Casalinho

Category: Natural World

  • Is Spring here?

    Dare I hope? Is Spring on it’s way? This was the view we woke to last weekend. But it was gone by early afternoon, and this week has included cold nights but T-shirt days, and the flowers are sneaking out. It’s amazing the difference a week can make.

  • Learning about Bees at The Hive

      Jeroen took a course on beekeeping organised by the local beekeepers co-operative some time ago, when we originally purchased our hives. I’ve never had any training in beekeeping though, so I was thrilled when The Hive offered another Introduction to Beekeeping Workshop. The Hive are a local cultural co-operative focussing on sustainable education. Apiculturist more »

  • Easter at Casalinho

    I’m pleased to report that the Easter Bunny appears to be well and living in central Portugal.   We heard rumour that he had a mysterious horned assistant this year.                     I followed their trail around the garden, a good opportunity to take the camera. Easter more »

  • Ruptured Pipe Causes Rio Ceira Flooding

    I was planning on posting more photographs of around the farm today, but yesterday morning a water carrying tunnel connecting the dams of Santa Luzia and Alto Ceira near to us broke, causing a torrent of water to come crashing out. The resultant flooding, from the ruptured tunnel and from the subsequent emergency lowering of more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 10th November 2014

    Our weekly round up of what volunteers have been working on at Casalinho, our developing permaculture project in central Portugal. Well autumn has certainly arrived! Cooler temperatures and the threat of rain have reminded of how much winter preparation still remains undone.   Left to right, top to bottom: 1) Beyonce enjoying an autumnal morning walk more »

  • A Visitor’s Perspective: Sam’s Diary – Permaculture Vermiculture

    This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words. Sam is in his second week here as a volunteer and has kindly allowed us to share his online thoughts. Here, Sam explores our vermicomposting system. A Visitor’s Perspective: Sam’s Diary – Permaculture Vermiculture more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 27th October 2014

    Our weekly round up of what volunteers have been working on at Casalinho, our developing permaculture project in central Portugal.   There has been so much going on this week that it’s been hard to choose the photos! 1) What a handsome boy! 2) Our last batch of corn drying on the driveway. We cut more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 6th October 2014

    Lots of people on site this week including some new volunteers, and plenty going on as usual. But the focus has really been on the grape harvest, with foot stomping the grapes being a popular activity. The first batch of wine has now started it’s secondary fermentation, and another batch is on the way. Grapes more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 29th September 2014

    Another busy week! Making up for the rain of last week we’ve been cracking on with the first part of our grape harvest and wine making. Harvesting and produce preservation continues, with tomatoes and quinces still being top of my processing list. Volunteer Marjolein has been filming this week, which has given Jeroen a marvellous more »

  • Dam It (again)!

    Following my previous post, where I showed the creation of our summer bathing pool, it was pointed out that I didn’t show the competed project. Ooops! What do you think? Anyone fancy a paddle?