Biochar, Balsas and Bernat’s Mum (OFIW)
It was wonderful to be in Caseres for four days with both the children last weekend. Friday we stayed in the village (and I didn’t write!), we got locked out of the flat when we stepped out for five minutes of sun, but during the wait for Manel and the spare keys Kira made plans to go to school with her friends from the village in the afternoon. This was perfectly fine with the teachers there AND she got to use/learn how not to use the glue gun (very minor burn). I love the village school!!!
digging and biochar
Saturday we were digging, protected from the sun by the ecological white paste mineral sun cream, and enjoying almond blossom and other flowers at Jordi’s farm.
Sunday was the intense day – preparation with both kids, then workshop, then got home to broken hot water. The quote is “I’m sorry I can’t smile but I am finding this situation incredibly challenging” or something like that.. my way of avoiding just losing it and yelling.
Most of the photos and videos are on the Biochar 2023 blog post and this week we are adding more to the Rovira Regenerativa instagram (@roviraregenerativa), where you can see new highlights on “Biochar2023” and Balsas.
We will soon add many more videos to the reels and highlights here so there is a good overview of each of the current projects : Food Forest, Thyme Terrace, Syntropic Experiment 1, LifeTerra tree planting, Biochar production, and Balsas (small reservoirs). Please take a look at our amazing content there!!
people and more digging
On Monday I had a meeting with Alex to talk about the next stage in the Site Manager role when his three month contract is up in April and there’s a lot going on to decide who, what, where, when and how we can fit all the funded volunteers, and all we want to do in the budget. I hope the current fuzz in my head clears a bit after these days with family and the funeral. Yes, all that needs to be left in a swirl until later.
Just as I finished the meeting Oscar arrived in his digger. We walked the bumpy old track (with Joanna being dragged backwards asleep in her pushchair!) up to the upper almond groves on Manuel’s land, and discovered that it WAS possible to get the machine up to the top! Brilliant and the work was completed in four hours the same day. There was a high five moment right there.
bernat’s mum
Since arriving back to Barcelona we have been in a cloud of emotion as Bernat’s mum entered the very last phase of her life, resting in bed in the nursing home, breathing but gradually losing function in her vital organs. The family were by her side, Kira wrote a lovely women’s day text about her which Bernat received time to read it to her.
Me and Joanna said goodbye to her the day we found all the golf balls, I can’t remember the date. Kira said goodbye a few weeks ago when she was still talking and moving around a bit, and we decided not to go back this week.
The memorial and funeral is tomorrow. Then we’ll see where we’re all at on Sunday, and life goes on.
