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So we now knew that we could actually grow plants in our “soil”. The first crops were a bit sickly partly due to the soil and somewhat irregular watering with a hose pipe. Other pests started to appear, amongst them, slugs, snails, ants and Portugese millipedes. Admittedly the latter two didn’t seem to be detrimental to the plants but they made the maintenance somewhat unpleasant at times. This was added to by flies (including sand flies), mosquitoes, wasps (more of those later) and the ever present rampant weeds. All that having been said, it was obvious that the area I’d already excavated was insufficient for our needs.I was a bit daunted by the prospect of having to go through the same rigors for every extra square meter gained. It was at about this time that the powers that be smiled down upon me and arranged a visitation from an angel. We had now been here about six months and had gradually got to know our two closest neighbours and would exchange social visits with one of them in particular on a weekly basis. As mentioned previously, Salvador had kindly donated our first plants (tomatoes), and was keeping an eye on our progress. Once he realised that we needed more space, he swung into action. He turned up with his ancient rotovator in his trailer towed behind his car. Here’s the result of ten minutes work, the equivalent of what had taken me two weeks.

To make his visit worthwhile, he suggested it would be a good idea to have another patch at the back of the house.

He was 70 years old at the time, strong as an ox, and still smoking cigars. He has become one of the best friends I’ve ever had and the way he runs his Finca (smallholding) is fascinating. I’ll post info on that later.

It's almost pure sand, although fertile, but very compacted and stoney. Although it's on the top levels of my patch, I think it was seabed in days gone by. It grow's olives and citrus without problems. It drain's very well (too well in fact) and adding organic material is a must. Bought in top soil is not readily available so I have two sources that will take a long time to have any effect. I've added a load of seed compost of which I inherited a mountain but that's very fine and dusty. I harvest vast amounts of weeds and compost those with kitchen waste but it takes a long time as contrary to what one might expect, the heaps don't get hot. I need to add an irrigation line to them. We also get a lot of drying wind. Salvador has a horse and a pony but until I can get a trailer organised, I can only collect a couple of trugs full at a time. We'll get there eventually (I hope).

"If it's right by a boundary wall it sadly needs to come out. Cherries are one of the worst for causing subsidence. People Are such idiots when it comes to planting tree's."

"Yes it's not always easy to do the right thing for the tree unfortunately whoever planted it put the wrong tree in the wrong place right next to a boundary wall when it was just a small tree .
Once it's pruned I can't see it adding any value as it…"

"Ben, seems that you are in a strong position as you are well thought of by the school as you aren't the obvious choice to quote for something which is not your main business. Are they asking other contractors who do this type of work to quote? If…"

Comments

PRO

Phil Voice July 5, 2009 at 3:02pm

The soil looks quite industrial in colour but there are some good signs of its potential with the way it breaks up.

I assume Rog that you have to add a lot of organic material - is that the case?
Bigyin July 5, 2009 at 4:08pm

It's almost pure sand, although fertile, but very compacted and stoney. Although it's on the top levels of my patch, I think it was seabed in days gone by. It grow's olives and citrus without problems. It drain's very well (too well in fact) and adding organic material is a must. Bought in top soil is not readily available so I have two sources that will take a long time to have any effect. I've added a load of seed compost of which I inherited a mountain but that's very fine and dusty. I harvest vast amounts of weeds and compost those with kitchen waste but it takes a long time as contrary to what one might expect, the heaps don't get hot. I need to add an irrigation line to them. We also get a lot of drying wind. Salvador has a horse and a pony but until I can get a trailer organised, I can only collect a couple of trugs full at a time. We'll get there eventually (I hope).

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