWOOFer, though I have chosen to stay a few days longer in order to become a certified permaculturalist by participating in the PDC (Permaculture Design Course). Considering I was entirely foreign to permaculture (and indeed agriculture) before this WWOOF experience, it is a big step, and I am glad to be taking it.
Other highlights of the past week include:
-Teef’s puppies, now six weeks old, are becoming a dominant theme. There are eight of them, all tirelessly yipping, chewing and bouncing around. They are a joy and a nuisance in equal measure. (Andrea’s note – Five still looking for new homes. Can you help?)
-Luisa and Carlos, a couple who stayed at Casalinho whilst looking for land in order to pursue their aim of self-sufficiency, recommended several sustainability-oriented groups in Luxembourg. When I go back home I will definitely be looking to participate in the permaculture transition activities.
Puppy photo by Yoska.
This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words. The spectacularly named ’Horatio Lovejoy’ (he’s shy!!) has been volunteering with us for around 6 weeks now, plenty of time to get to know the goats.
A Visitor’s Perspective: Musings on Goats
Undeniably cute when they’re little, but they do grow up.
Until today I had always found the demonic symbolism associated with goats to be somewhat arbitrary. I assumed it was because of the ancient practice mentioned in the 16th chapter of Leviticus of symbolically transferring the sins of the community onto a goat and then casting it out into the wilderness … hence the word scapegoat. Still, why goats? It seemed random and nonsensical, that is, until I actually had the opportunity to work with the goats. So why are goats synonymous with the devil? Well, for one thing, they are obstinate as hell frustratingly rebellious (like the Devil, get it?!). Admittedly, however, I have much to learn as a goatherd. Today, while taking the goats out to pasture, I realized that of all the barnyard animals, goats sound the most like humans. It is probably no coincidence, therefore, that the priests of ancient Israel chose this creature to be the vessel in which they would pour the sins of the community into. It’s probably also why they call baby goats kids. I was shocked by this sudden and unexpected revelation. The more time I spend with these goats, the more I learn about them. The more observations I am able to make about these goats, the more observations I am able to make about humanity. The more I learn about permaculture and how the various parts of a landscape compliment each other and come together to form a harmonious whole, the more I feel in harmony with myself.
Horatio Lovejoy
The goats’ daily walk, with the ‘boss’ goats on leads whilst they’re on dangerous territory
This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words. Serge is one of our longer staying volunteers, and has kindly agreed to share his diary.
A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s Diary
I came back from Lisbon one week ago to find Casalinho much livelier than when I left. Including myself, we are currently 6 WWOOFers on the farm, and the weather has improved considerably- a whole week has gone by without a single cloud in the sky and consistent 20 degree temperature. After having endured many months of of greyness and rain without respite or even a hint of seasonal progress it feels like a dream.
Blue sky!
Needless to say, the combination of these factors has had a noticeable effect on the farm. Projects are moving forward with a refreshed vigour inspired by the sun and heat. The most ambitious project is currently taking the shape of the new solar showers, the idea for which won the WWOOF sustainable building competition grant. The foundation has been laid and it is gradually beginning to resemble a shower block. It will eventually be fitted with a green roof and the water will be fed by a ram pump.
Preparing the cultivatable land for sowing has been another main focus. The field which cannot be reached by tractor is being done by hand since the rotovator stopped working, which has brought the opportunity for some good old-fashioned peasant labour; rhythmical work in the sun and soil which leaves me feeling very down to Earth.
Last weekend WWOOFers Vinz and Sara kindly drove Gabriel and I to Fundao to pick up Yoska, my girlfriend, who was visiting for the weekend. The trip to Fundao included a quick tour of what to see in Fundao (a pretty short list), picking up supplies and a quick yet enjoyable lunch. Yoska brought her camera and used her photographic skills to document various goings on about the farm, including the Casalinho cheesemaking process which will appear as illustrations in Sara’s as yet unreleased cookbook.
Other highlights of the past week include:
-My involvement in Kate and Kendall’s Fitness Monk training scheme. Earlier today I participated in their hill-sprints session; tough but rewarding. A long, refreshing shower in the spring following a gruelling workout is unmatched when it comes to a sense of physical wellbeing – thanks very much!
-My first experience of an animal slaughter. It was a goat, slightly more than I bargained for, but altogether very interesting to witness the skinning and disembowelling process from a practical and anatomical point of view.
-A spontaneous adventure hike to the top of Portugal’s second highest mountain. The summit is only 2 hours walk from Casalinho, and the staggering panoramic view from the top puts it high on my list of recommended activities on and off the farm.
The Serra da Estrela mountain range in the background
Our intended training room has served multiple uses since we completed it; volunteer hang out space, kids party venue, bedroom, storage space, cinema and even a training room where we’ve hosted three Permaculture Design Courses. But all would probably agree that proper doors would help no end with keeping the temperature steady.
Cue Pete, recent creator of Blue’s new kennel.
 
Doesn’t he make it look so easy? There’s even a cat asleep on his lap!
Shortly later, as if by magic, the training room has a shiny new door  Aren’t those door handles beautiful?
 
In the terrible rain we’ve endured recently, having a solid door has made a huge difference to everyone’s comfort. It’s great to get it complete before this year’s courses kick off. Many thanks indeed Pete.
We’ve made a stove in there too, but more on that another day.
We’ve won the 2013 WWOOF Host Grant, which we’re thrilled about. This is the story of the new shower block we’re funding with the grant.
I recently posted pictures of the intended site of our new shower block, which demonstrated the huge amount of sheer hard work required before building could begin. We’ve been blessed with a bunch of volunteers who really would like to see this project through, and they’ve worked like demons at that digging so that today we’re already ready to set up the shuttering for laying the base slab.
After all that digging, next stage was to lay a foundation of gravel. Gravel isn’t something that we’re short of as piles of it get swept onto our land via the road water run off every time it rains. Digging it out is hard work though, particularly tough on one of the first really warm days of the year.
The next days will see building begin. Material for the building itself are now here. The site isn’t the easiest to access, and once again we’ve reason to be very grateful to those fabulous volunteers who have been assisting with hauling blocks and sand to where they’re needed.
As with all good projects, we’ve been tweaking the design of this one as we’ve gone along and one of the things we’ve done is increased it’s dimensions. That decision has had an obvious effect on the price of the building materials and we’ve spent far more on these than originally planned. 450€ to be exact. I’m pretty certain we’re going to end up way over budget, even with the economies we think we’ve identified, but we’re happy with that if it means we have a shower to be proud of and that can demonstrate how living simply need not be a hardship.
I’ll keep you posted!
Blue needed a home. Pete needed a project. Blue reminded us that volunteering at Casalinho isn’t just about goats!
Blue’s new house is based on an old pallet and uses leftover planks and greenwood for the structure. Coloured offcuts from other projects create the lovely shingles effect. Finally, it’s roofed with broom over some old lino and there’s a sheet of thick plastic scavenged from rubbish making the floor. Pretty flashy for something made from bits and pieces, don’t you agree?
Blue does! That’s one very happy dog, and a dry one too
Whilst I have your attention  , can I interest you in your own little Blue? Blue’s little nephews and nieces will be available to leave their Mum shortly and need nice new homes.
Each year, WWOOF Portugal award one host farm a small sum in the form of the WWOOF Host Grant. We proposed that we build a shower block for the use of wwoofers and other farm visitors, with the water supplied from the river using a RAM pump, heated using the power of the sun, and recycled to irrigate our crops afterwards. We were really excited to just hear that our project has been chosen as the winner of 2013′s grant.
As those who have visited the farm will know, we’ve already got several RAM pumps operating. A RAM pump is a fabulous piece of technology which is ideal for our setting as it uses no outside power source and is cheap to build. It will enable us to move water that is already on the property to somewhere that we can utilise it. Once built, this system should require little maintenance other than cleaning. RAM pumps can be installed anywhere where there is a drop and a continuous flow of water, and we really can’t understand why so few people have even heard of them. Jeroen has made our existing ones at minimal cost, using plumbing fittings from the local hardware place and recycled plastic bottles.
Solar water heating makes a lot of sense when you consider that it’s a free and renewable resource which we have plenty of. Black plastic piping is reasonably cheap and it’s easily available. Stainless steel would be even better, but cost would be an issue for us.
All the greywater from our kitchen and from the washing up and clothes wash area returns to the land currently. We’ll position the new shower so that it’s above some of the areas that we currently struggle to keep watered in summer, the newish trees of the orchard and some of the newly planted vines. Of course, it means we’ll have to trust in visitors to only use toiletries which are eco-friendly. Although it’s something we ask already, some people seem to think that a flower on the front of the packaging is enough. Education is the key I suppose, plus the availability of the lovely products which we make available in Danny’s little shop from our friends at Corga da Pereira (and perhaps the threat of a peep hole? ).
I know that future visitors to the farm will appreciate this extra facility, as we will ourselves. The river is the most wonderful place in the world to wash in during the summer, but not quite so much fun in January!
One of my personal moans about the grant in previous years is that it’s not appeared accountable. So I intend to document our plans and our progress here. I hope you approve!
The sum that we will receive is 500€. If we overspend, we’ll have to top up the difference. Our project must be complete by September, although we intend to have it completed by our summer busy period. With another Scout camp booked and a course schedule in the making, I think that news will be well received!
So, here’s our estimated breakdown of costs. We wrote this in a couple of minutes flat with prices taken from memory, so I fully expect it will see some changes. I can only hope that we haven’t underestimated by too much!
- RAM pump parts – 60€
- Water holding tank (1000 litre) – 80€
- Plastic piping & pipe connections (from river to tank and from tank to shower, allowing extra length for solar warming) – 90€
- Blocks, sand and cement to build shower cabins – 150€
- Slate for base - 10€
- Shower heads – 15€ x 2 = 30€
- Taps – 10€ x 2 = 20€
- Wood for roof – 100€
- Tiles for roof – reclaimed
Total cost 540€
Where we would site it took much discussion and wandering around the site in the rain, but we’ve finally settled on a location underneath the road. It’s a fairly sheltered spot above an area that we want to irrigate (remember that greywater!) and it’s not far from either of our visitor sleeping spots whilst being far enough from the family living areas to allow both sets of users of the farm their privacy. Distance from the house is something that we can live with as, although we will be using these showers initially, the long term plan is to go wild and put some plumbing in the house.
So here’s the site.
As you can see, work has started already but there’s still much to do before actual building begins.
I’ll keep you posted!
This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words. Serge is one of our longer staying volunteers, and has kindly agreed to share his diary.
A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s Diary
After a particularly busy and eventful week I’m heading back to civilisation (Lisbon) for a couple of weeks. The main activity of the past week has been planting new vines, in the form of cuttings harvested from the vines of a local wine grower. This involved plenty of digging and, since they require protection from the elements in their early life, a mulch of bracken. The idea was to harvest dead bracken from a field up the road, bundle it all into the truck and spread it on the vines. We have finally managed to cover them all, after three truckloads! Unfortunately the fruits of our labour will not be available (at least in a liquid alcohol form) for another 3-4years, which is how long it will take for the vines to yield sufficiently to make wine. I’m beginning to wish I could be here for October (grape harvest season). Maybe another year.
Although they’re hard to see in this photo, this whole bank is now planted with vine cuttings. The little barriers, made of broom, are to catch eroding soil and eventually create paths to access them.
Last weekend we were invited by Nelson, Andrea and Jeroen’s friend, for a big lunch with his family. The food was very good; a traditional goat stew (goat provided by Casalinho, naturally, everything else by our hosts). I managed to eat enough to gain the right to eat desert straight from the bowl it was served in after my third helping of stew. Lunch was followed by a trip to the pub, an aguadente to ease digestion and some memorable table football rivalry!
Serge’s dedication to clearing the table impressed everyone!
Other highlights of the past few days included my first solo goatherd experience. I was managing quite well until they escaped my control by jumping over a wall to terrorise Andrea’s cabbage patch. A few minutes of shouting and waving a stick at them (traditional Casalinho goatherding methods) had them back in the pasture before too long. The WWOOFers also received a lesson in goat’s cheese making from Andrea, followed the next day by a tasting of the cheese we had produced.
This weekend the 2013 Portugal Downhill Cup was held in Pampilhosa da Serra. Much though we love our little corner of peace from the world, it’s a refreshing change to get out and about occasionally. And watching cyclists throw themselves down ridiculous slopes at least reminds you that you’re not the only loony in the world
This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words. Serge is one of our longer staying volunteers, and has kindly agreed to share his diary.
A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s Diary
It’s lovely to see some blue sky
My 8th day at Casalinho, and time is flying. I am learning a lot about permaculture and agriculture thanks to the books generously lent to us WWOOFers from Andrea and Jeroen’s own collection. Combined with the practical work, it is proving most educational.
Much better weather has also contributed to an improved stay. We are now comfortably able to have lunch outside, though the nights are still cold.
Since I haven’t been very regular in writing I have decided to make a list of highlights of the last few days. They are as follows:
-Going for lunch at a proper workers’ restaurant in Casal de Lapa. Delicious soup, chanfana (goat stew, a local speciality) , desert and wine for only €7.50 a head! Hard to beat.
-Bathing in the spring- now that I’m better accustomed to it (and find it easier to sum up the courage!) I am doing it every two days. It is a thoroughly refreshing experience… though I still wouldn’t say no to a hot shower every once in a while.
-Milking the goats- I managed to draw milk on my first go! Apparently I’m a natural. The trick is not to be afraid of giving the udders a good squeeze.
-Pete, our in-house carpenter, setting up a door and straw-bale sofa for our comfort in the training room. It doesn’t sound like much, but one appreciates the simple things more as a WWOOFer.
-Tasting a wide variety of local ‘tinto’ (red wine).
Left: Pete’s newly erected door makes a huge difference. Right: Serge below the Barragem de Santa Luzia at Casal da Lapa.
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