Brilliant piece. I love how you read and analyse the landscape in your search for the right place for the Earth Collective. Had almost forgotten about the Mothership. I was wondering, in reference to the landscape, are there areas that are toxic free, where they cultivate the land using organic agriculture methods?
Organic farming doesn't seem to be so established in Portugal, as say the UK. In the north, everything is very small scale. They cultivate by hand and they spray. However, whenever I am in a new place (including constant moving in the Mothership before coming to Portugal), the first thing I do is 'find my food'. Here, I have located several sources of organic food. By chance (not!) the first place I stayed was 2 kilometres from a larg'ish Portuguese organic farm (8 staff, so quite large). I bought my food (picked on the day it was sold to me), on a weekly basis from them. To find this was a real gem. It is very rare. I have moved now, but am still within reach. I had a massive box of amazing locally grown, fresh, organic food yesterday in fact, which I am enjoying as I type. I have also now discovered a few other smaller growers and will go to their farms to visit, so I have some back-up suppliers. These are ex-pat homesteaders. I have also found a couple of supermarkets who do a small selection. Most recently, I discovered an organic and regenerative food co-op just starting in the area, and they will be doing fresh food once they have aggregated a few local producers but they have started by buying bulk organic dried foods.......There is clearly scope for much more, but it is largely amongst the ex-pat community as the Portuguese (in the north, at least) are not very food aware.
This is so interesting. Why are they not food aware? Is it a financial situation or cultural one you think? I'd be interested for you to share writing about food, recipes and ideas. Food's definitely a priority. So glad to hear you've sourced a place with organic and local produce.
The country is poor. They have also experience food shortages in their recently history. There isn't the market for it, so I have been told, in the rural areas. But there is an increasing ex-pat population that are very aware and have come to Portugal to have a different life and live off the land. It will come. There are a lot of elderly people, still working their small patches of land by hand, in their 80s. They won't last that long. There are a lot of derelict properties (as well as many new builds). Things will change. All that said, not all the food that people grow is sprayed. I have been very aware of constant spraying of vines, which everyone has. But at least rural folk are eating fresh home grown food which is a huge plus. It hasn't travelled half way around the world, been covered in plastic (even when it's organic) and it is probably traditional seed, so may not be GMO. Even buying organic in the UK, there is no way of knowing if its GMO. And now, you have the Gates et al chemical plastic coatings on food so it no longer needs to be wrapped or sealed. Oh joy! Regards writing about how I do food, I might. I have done this in the past, on a previous website that no longer exists. But I am very purist and particular about my food and drink, what it is and how it is handled. Not for foodies who like to indulge! But I do have a few techniques I could share that would be useful. So thanks for the suggestion.
I'd be keen to learn about food. I had no idea of the plastic coatings. I am aware of the traditional seed, but not sure how to check for GMO. I buy food from a farm, mostly and I will actually check in to see if it is GMO. Poor countries makes me think that they may have been forced to abandon old farming and agricultural practices in favour of modern techniques which are not necessarily promoting longevity for the land and methods that require pesticides. I don't want to make assumptions. I could be wrong, But been reading about the African continent and why in parts there is little growth and it's a lot more to do with farming practice. Speaking of GMO... I was in Santorini and wanted to get hold of their Santorini cherry tomatoes. Impossible... I met an old lady, local, who told me the EU told the islanders not to cultivate that tomato anymore and she worried the local tomato becoming extinct. In the end, we didn't find the local tomatoes or aubergines anywhere.
You can't check for GMO, they don't have to disclose this, as far as I am aware. Food production globally has been corrupted. I don't want to go into geopolitics. But looking at the bigger picture and the drivers for change in food production, almost nothing is as it seems, or in the best interests of producers or consumers. It's complicated and very corrupt. All the more important that we take control of what we put in our mouths. And find out what is really going on. Knowledge is power. You could look up Vandana Shiva's work. She is astonishing and has it nailed.
Brilliant piece. I love how you read and analyse the landscape in your search for the right place for the Earth Collective. Had almost forgotten about the Mothership. I was wondering, in reference to the landscape, are there areas that are toxic free, where they cultivate the land using organic agriculture methods?
Organic farming doesn't seem to be so established in Portugal, as say the UK. In the north, everything is very small scale. They cultivate by hand and they spray. However, whenever I am in a new place (including constant moving in the Mothership before coming to Portugal), the first thing I do is 'find my food'. Here, I have located several sources of organic food. By chance (not!) the first place I stayed was 2 kilometres from a larg'ish Portuguese organic farm (8 staff, so quite large). I bought my food (picked on the day it was sold to me), on a weekly basis from them. To find this was a real gem. It is very rare. I have moved now, but am still within reach. I had a massive box of amazing locally grown, fresh, organic food yesterday in fact, which I am enjoying as I type. I have also now discovered a few other smaller growers and will go to their farms to visit, so I have some back-up suppliers. These are ex-pat homesteaders. I have also found a couple of supermarkets who do a small selection. Most recently, I discovered an organic and regenerative food co-op just starting in the area, and they will be doing fresh food once they have aggregated a few local producers but they have started by buying bulk organic dried foods.......There is clearly scope for much more, but it is largely amongst the ex-pat community as the Portuguese (in the north, at least) are not very food aware.
This is so interesting. Why are they not food aware? Is it a financial situation or cultural one you think? I'd be interested for you to share writing about food, recipes and ideas. Food's definitely a priority. So glad to hear you've sourced a place with organic and local produce.
The country is poor. They have also experience food shortages in their recently history. There isn't the market for it, so I have been told, in the rural areas. But there is an increasing ex-pat population that are very aware and have come to Portugal to have a different life and live off the land. It will come. There are a lot of elderly people, still working their small patches of land by hand, in their 80s. They won't last that long. There are a lot of derelict properties (as well as many new builds). Things will change. All that said, not all the food that people grow is sprayed. I have been very aware of constant spraying of vines, which everyone has. But at least rural folk are eating fresh home grown food which is a huge plus. It hasn't travelled half way around the world, been covered in plastic (even when it's organic) and it is probably traditional seed, so may not be GMO. Even buying organic in the UK, there is no way of knowing if its GMO. And now, you have the Gates et al chemical plastic coatings on food so it no longer needs to be wrapped or sealed. Oh joy! Regards writing about how I do food, I might. I have done this in the past, on a previous website that no longer exists. But I am very purist and particular about my food and drink, what it is and how it is handled. Not for foodies who like to indulge! But I do have a few techniques I could share that would be useful. So thanks for the suggestion.
I'd be keen to learn about food. I had no idea of the plastic coatings. I am aware of the traditional seed, but not sure how to check for GMO. I buy food from a farm, mostly and I will actually check in to see if it is GMO. Poor countries makes me think that they may have been forced to abandon old farming and agricultural practices in favour of modern techniques which are not necessarily promoting longevity for the land and methods that require pesticides. I don't want to make assumptions. I could be wrong, But been reading about the African continent and why in parts there is little growth and it's a lot more to do with farming practice. Speaking of GMO... I was in Santorini and wanted to get hold of their Santorini cherry tomatoes. Impossible... I met an old lady, local, who told me the EU told the islanders not to cultivate that tomato anymore and she worried the local tomato becoming extinct. In the end, we didn't find the local tomatoes or aubergines anywhere.
You can't check for GMO, they don't have to disclose this, as far as I am aware. Food production globally has been corrupted. I don't want to go into geopolitics. But looking at the bigger picture and the drivers for change in food production, almost nothing is as it seems, or in the best interests of producers or consumers. It's complicated and very corrupt. All the more important that we take control of what we put in our mouths. And find out what is really going on. Knowledge is power. You could look up Vandana Shiva's work. She is astonishing and has it nailed.
Thank you for this tip. Much appreciated.