I buy my oranges through a small co-op; I have became a member last year and thy get organic oranges from a small producer in the South of Italy. They are so tasty. I got 10 kilos for 9 Euros and I'm going to make some jam. Anyone got a good recipes to share with me?
When 2014 started, I planned to blog often and share more stories and some of my worries but things took a different turn and for the whole month of January I felt very unmotivated and a bit down. Then, in Feb I had to go to London UK for a week (for an urgent thing came up). The trip made me more grateful for the life I have now and very sad, verging on being depressed, for the sad situation in London. And what I mean by this is the insatiable desire of people for more stuff, consumerism. waste and all nasty stuff. No one seems to be recycling or caring about it; not people , not businesses! The dreadful plastic bags are everywhere and handed in for free without any shame or guilt. I felt disgusted and sad and just wanted to go back to my isolated place and never set a foot in London again.
I also get my apples from the same co-op. So delicious.
Anyway, I came back with a nasty flu and had to take it easy for more than 2 weeks (no staying in bed for me, as despite the sore head,nose, throat, etc, I had to get up every morning and go out to feed the animals, etc) Now, I feel much better and ready to start planning for my vegetable plot. First, I need to start the sowing the seeds indoors, then work the land. I also need to set up a mini green house. I'm going to ask my friend stella's husband to help me.
The veggies I do not grow, I get from a local organic farmer. He is a young guy who grows many different types of veggies because he is a vegetarians! Good for me, I can get Jerusalem artichokes and brussels sprouts.
What else? Ah, when I was in London I stayed with my friend Ivonne and we talked about my plan to buy a small piece of land in central Portugal to set up a small holding. And maybe build a small natural house. She encouraged me to do so and promised to help me a bit. Now, I need to get some money from my family, it will not be a lot, but it will help. Prices of small agricultural plots of land in Portugal are very cheap; for 4 thousands one can get a decent one. So, I'm thinking to buy one by next year because I'm worried sick that prices will go up and can never afford one. My dream was to meet up someone and do this together but as I haven't met anyone, I have to do it alone, which is very scary to me.
These are two jars of the olives I pickled this year. I gave the other two to my landlady. I picked the olives from a tree on the farm.
Yea, 28 of Feb was my birthday and it was a quite occasion. Actually I didn't celebrate it and only 3 people remembered it! This is sad, isn't it? But I really do not care; it is just a day like all other days and I'm grateful to be healthy, live in one of the most beautiful places in the world (even though it is temporarily), and have a roof above my head and lots of yummy food on my table. :)
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