Roncanito: Summer 2023
This far south, the seasons work in a different manner to the temperate zones that exist throughout much of Europe. The necessity to adapt and work with the conditions presented is even further amplified, in a region which can see conditions swing between extremes.
In early summer, we prioritise a lot of our time on the land towards making cuttings for tree propagation. This year we focused specifically on fig, walnut, and poplar — ready to be cultivated into new offspring and nurtured in our tree nursery during the upcoming months. We dry the herbs such as sage and rosemary so they can be used for herbal teas and cooking. As with any time of year, many of the actions taken now will be seen much further down the line, such is the pace of the natural world. It is a quality which takes time to adjust to. Following the rhythms of nature.
When temperatures frequently rise above 40 degrees celsius in the summer months, the responsible use of water in the forest garden becomes even more crucial. The dense use of mulch helps to retain as much moisture in the soil as possible, lessening our dependency on irrigation to keep the plants nourished. With our approach being inspired by syntropic farming, we implement a system of high-density planting in order to create a plant network which maintains the humidity in the soil.
In the Mediterranean region, summer can act in a similar way to winter — it creates a sort of hibernation amongst the plant life, which in turn is reflected in the animal life as well. The life and vibrancy of spring slows down as the days get longer. The birdsong that we wake up to in April and May diminishes, the surrounding hills turn beige and brown. It is a slower time on the land, where daily life is often revolving around different ways to work with the heat.
When it comes to harvesting, this year we received many artichokes, tomatoes, zucchini and melons. The sun-loving plants will always have their needs met during the long Portuguese summers. Our aim next year is to intensify our planting and harvesting of annuals in order to increase our self-sufficiency with food. We favour the three sisters planting approach, an ancient technique originating from indigenous First Nation’s tribes — consisting of a combination of sweetcorn, climbing beans and squash. They are considered companion plants, each fulfilling their own ecological niche and helping each other to grow.
An important lesson learned this year was the necessity of creating a better grass system. We like to favour sorghum-sudangrass due to its drought-resistant qualities and the ability to provide a large amount of biomass for use as mulch on the beds. However, it didn’t share the same desire for companionship as the three sisters, which seemed to negatively affect the growth of the corn, beans and squash.
Each year and each season brings new lessons. The beauty of working with the land is in realising how little we know, and how much potential there is for new discovery and wisdom which can be implemented further down the line.
