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Organic Gardening

The Agro-biodiversity is in serious danger and here at Sunseed we have begun to collaborate with different networks of exchange/recovery of traditional local horticultural varieties.

Kokopelli is one of the most important associations at European level and we have the honor to grow some of their pure seeds. Thanks to initiatives like this, we have the possibility to recover flavours, which we nearly lost and fight against the monopoly of the large seed houses.

Collaborating with these networks and cultivating these varieties (non-hybrid commercial, or transgenic) is a form of activism, which is essential to achieve food sovereignty.

Thank you Kokopelli for sharing these living treasures!

Kokopelli 1

—–

La agrobiodiversidad esta en serio peligro, y en Sunseed hemos comenzado a colaborar con distintas redes de intercambio/recuperación de variedades hortícolas locales tradicionales.
Kokopelli es una de las asociaciones mas importantes a nivel europeo y tenemos el honor de cultivar algunas de sus semillas puras. Gracias a iniciativas como esta tenemos la posibilidad de recuperar sabores en riesgo de desaparición y luchar contra el monopolio de las grandes casas semilleras.
Colaborar con estas redes y cultivar estas variedades (no híbridas comerciales, ni transgénicas) es una forma de activismo fundamental para lograr la soberanía alimentaria.
Gracias Kokopelli por compartir estos tesoros vivos!

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Uncategorized

Curso Construcción Invernadero de Caña Nov 2015

Del 20 al 22 de Noviembre 2015

Aprende a diseñar y a construir un invernadero utilizando la caña como material base

En este curso aprenderás cómo construir tu propio invernadero con caña de una forma sencilla. Durante 3 días trabajaremos en equipo, aprenderemos diferentes técnicas de estructuras con caña y los beneficios de la reutilización de materiales.

Experimentaremos las distintas fases de construcción y conoceremos los aspectos y detalles del proceso:

  • Herramientas y materiales
  • La caña: selección, recolección, preparación y usos
  • El terreno: Elección, preparación y marcado
  • Preparar columnas para los arcos para la estructura
  • Preparar los arcos
  • Materiales de protección sobre los arcos
  • Puertas
  • Colocar el plástico

Al final del curso habrás conseguido los conocimientos y las habilidades necesarias para construir tu propio invernadero donde y para quien quieras con un coste muy reducido en los materiales y de forma sencilla.

También habrás aprendido a trabajar con la caña en general, diferentes técnicas de estructuras con caña, arcos y soportes, que te permitirán realizar otro tipo de estructuras, pergolados, etc….

“Ahora es el momento de obtener las habilidades necesarias para el futuro”

Para quien: Ideal para autoconstructor@s, personas involucradas en cooperación al desarrollo, agricultura y actividad social en zonas urbanas, rurales así como en países en vías de desarrollo.

Para participar en el Curso no se necesitan habilidades y ni conocimientos previos.

Plazas limitadas. Fecha límite de inscripción el 10 de Noviembre.

Horario: De 9.30 a 13.30 y de 15.00 a 18.00

Inversión: 175€ – incluye alojamiento y todas las comidas (ecológicas y vegetarianas).

Lugar: Los Molinos del Río Aguas – Almería

Información e inscripciones: dchicod@gmail.com – tel. 635 41 21 08

Aquí puedes descargarte un documento con más información sobre el curso.

Pinchando aquí el formulario de inscripción.

Y en este enlace puedes ver algunas fotos del curso anterior en Febrero 2014

Imparte:

Jef Carrick – Tiene mas de 15 años de experiencia en bioconstrucción en Reino Unido. Descubrió su pasión por la caña hace 6 años en Los Molinos del Rio Aguas junto con John Cory Wright de Canya Viva y desde entonces es una de sus especialidades; el diseño y construcción de estructuras de caña tanto como las estufas de masa térmica de alta eficiencia.

Kirsty Heron – Permacultura, horticultora ecológica y facilitadora en Ecología Profunda – El Trabajo de Joanna Macy – ecología profunda. Colaboradores de la revista Ecohabitar.

 MAS INFORMACIÓN…
COMO ES UN INVERNADERO DE CAÑA

El invernadero de caña puede parecer como cualquier otro invernadero normal. La diferencia es que en lugar de barras o arcos de metal, estos están hechos de caña, con lo que conseguimos aprovechar un recurso natural, gratuito y ecológico, reduciendo así la cantidad materiales industriales.

Además estéticamente es mucho mas bello y sugerente.

QUE PASA CON EL PLÁSTICO

Por desgracia aún no podemos evitar el uso del plástico, pero este diseño nos permite alargar su vida, ya que podemos quitarlo en verano, guardarlo, protegiéndolo del sol; y volver a ponerlo en invierno.

DOBLE USO INVIERNO – VERANO

Esta es una estructura que podemos utilizar durante todo el año. En invierno como invernadero y en verano como zona sombreada protegida del sol, para cultivos más sensibles; sustituyendo el plástico por una lona protectora.

MÁS VENTAJAS DEL INVERNADERO DE CAÑA AUTO-CONSTRUIDO

Adaptabilidad. Podemos construirlo del tamaño que deseemos, con diseño propio e incluso darle diferentes usos.

Rotación. Este diseño nos permite la rotación cada año, cambiándolo de lugar o construyendo una nueva estructura y reutilizando el plástico, puertas…

Mantenimiento mínimo. Las cañas son un material muy resistentes, algunas pueden aguantar muchos años. Siendo cuidados@s en la recolección y construcción lo único que nos puede suceder es que después de uno o dos años alguna de las cañas del invernadero se rompa y tendrás que sustituirlas, eso es todo. Si quieres alargar la vida del plástico, recógelo y guárdalo cada verano.

Los materiales son económicos y fáciles de conseguir. Con la posibilidad de sustituir la caña por bamboo, varas de avellano, sauce, etc…

Estética. Es una estructura bonita y armoniosa que nos permite desarrollar nuestra creatividad en la construcción.

Aprendes a trabajar la caña, lo que te permitirá realizar otro tipo de construcciones para tu huerta y casa: pérgolas, arcos para emparrados, estructuras de sombras y soporte, domos….

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Uncategorized

Here at Sunseed, we’re always looking for new ways to store and preserve our food. Pickling, preserving, and fermenting are great ways to use up gluts of food and save us from letting anything go to waste, which is always something we aim to avoid. It also means we can keep our food store stocked with tasty and nutritious additions to perk up our daily meals.

Each week brings with it a new stream of volunteers coming to Sunseed, and with them comes a new field of knowledge or understanding, plus more ideas and inspiration on how we can best prepare our food. As we cook communally, everyone is encouraged to take a spin in the kitchen and each week we’re inspired to try something new – this past week alone we’ve had fruit leathers, oat yoghurt and ginger kombucha, to name but a few!

Yesterday we found ourselves with a little more cabbage than we knew what to do with, and one of our volunteers suggested we try making sauerkraut. Sauerkraut is a fermented food, full of good bacteria which promote gut health.

Saurkraut 2

Sauerkraut is created when the cabbage undergoes a process called lacto-fermentation. Sugars in the vegetables are broken down and converted into lactic acid which contains probiotic strains of bacteria that support a healthly gut. Some people find that fermented foods help them to manage gut problems and so it’s a great idea to include these foods in your diet. Other fermented foods include kombucha, kimchi, miso and kefir, to name just a few.

You can find jars of sauerkraut in health shops and supermarkets, but always check the ingredients label to make sure it’s the real deal. Often, jars of ‘Sauerkraut’ are actually just jars of cabbage pickled in vinegar which, whilst delicious, won’t contain any of the gut-enhancing bacteria we’re after as they won’t have gone through the fermentation process.

Sauerkraut is made by simply slicing the cabbage very finely, massaging with a little salt to draw out moisture, and then packing tightly into jars to begin the fermentation process. You can add different flavourings to create a variations on the traditional recipe, and the only limit is your imagination.

Saurkraut 3

After 4 weeks of fermentation you’ll be left with a crunchy, tangy, sligtly sour tasting sauerkraut which is delicious in sandwiches, salads, or as an accompaniment to any meal. We’ve included a recipe below for you to try at home, plus some colourful traffic light coloured variations too.

Sauerkraut

This is the basic recipe for sauerkraut. You can use this as the base for a whole range of flavoured sauerkrauts, and we’ve included some ideas for traffic light sauerkraut at the bottom for inspiration!

Makes 2 x 1ltr jars

You will need:

– Sterilised glass jars and their lids (just dunk into boiling water, remove using tongs and leave to cool)

– A sharp knife or the mandolin attachment on a food processor

– Something to pack the jars with cabbage. We used a wooden pestle, but you could use the end of a rolling pin or thick wooden spoon

Ingredients:

– 2 large white cabbages (about 3kg)

– 2 tbsp salt

Method:

1. Remove the tough outer leaves of the cabbages, and wash the cabbages and leaves. Put the outer leaves to one side.

2. Finely shred the cabbage either using a sharp knife or your food processor if it has a mandolin blade attachment. We find it easiest to cut the cabbage ito quarters before we start to slice it.

3. Put the sliced cabbage into a large bowl (you might need two) and add the salt. Using your hands, massage the cabbage, crushing it in your hands and mixing the salt throughout. After about 5-10 minutes (depending on the strength of your hands) you should end up with wet, slightly limp but still crunchy cabbage. At this stage you can taste the cabbage, to see if you want to add any more salt. You want it to be slightly salty.

Saurkraut 8

4. Gather the sterilised jars and your tool to pack the jars. Pile the cabbage into the jars in layers, packing it down using your pestle or wooden spoon, whatever you’re using. You want to get rid of all of the air bubbles and you should find that as you pack the cabbage down, a layer of liquid will rise to the top, covering the cabbage. Continue packing the cabbage into the jars until the cabbage is about 2cm from the top of the jar, with a layer of liquid on top.

Saurkraut 12

5. Take the outer leaves of the cabbage, and pack them tightly into the top of the jars to keep the sauerkraut packed firmly beneath the layer of liquid, which will prevent it from oxidising. You might need to tear off some of the outer leaves if they are very big to make them fit inside the top of the jar.

6. Place the lids on top of the jars but do not screw shut. You want the sauerkraut to be able to get a little air.

7. Check your sauerkraut each week, tasting it each time to see how it tastes. You want to leave the sauerkraut to ferment for up to 4 weeks, to allow the full fermentation process to take place. If any scum forms on the surface then skim it off, or if mould forms then you might want to change the jars.

8. After 4 weeks, your sauerkraut should be crunchy and slightly sour tasting, but deliciously salty and fresh too. Enjoy!

Variations

We made traffic light sauerkraut – red, yellow and green! To make flavoured sauerkraut, simply add the extra ingredients just before you start massaging the cabbage.

Red

We used red instead of white cabbage, a little grated beetroot, ginger, garlic and juniper berries.

Green

We added some of the shredded outer leaves and caraway seeds.

Yellow

We added some ground turmeric (use fresh if you have it), fennel and cumin seeds.

– Blog post written by Ceri

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Sustainable Living

If you’re interested in looking for sustainable jobs in the green sector and you’re fed up of having to look through conventional job search engines then we’ve made your life a lot easier. Here’s our list of sites you can join to find the ideal job for you!

http://acre.com/jobs – They have a huge range of jobs available, jobs available in the UK, US and across the world tend to have opportunities with more corporate clients to staff their sustainability departments.

http://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs – This is a great site for loads of different opportunities in the charity and NGO sector (over 4000 jobs available), the site’s easy to use and is mainly based in the UK with some international jobs available, definitely worth a visit if you’re interested in more than just specificly green jobs.

www.jobsingreen.eu/g/ – Vacancies in the green sector across the whole of europe, option to create an account, upload your CV and add control the email updates you receive from the site – perfect if you’re bored of a constant stream of emails about jobs that don’t interest you.

http://www.environmentjob.co.uk/jobs – For those looking for UK jobs this site has quite a few available and some international as well, a bit smaller than the others on this list but great for specifically environmental based roles.

http://www.environmentjobs.com/ – If youre interested in more international opportunities, you can find jobs in Africa, europe, Asia and America, you can tailor your email updates to be specific to your interests.

http://www.endsjobsearch.co.uk/ – A smaller search site but definitely worth a visit, mainly UK jobs available but also has a european wide search option.

http://jobs.theguardian.com/jobs/environment/ – Not specifically a green job search engine but still has a large variety of job roles available in the environemental sector, you can also specify where in the world you’d like to search with vacancies all over the globe.

http://www.greenjobs.co.uk/ – You can sign up for job alerts by email with an easy to use search option this one’s only good for UK based roles.

http://www.amida-recruit.com/home.aspx – Huge array of jobs mainly in the UK but also oceania and asia.

http://neuvoo.co.uk – has over 800.000 jobs in the UK and almost 235.000 environmental related job offers

Do you know any other good search engines for eco-friendly jobs? Any tips?

– Blog post written by Ben (long term volunteer)

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With the festival season just beginning we wanted to take a look at a few of the more sustainable options this summer. Don’t forget, the majority of Co2 emitions from running a festival are down to the festival goers themselves. Always look at public transport options before driving and when you do have to drive, make the most of car sharing sites – share your journey or to tag along with someone else. No matter what these festivals do, it’s down to you to make your impact as small as possible.

Shambala Festival – UK

Tucked away in a ‘secret location’ in Northamptonshire UK Shambala is now powered by 100% renewable energy! The family friendly festival even encourages people to bring their own cups to refill each time!

shambala

Bona Nit Festival – Spain

A pop up one day festival based in Barcelona shows that sustainability isn’t just confined to green fields, take the chance to enjoy live music and great vegetarian food. The festival plans to spread the green message beyond their walls and into the city, recently awarded 3 stars from A Greener Festival, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Boom Festival – Portugal

A favourite of our very own Facilitation Coordinator Tom, Boom is a sustainable paradise since 1997, with the waste water from the site treated so that it can be put back into the environment as clean as when it came out.

boom

Wood festival – UK

Another 100% renewable energy festival for our list, all the energy used comes from bio diesel, wind and solar power and not too mention ‘community spirit’. If you’re looking for a calm family friendly option then Wood is definitely for you.

Cambridge Folk Festival – UK

If only all festivals cared about their environmental impact as much as CFF do, they nearly achieved their aim of no waste being sent to landfill with just 2% of waste not being recycled or composted, the lights on stage are low energy bulbs and they’re switched off during the day when they’re not needed. If you can make it to Cambridge this summer, take a look at their website.

cff

Do you know any other festivals we shouldn’t miss?

Blog post written by Ben (long term volunteer)

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Eco Construction
Our long term volunteer, Livia, 18 from the bay area, USA, has been experimenting with natural paint recipes alongside our eco-construction coordinator, Jack  to find the most successful non powdering white paint for the interiors of our traditional Andalucian buildings. 4 different binder types were tested on a gypsum plaster base: flour, casein, lime and linseed oil. Paints were tested for their colouration, coverage and adhesiveness (non powdering or flaking) on a tester wall, and the best mixes will be tested on whole walls when refurbishing rooms. The flour paste mixes were deemed the most successful. The paint adhered well and was a good body for fillers, especially clay, which had a lovely matt finish, colour and did not powder at all. A test is planned with marble dust as well when it is sourced, which should be the perfect filler. We used crushed chalk, which worked well but is time consuming and difficult to grind to a sufficiently fine powder, although this can also be bought in a shop. A linseed oil wash can be added over the flour paint to make it water resistant and cleanable. Caesin was also a good adhesive, especially with Lime, which otherwise would not be compatible with Gypsum. The caesin was extracted from our locally sourced goats milk, which was a very simple process involving the curdling with lemon juice. It can also be bought, but is relatively expensive. Our paints had a yellow tint, which improved with higher proportions of white fillers, and which would not be such a problem if using pigments. Besides the off white colour, there are many vegans on the project, and it seemed a little unfair surrounding them with slightly yogurt smelling paints. Linseed oil works extremely well as a binder with all fillers, although proportions would have to be honed in order to get rid of the yellow tint, overly reminiscent of smoke stained bar walls. Another unwanted effect of the oil is a loss of the breathability of the walls, so it should be used very sparingly. Lime works as both a binder and a filler in one, and has been used both in interior and exterior for thousands of years, but unfortunately is chemically incompatible with gypsum, so needs an adhesive additive. Sunseed has been using a mixture with the jelly extracted from macerated prickly pear leaves instead of water for many years, which works well, although has a tendency to flake after 3 years or so. A little linseed oil would very probably extend its working life. Experiments with natural pigments are also under way. The text in the photos are painted with linseed oil mixed with extracted turmeric pigment, charcoal, the Cochineal insect which lives off the prickly pear, and local purple clay. A highly recommended book for recipes and ideas: http://www.greenbooks.co.uk/using-natural-finishes DSCN8232 Flour paint (makes roughly 1.5 litres) 1 cup flour 5.5 cups cold water 1.5 cup screened filler (clay, marble dust, chalk etc)
  1. Mix flour with 2 cups cold water, whisking to remove lumps.
  2. Bring 1.5 cups water to boil, then add the flour water from Step 1.
  3. Turn heat to low, stirring until thick paste develops. Remove from heat.
  4. Dilute the paste with 2 cups water, a little at a time.
  5. Add filler to diluted flour paste until desired consistency is achieved.
 
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Organic Gardening

A few weeks ago in the organic gardens we worked with the loquat / níspero tree. This tree gives little orange fruits with black pits in April/May. In the beginning of February the blossoms are starting to fall and it’s obvious, which flowers have been pollinated because little green fruits appear.

Last year the Níspero trees did not get enough water (they don’t grow just anywhere here in this dry desert landscape), which resulted in fruits that were too little to eat. To prevent this from happening again we decided to reduce the amount of fruits on the tree, so the water and nutrients are concentrated to fewer fruits, which hopefully then have enough supplies to grow big and juicy.

With four volunteers we went to Far Terrace and started the job. It’s an easy task, without a lot of thinking, so while manoeuvring between the branches, reaching high and far, conversations began and stories were told. It’s always surprising how much easier people talk while our hands and eyes are focused on something else, a certain shyness falls away.

At the end of each branch (they are very flexible and it’s fun to grab them and carefully bend them close to you) there is a bunch of young  fruits and old blossoms and with your hands you can clean away the dried flowers and pluck the little loquats, so that only the four fattest ones are left.

It’s strange to ‘molest’ a tree and ruin little green fruits who are trying so hard, but if you hear that it’s this or nothing you have to think rationally and realise that we are gardening here and that it’s sometimes necessary to modify nature a little to be able to pick the fruits of life.

– Blog post written by our volunteer Mathu

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Courses and Events

Taller Introductorio de Dragon Dreaming – Almeria

27 y 28 de Junio 2015

En este Taller nos introduciremos en la filosofía y técnica de Dragon Dreaming, de forma teórica, experiencial y también de forma práctica, aprendiendo sus fases y pasos.

Para ello queremos ofreceros un taller activo, con diversas actividades y dinámicas.

Dragon Dreaming DD ha sido co-creado por John Croft y su difunta esposa Vivienne Elanta (los cuales han colaborado con Joanna Macy). Esta técnica se basa en 3 principios: Servicio a la Tierra, Creación de Comunidad y Crecimiento Personal.

Dragon Dreaming DD está inspirado en el activismo social y ambiental, la ecología profunda, la nueva ciencia moderna, la teoría de sistemas vivos, la teoría del caos, la no violencia y la sabiduría de los aborígenes australianos.

Dragon Dreaming nos facilita el conectar con nuestra llamada, concretizar nuestros sueños y materializar los de forma física, haciendo de estos sueños una realidad.

¿Que más es Dragon Dreaming?

  • Es una filosofía ganar-ganar-ganar para construir una cultura para El Gran Cambio
  • Es una filosofía y herramienta de diseño, para construir organizaciones y proyectos sostenibles con éxito.
  • Es una caja de herramientas y técnicas para proyectos colectivos
  • Es una comunidad de practicantes que se apoyan un@s a otr@s para hacer sus sueños y los de otr@s realidad, de forma divertida, eficiente y cooperativa.

* El Gran Cambio es la transición de una sociedad moderna de crecimiento industrial a una sociedad que cuida y apoya la vida.

Al ser una técnica holística, se complementa muy bien con otros métodos y técnicas como: la Facilitación de grupos, la Comunicación no violenta, The art of hosting, la Permacultura, El Camino del héroe, etc…

Para más info sobre Dragon Dreaming puedes visitar la web www.dragondreaming.org y ver un breve  reportaje de TVE2 aquí

¿En qué consiste un taller introductorio?

Se explica la herramienta, basada en una rueda, con cuatro partes o dimensiones: El sueño, la planificación, la acción y la celebración.

Se introducen herramientas transversales de facilitación de grupos, comunicación carismática y no violenta, acuerdos grupales, inteligencia colectiva…

Se introducen herramientas dinámicas, participativas y vivenciales para poder:

  1. Plasmar los sueños que tienes, tendiendo un puente entre ello y la acción
  2. Compartirlos con la gente con la que quieres hacerlos, de una forma auténtica y desinteresada.
  3. Crear un sueño colectivo a partir de un sueño personal, que integre la visión de grupo
  4. Fijar una meta clara, objetivos y tareas, de forma participativa
  5. Diseñar una estrategia, mediante el Kadabirrdt, de forma participativa
  6. Crear un presupuesto, conectando con nuestra inteligencia colectiva.
  7. Crear una red de apoyo para ayudar en la creación, seguimiento y consecución
  8. Crear una metodología de evaluación y celebración de las tareas y metas propuestas, que tenga un todo divertido e integrador

¿A quien puede interesar?

  • A miembros de asociaciones, grupos, orgsanizaciones, ONGs, proyectos colectivos…
  • Facilitadores de grupo
  • Profesionales que trabajen con personas: profesores, educadores, trabajadores sociales, etc.
  • Activistas sociales, mediambientales…
  • Personas que quieran mejorar su relación y dinámica en familia, grupos de amigos, trabajo, etc.
  • Personas curiosas e interesadas en el crecimiento personal, ampliar conocimientos y horizontes.

Las facilitadoras

Estefania Ventura Dueñas.Ha realizado las formaciones de Dragon Dreaming Introductorio en 2012 e Intensivo en 2013 con Alicia Comanage y Johnny Azpilicueta (de Molino de Guadalmesí, Tarifa)  y Organizaciones de Centro Vacio con John Croft en 2014.Ha diseñado, coordinado y desarrollado proyectos culturales, educativos,  artísticos, sociales y de cooperación desde 1998, en instituciones, asociaciones y la administración pública. Desde el 2012 ha asesorado y acompañado a grupos en el nacimiento de sus proyectos y sus ruedas de sueño. Aplica la herramienta en sus proyectos profesionales y comienza su andadura como facilitadora.

Patricia Cañas Rios. Ha realizado las formaciones de Dragon Dreaming Introductorio con John Crof e Intensivo con Angel Hernandez en 2012. Y Dragon Dreaming y Ecología Profunda y Organizaciones de Centro Vacío con John Croft en 2014. Desde entonces ha facilitado talleres, realizado consultoría y acompañamiento a grupos y aplicado en varios proyectos.

Cuando

Sábado 27 de Junio de 10.00 a 14.00 y de 16.00 a 20.00. Con una celebración en la velada hasta las 22.30 aprox.

Domingo 28 de Junio de 10.00 a 14.00 y de 16.00 a 20.00.

Donde

Centro En Ananda, Espacio para el Bienestar. C/ Tejar, 41. El Zapillo, Almería

Aportación

90€ inscripción regular

80€ inscripción para miembros de Asociaciones de Almería (tienen que venir al menos dos miembros de la misma Asociación).

Posibilidad de una beca para un perfil de estudiante o persona con un proyecto que tenga el perfil DD y no tenga recursos.

Posibilidad de pagar el 5% en moneda social.

Las plazas son limitadas y la FECHA LÍMITE DE INSCRIPCIÓN 19 DE JUNIO de 2015.

INFORMACIÓN E INSCRIPCIONES

Podéis contactarnos en info@culturadelatierra.net o tel. 639 84 27 19.

Y en la web dragondreamingenaccion.wordpress.com.

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Sunseed News

The spring of Los Molinos del Río Aguas is of great ecological importance because it serves as habitat for rare wild species to thrive in the stream and surrounding areas. The presence of constant water flow in this arid region and the rich formations of gypsum make the Natural Park of Sorbas a unique and valuable ecosystem in Europe.

The over-exploitation of the spring of the Río Aguas to water more than 3000 hectares of olive trees has caused a significant reduction in the flow of the stream from 40L/s to 3L/s in just the last few years. José María Calaforra, a professor at the University of Almería in the Biology and Geology Department, estimates that the spring will dry up in six to eighteen months if the extraction of water continues at this rate.

The population’s increasing water consumption as well as the pumping of many wells for watering is modifying the natural flow of the subterranean waters and changing the way that it reaches the spring in Los Molinos. In the Hydrological Plan for Andalusian Mediterranean Watersheds, elaborated by the Junta de Andalucía in 2008, it is already estimated that the extractions are triple the available resources of the spring, and now the over-exploitation is much greater due to the increasing monoculture of olive trees.

In July 2014, Ecologists in Action and the Mediterranean Ecologist Group made a request to the Consejería de Medio Ambiente of the Junta de Andalucía for detailed information about the state of the aquifer including the exact number and depth of the wells. They also requested that immediate action be taken to prevent a major deterioration of the aquifer, but there was no response from the Consejería. In September, the Mediterranean Ecologist Group went to court against the responsible promoter of the 600,000 olive tree monoculture in the Tabernas area, alleging that the plantation was a criminal infraction.

International associations such as Rights of Nature and End Ecocide are giving visibility to this problem on a European scale in order for the provincial administration to take the necessary actions to stop the over-exploitation of the aquifer and save the valuable ecosystems that depend on the Molinos del Río Aguas spring.

Recent articles in the Spanish newspapers:

Ideal
Almeria – hoy

For more information, see the Ecocide El Rio De Aguas Facebook page.

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Sunseed News

We celebrated Earth Day in company of the University of Almeria and other groups in the Natural Park where we live. We discovered a lot about the geology, flora and fauna; and we were reminded of their care and fragile balance. The intensive planting of olive trees and overexploitation of water are a real danger to this beautiful place. Luckily, it is clear that the desire to take care and respect the environment and the Earth will not stop.

Dia de la Tierra

El pasado 25 de abril celebramos el Día Mundial de la Tierra haciendo un recorrido con la Universidad de Almería y otros colectivos para aprender sobre la riqueza del Paraje Natural en el que vivimos. Descubrimos mucho sobre su geología, flora y fauna; recordándonos su frágil equilibrio y la importancia de su cuidado. La plantación intensiva de olivos y la sobre-explotación del agua que esta plantación y otras actividades provocan nos dieron la dramática imagen a la que se enfrenta este hermoso paraje. Por suerte, las ganas de seguir reforzando nuestro cuidado y respeto por el medio ambiente de esta nuestra Tierra no paran de crecer.

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