permacultureportugal - Alo Land

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permacultureportugal

A collection of 34 posts

We found this treasure in our garden

We found this treasure in our garden

We found this treasure in our garden. It was just under our big pine tree, which seems to be the home of a few doves, so this might very well be one of their eggs. We pick this place to raise our family, and it is a source of joy

Planted more grapevines along the south fence

Planted more grapevines along the south fence

Planted more grapevines along the south fence. Agriloja had lots of inexpensive bareroot grafted vines, so we added to the fence facing our fire sector. Besides tasty grapes, these vines can also help slow down fire. #grapevine #permacultureportugal #permaculturedesign

South #pond and east #swale at record high levels after yesterday's rain

South #pond and east #swale at record high levels after yesterday's rain

South #pond and east #swale at record high levels after yesterday's rain. #permacultureportugal

Scenes from the 54mm of rainfall we got today

Scenes from the 54mm of rainfall we got today

Scenes from the 54mm of rainfall we got today. The west swale and its spill basin overflowed, but water keeps pooling and slowly moving down the landscape. There's definitely to for improvement, but the overall water catchment plan seems to be working well so far. The last photo shows the

It rained so much that the west swale is filling up!

It rained so much that the west swale is filling up!

It rained so much that the west swale is filling up! #rain #swale #permaculture #permacultureportugal

It's a family business

It's a family business

It's a family business. Me? I was hard at work taking photos...! #farmlife #homestead #permacultureportugal #familygardening

Purple is the colour

Purple is the colour

Purple is the colour. We continue to get some goodies from the garden. Here is a violet cauliflower and red cabbage. Healthy and tasty foods are coming up. #violetcauliflower #redcabbage #veggiegarden #vegetablegarden #permacultureportugal

The Apple Cider Vinegar is ready

The Apple Cider Vinegar is ready

The Apple Cider Vinegar is ready. Made solely of apples from our garden. As the garden grows, so do our skills, and it is very exciting to be adding healthy, tasty things to our family as a reward. #applecidervinegar #homestead #permacultureportugal #probioticdrinks #healthyfood #homemadevinegar

We harvested a few sweet potatoes and a surprise

We harvested a few sweet potatoes and a surprise

We harvested a few sweet potatoes and a surprise. We don't generally eat potatoes but do often add sweet potatoes to our menu. So we decided to plant some to see how it goes. Surprisingly, it was super easy but we do need to make sure we don't wait too

Pear and pistachio cake

Pear and pistachio cake

Pear and pistachio cake. Delicious and actually healthy (plant based, free of gluten, white sugar or any nasties) A homestead milestone: - the apple cider vinegar was homemade, with apples from our garden - the apple pure was homemade - the pistachio butter was homemade - the mint tea was

Making JADAM wetting agent (JWA) for the first time! Nervously exciting because of the caustic chemical involved

Making JADAM wetting agent (JWA) for the first time! Nervously exciting because of the caustic chemical involved

Making JADAM wetting agent (JWA) for the first time! Nervously exciting because of the caustic chemical involved. Mixed water, potassium hydroxide (caustic potash), and sunflower oil (instead of the canola oil from the recipe, which isn't easy to get here in bulk). It wasn't clear when to stop mixing. The

Tree planting time! Two macadamia and a passion fruit were liberated from their pots

Tree planting time! Two macadamia and a passion fruit were liberated from their pots

Tree planting time! Two macadamia and a passion fruit were liberated from their pots. Also took the opportunity to mulch the walnuts (although they didn't seem to mind not having it so far) and to replace a juniper that wasn't coming back to life. #treeplanting #macadamia #macadamiatree #passionfruit #passionfruittree #maracuja

Started a batch of JADAM microbial solution (JMS)

Started a batch of JADAM microbial solution (JMS)

Started a batch of JADAM microbial solution (JMS). Used a 30L container and mixed boiled and mashed potatoes, sea water, and leaf mold soil from an oak forest in the region. It's now covered and sitting outside. It'll be ready to use once the foam on top forms a disc

The former compost area now turned into an adhoc bed of seeds thrown there and possibly some volunteers as well

The former compost area now turned into an adhoc bed of seeds thrown there and possibly some volunteers as well

The former compost area now turned into an adhoc bed of seeds thrown there and possibly some volunteers as well. Removed the grass and added some log edges to prevent it from being stepped on. Will try to mostly leave it to do its thing otherwise. #permacultureportugal

#weeding these two beds from #zone2

#weeding these two beds from #zone2

#weeding these two beds from #zone2 One has #carrots and some other #rootvegetables and the other #tomatoes (they also got pruned and staked with the occasion) and #sweetpotatoes (unclear if they'll sprout) The beds were made #lasagnagardening style (cardboard with compost on top) and weed growth so far is minimal.

Flushing and installing 3 more #irrigation lines

Flushing and installing 3 more #irrigation lines

Flushing and installing 3 more #irrigation lines. Some of the plants they water were very dry already, hoping they'll come back. #permacultureportugal

First part of the east #swale berm #irrigation line running

First part of the east #swale berm #irrigation line running

First part of the east #swale berm #irrigation line running. #permacultureportugal

Installed two #taps with twist hose couplings (reclaimed from the old #irrigation system) at strategic points on the mainline

Installed two #taps with twist hose couplings (reclaimed from the old #irrigation system) at strategic points on the mainline

Installed two #taps with twist hose couplings (reclaimed from the old #irrigation system) at strategic points on the mainline. They'll be useful for filling ponds and whatever other high volume future needs. Right now, they allow watering #permaculture zone 3, not yet covered by the new irrigation lines. #permacultureportugal

Second #irrigation zone operational

Second #irrigation zone operational

Second #irrigation zone operational. #permacultureportugal

Despite all the #bentonite and hope, the east #pond is completely dry as of this morning

Despite all the #bentonite and hope, the east #pond is completely dry as of this morning

Despite all the #bentonite and hope, the east #pond is completely dry as of this morning. It slowly but steadily drained over the past few days. There's a lot of water on the bottom of the east swale, in the area close to the pond, so it's probably seeping somehow.

First #irrigation zone up and running along the top of the east #swale in zone 2

First #irrigation zone up and running along the top of the east #swale in zone 2

First #irrigation zone up and running along the top of the east #swale in zone 2. #permacultureportugal

Point of no return: cutting the old #irrigation mainline to hook up the new one

Point of no return: cutting the old #irrigation mainline to hook up the new one

Point of no return: cutting the old #irrigation mainline to hook up the new one. It worked, so now there's water in the veggie garden again. Up next: the rest of the garden 😅 #permacultureportugal

First couple of ripe #blueberries

First couple of ripe #blueberries

First couple of ripe #blueberries. Yum! #permacultureportugal

First attempt of sealing the east #pond with #bentonite

First attempt of sealing the east #pond with #bentonite

First attempt of sealing the east #pond with #bentonite. It's already in a clayish area and the excavator did a nice job compacting it. However, there's also a lot of rocks and it wasn't holding water. We liberally sprinkled a 25kg bag of bentonite into the holes we could identify

Strong southern winds (opposite the prevailing direction) ripped the hessian cloth from the staples holding it

Strong southern winds (opposite the prevailing direction) ripped the hessian cloth from the staples holding it

Strong southern winds (opposite the prevailing direction) ripped the hessian cloth from the staples holding it. This happened on 3 different windbreaks, one of them even has a loose pole now. Tried to fix them by sandwiching the cloth between the middle pole and a long thin piece of lumber,