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This blog post is a brief summary of the agricultural topics that are currently on our minds.
The water shortage
Let’s talk about water. It is an existentially important resource – not only for us as farmers who need water to irrigate our crops, but also for the balance of nature. This makes the current situation all the more critical. The lack of water, especially on our Finca Campillo de Julia, means that older trees are producing less fruit and young cuttings cannot be adequately supplied and are dying as a result. The drought can be seen very clearly in the adjacent reservoir. It has been nearly empty for month. We are facing a worrying problem and have been trying to counteract this for several years now with regenerative measures. But even extensive planting to keep the water better in the ground is no longer enough with such low rainfall. It is and remains an extreme situation that we must learn to deal with. If you would like to find out more about this topic, you can take a look at our YouTube channel. We recently published a video there about the drought in Campillo de Julia. You can find the video here.
The birds at our finca
Birdlife is an important indicator of biodiversity. Their abundance and diversity reflect the state of the environment. A rich and diverse bird life indicates an ecosystem with ample food and habitat.On our farm they perform the important role for us by predating pests.
Swallows and Swifts eat fruit flies (Ceretitis capitata), the most economically damaging pest in Valencia. Starlings predate soil invertebrates that damage roots. Smaller tit species predate caterpillars that damage leaves and Tree creepers control insects in our pine forest. We even have a nest of baby buzzards whose parents predate the plague of rabbits that damage our young trees.
Kestrel and Barn owl predate small rodents. Conversely, a decline in bird populations can indicate environmental problems such as pesticide use and habitat loss. This can be seen in the dire loss of birds.
We want to reverse this trend and produce great, healthy food at the same time. Our organic agro-ecosystems provide ample food sources and to match this we are installing various designs of artificial nest boxes across our farm, to mimic the nesting opportunities provided by ancient forest. Different bird species have different needs as to what their perfect home should look like and it’s been fascinating researching the nuances of all our potential species.In addition to our reasonable populations of Greenfinches, Southern grey Shrike, Starling little owl we’re hoping to attract breeding populations of; swifts, more starlings, Scops, little and Barn Owls, European Rollers, more tits and tree creepers.
(Eagle photo:Pilar Gil)
Our compost
Compost is essential for regenerative agriculture. It improves soil structure, promotes soil life and increases water storage capacity. With every harvest nutrients are taken out of the soil, which are absorbed by the plant during cultivation and transferred to the fruit or vegetable. Therefore, it is important to create a balance and give something back to the soil.
Sheep manure provides important nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that support plant growth. That’s why organic matter from our tree pruning is mixed with sheep manure to make our compost. Tree pruning provides the compost mix with organic matter that protects the soil from erosion.
However, producing and maintaining compost is more complex than you might think. To ensure that the right microorganisms initiate compost decomposition and make nutrients available to plants, proper monitoring is essential. We want to promote aerobic organisms and avoid anaerobic organisms. Aerobic organisms need oxygen and are the secret to excellent compost. Anaerobic organisms, on the other hand, do not require oxygen, and anaerobic conditions in compost would result in slower decomposition and nutrient losses.
Wildlife
Wild forest animals feel very much at home in our fields, and there are good reasons for this.
Our near-natural and regenerative form of agriculture creates a safe habitat for many species. Animals find plenty of food, shelter and peace and quiet here. This not only promotes biodiversity, but also contributes to the ecological balance.
For example, we can observe wild boar and deer on our wildlife camera. Wild boar help us to loosen the soil and thus improve the soil quality. They dig in the soil and promote soil mixing, which supports plant growth. Of course, we have to admit that they also like to cause a bit of havoc in fields with young trees and cuttings with their massive bodies. Deer contribute indirectly to the dispersal of seeds and thus help to spread and renew the vegetation.
These animal guests show us that our efforts to make a difference in agriculture and the implementation of regenerative measures also benefit wildlife. We are really excited to see what other animals we will discover on camera.
