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ecoquintadolameirao

Environmentally conscious living and working in the rural context within the freguesia Povolide, Viseu, Dão-Lafões, Portugal.

Dentro / Fora. Fim de ano na Quinta do Lameirão e

Dentro / Fora. Fim de ano na Quinta do Lameirão e arredores.
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Inside / Outside. End of the year at and around the Quinta do Lameirão.

#fimdoano
#inside
#outside

Terminámos algumas semanas de colheita de azeiton

Terminámos algumas semanas de colheita de azeitona para 2024. Uma investigação de poda e colheita de uma pequena percentagem do nosso pomar total, para nos prepararmos para o futuro e porque começámos tão tarde.

Um grande obrigado ao nosso amigo JorisMo pelas mãos extra e por nos manter em boa companhia. Recebemos 23 litros apenas de azeite QdL, e em poucos meses depois de assentar saberemos a qualidade do sabor. Aceitam-se reservas para azeite biológico engarrafado caseiro!!!

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We finished a short weeks worth of olive harvesting for 2024. An investigation of pruning and harvesting a small percentage of our total orchard, to prepare for the future, and because we started so late.

A big thanks to our friend JorisMo for the extra hands and keeping us in good company. We received 23 liters of only QdL olives oil, and in a few months after it settles, we will know the quality of the taste. Taking reservations for homemade bottled bio olive oil!!!

#quintadolameirao
#farmlife
#vidarural
#bioolive
#organicoliveharvest
#freguesiapovolide

Antes tarde do que nunca. Por vezes, olha-se em r

Antes tarde do que nunca.

Por vezes, olha-se em redor e vêem-se todos os velhos no campo, ao mesmo tempo, como se alguém tocasse o “tempo da colheita!” sino... e todos ouviram, mas tu não. Ainda.

Mesmo assim, ainda temos lindas azeitonas! No terceiro dia de colheita, com 9 árvores abatidas... e restantes 191!!!

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Better late than never.

Sometimes you look around and see all the old peoples out in the field, at the same time, as if someone rang the “time to harvest!” bell...and they all heard it, but you didn’t. Yet.

Nonetheless, we still have beautiful olives! Onto Day 3 of harvesting, with 9 trees down...and 191 to go!!!

#rurallife
#vidarural
#oliveharvest
#freguesiapovolideviseu
#withalittlehelpfrommyfriends
#ecofriendlyfarming
#ecoquinta

It’s been a while since we posted. Mostly becau

It’s been a while since we posted. Mostly because it’s been a number of weeks of dirty work and jobs inside with the rain and all.

But a few good moments! And fleeting fall sunshine!

Todos saúdam as chuvas e o calor persistente!! /

Todos saúdam as chuvas e o calor persistente!! / All hail the rains and the lingering warmth!!

#congumelosilvestre
#bolete
#naturesgifts
#allthattherainpromisesandmore

um balde de maçãs é tudo o que precisa / a buck

um balde de maçãs é tudo o que precisa / a bucket of apples is all you need.

#vidarural
#appleharvest
#abucket
#filledwithapples
#freguesiapovolide
#portugalrural

cenas de um domingo / scenes from a Sunday os mú

cenas de um domingo / scenes from a Sunday

os múltiplos pontos de relaxamento / the multiple spots of relaxation

e ainda assim muito trabalho foi feito! / and yet so much work was done!

#shangri-lameirão
#gettingitdoneonsunday
#relaxedfarmlife
#stillhotenoughtofryaneggonthepavement
#rurallife

It’s a day of drinking water and wearing a wide

It’s a day of drinking water and wearing a wide brim hat.

#farmlife
#quintavida
#hotdognothotdog
#lizardrescue
#freguesiapovolide
#portugalrural

Muito calor! Very hot! Get used to it!!! Always

Muito calor! Very hot! Get used to it!!!

Always possible to take a mud bath…with or without the boars (that’s their puddle pool in the foreground).

#quintadolameirao
#longhotsummer
#muitocalor
#quintalifeportugal

The kiwi. Well, it’s actually 7 kiwis lined up

The kiwi.

Well, it’s actually 7 kiwis lined up on one trellis. Multiplicity.

We made a massive pruning a year ago, and it responded very well. Maybe too well! I tried counting and stopped around 300 fruits.

So what shall we make with the coming years harvest? Got a good recipe? I just learned you can dehydrate kiwis…so that’s on the list!!!

#vidarural
#kiwifruit🥝
#growyourownfood
#quintaportuguesa
#kiwimadness

The grass got a little out-of-hand. And the vines

The grass got a little out-of-hand. And the vines, too.

So there was an action.

But we still need a better solution for getting the work done!!

#highgrass
#nosprayagriculture
#grassseedhell

Some words on the incompatibility of granite and c

Some words on the incompatibility of granite and concrete, for those interested in proper building techniques.

The above photos are a quick illustration on how concrete (cement (cimento)) is too hard for proper use with granite stone(work). This was just a table-bench leg “mounted” to loose granite pieces via a concrete “joint”, then placed in the ground. As hopefully you can see, in trying to separate the main granite block from the sunken foot, the concrete part broke off a substantial layer of the stone block surface.

Now, imagine this is your granite stone house.

If the joints and or layering of the stone is made with concrete, as the house ages and shifts —as do all houses!—the hardness of the concrete will break the stone, causing not only structural damage in the long term, but in the short term allow for moisture and openings into the walls, which can lead to all sorts of problems (that I won’t get into in detail, unless someone asks).

This is why the traditional and BEST practice for pinning or rendering granite stone houses is lime (‘cal’ in Portuguese). That modern construction is done in old stone houses using concrete is destructive and should be avoided at all costs…no matter if it’s cheaper, or your contractor says there’s no consequence. When your walls disintegrate and you have mold and water in your house, that’s then the consequence!!!

Traditional methods lasted for decades if not centuries because they were time/energy refined knowledge, and using cheap alternatives mass-produced for profit—not yours!—results in cheap results.

Take good care of your home, and it will take good care of you.

#traditionalconstruction
#concreteisbad
#granitestonehouse
#oldportuguesehouse
#limeconcrete

Some days of getting it done on the Lameirão. #r

Some days of getting it done on the Lameirão.

#ruralportugal
#quintavida
#lettingthelightin

Working with the vines. Learning what needs to be

Working with the vines. Learning what needs to be done to bring them back to life, to bring them along through the year. Learning what the vines have to tell the hands what to do. Patient observation and considerate action is key.

The dog also observes, and appreciates.

#freguesiapovolide
#portugalrural
#naturalvineyard
#vidarural
#growinggrapes
#dog

Sometimes, life on the quinta is about dealing wit

Sometimes, life on the quinta is about dealing with the mess, dealing with the past, and even the mess of the past!!

It’s good to clean up.

It is good, now and then, to think about the crap we leave behind…and how others will one day have to deal with it.

Finding “little treasures” in the trash.

#farmlife
#quintavida
#littletreasures
#springcleaning
#thetransformationofwaste

Interiors/Portraits. There has been work done her

Interiors/Portraits.

There has been work done here. Out with the old and in with the new. Well…we kept all the good old.

And only bring with us the good new.

#interiorsportugal
#cleanthatshitup
#quintavida
#overalls4lyfe

The faster you go…the sooner it gets done!! Now

The faster you go…the sooner it gets done!!

Now…just 6 more rows to go….

#farmerworkout
#mypersonalvineyard

Over the last few weeks, spring has attempted an e

Over the last few weeks, spring has attempted an early-but-not-solid claim on the climate here in the high Dão watershed, to the frustration of the flora, budding early but then getting whacked by rains, some hail, and some frost at times.

And also the frustration of the farmers, at least us QdL crew, who had hoped for a longer window of opportunity for pruning and preparing for the Big Bloom.

Well…at least the dog is having a great time! Sometimes us, as well…when just before the sun dips over the western ridge, we can catch it, along with a few sips of sweet nectar….

Come join us sometime!!

#portugalrural
#vidadaquinta
#naturalwine
#pruning
#freguesiapovolide
#crazydog

Fazendo certo. / Getting it right. #fazendocerto

Fazendo certo. / Getting it right.

#fazendocerto
#gettingitright
#portuguesequinta
#pruningseason
#podar

Os dias das videiras / days of the vines! Ê um p

Os dias das videiras / days of the vines!

Ê um processo / it is a process.

Com vida selvagem! / with wildlife!!

#farmlife
#vidarural
#portuguesequinta
#diasdasvideiras
#turningportuguese

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