Even my daughter Emma thought I'd lost my mind when I suggested taking over an olive grove 🫒 30 minutes from the nearest village. The obstacles were numerous: 1️⃣ The drought, already very present in Andalusia, risks worsening with climate change; 2️⃣ Who says mountains says sloping terrain and therefore the impossibility of entering with a tractor in ⅓ of the farm; 3️⃣ Erosion has left only a thin layer of earth on the southern slopes 4️⃣ … and at over 600 meters above sea

It was the beekeeper, Joan. The bees 🐝 were starving to death and Joan was coming to collect the hives to take them elsewhere. That evening I was filled with sadness. Powerless in the face of the withering vegetation and the silence left by the absence of insects and birds. The suffering olive trees were showing bright yellow leaves. But two days later, I was with my pickaxe ⛏️, digging the first water reservoir 💧💪! In the summer of 2023, we dedicated six weeks to creating

Imagine a large, arid plot of land planted with olive trees spaced 8 meters apart. Between the trees, there's nothing but bare earth, plowed every year to prevent weeds from competing with the olive trees. And you might think, if I cut down every other tree, perhaps things would be better? … because there would be less competition between the olive trees for water and nutrients. The farm worker in charge of the plot then took his chainsaw and cut down dozens of olive trees. A

This photo was taken yesterday morning by my partner when she went to check on our sheep (in the center of the photo). A question keeps nagging at me. Why have humans been exhausting themselves for decades bringing food to the animals they keep in enclosures or buildings? I'm convinced it's better to take the animals where their food is—to the pastures 🌿—and here's why: 1️⃣ Producing animal feed is a considerable undertaking: tilling the soil (in conventional farming), sowin

No effort is required to be in the present moment when you have to lift 1500 kg of crates of olives per day, check the kneading of the purple paste and observe, as if by a small miracle, the trickle of golden oil that flows gently . The production of olive oil was an immersion of several weeks in intense work, conviviality and human warmth, connection to nature and animals… and disconnection from the rest of the world. I am deeply grateful to my friends and family for their s

This week we planted the first pistachio and almond trees in our olive grove. Planting trees may seem simple 🌳, but we had to overcome a series of obstacles: 1️⃣ First, we cleaned and pruned the olive trees to create a stable income. Because planting trees costs money 💰 and it doesn't generate any income for 5 to 7 years! 2️⃣ In our arid climate, young trees need supplemental water 💦 during their first three years. Therefore, we created a rainwater reservoir on the south-f

That's pretty much my children's reaction when I suggested they raise Iberian pigs AND sell the meat and cured meats online. Let me explain why I believe in it: 1️⃣ Our olive grove is located in a region known for the quality of its Iberian pigs: “Los Pedroches” - protected designation of origin. 2️⃣ In terms of taste, it's one of the best meats in the world. 3️⃣ I am looking for pasture-raised meat for myself and my family so that it is healthy and rich in nutrients (omega 3

This is our reality, our daily life… I never used to think about it. In the Andalusian mountains, far from any distribution network, I learned to observe the water cycle. Its fragility. And the way we influence it, for better or for worse. Every drop that comes out of the tap was once a drop of rain. Storm rain that cascades down hilltops and tumbles to the stream. Or long, patient rain that seeps into the earth and gently reaches the water table—a treasure, after having hydr

€3.28 per litre to prune the olive trees, collect the branches and shred them, cut the grass between the olive trees (us with our sheep, our neighbours with a tractor), harvest the olives and transport them to the cooperative… An outrage! In addition to this, there are the services that society should be entitled to expect from farmers: 1️⃣ Provide healthy, nutrient-rich foods 2️⃣ Protect water quality 3️⃣ Protect biodiversity 4️⃣ Feeding the animals in the pasture 5️⃣ Storin