Tierra Verde (Spain)
Joint project by Tierra Verde International, headed by Fiona Johnson, and Ecoshelter International to showcase a green living center in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Southern Spain.
TIERRA VERDE is a joint project between Tierra Verde International (headed by Fiona Johnson) and Ecoshelter International. The aim of this project is to showcase a green living and sustainability center high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. (After all, if a green center can work in this challenging environment, it can work anywhere.)
The centre will be located at Fuente de los Gonzales, a beautiful farm situated in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, Las Alpujarras, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It has unrivalled panoramic views to the highest mountains in mainland Spain (Mulhacen and Veleta) and the three picturesque mountain villages of Capileira, Bubion, and Pampaneira.
On a clear day, it is possible to see across the Mediterranean to the Black mountains, Morocco. Situated 6000 ft. above sea level, the farm lies above the global pollution height and the only sound for miles is that of goat bells, as the neighbouring shepherds take their herds across the mountains. The call of royal eagles drifting on thermals high above may also break the silence.
Tierra Verde will incorporate Ecoshelter's sustainable building techniques and Fionna's knowledge of permaculture in extreme conditions such as those faced in this part of Spain.
Desertification is causing all sorts of difficulties to farm communities and flora and fauna are clearly suffering from climate change.
Fuente de los Gonzales is set 2/3 of the way up the mountain known as Atalaya, one of the four mountains that make up the stunning and much sought after Poqueira valley. The valley is approx 2½ hours drive from Malaga to the west, and 1 hours drive away from Granada, famous for its stunning Moorish architecture and the Moroccan palace of La Alhambra to the north.
Both cities have an airport, shopping complexes and hospitals etc. as well as a renowned ski resort named Sol y Nieve roosting on the farther side of the mountain Veleta above Granada.
The property is ¾ of an hour's drive from the beach. The nearest town is Orgiva, which is about half an hour's drive away, and has all the essential shops and services (supermarkets, dental practice, internet café, restaurants, bars, post office, doctors’ surgery, schools etc).
Tierra Verde will promote, showcase, educate and research a variety of relevant issues, including:
- The Four Principles of Sustainability
- Composting
- Ways to save water - compost toilets, half flush loos, grey water, etc
- Water collection - rain water, dew collection, ground water harvesting
- Growing in drought conditions - using the right plants, methods, etc
- Growing in wet conditions
- Alternative energies - solar, water, wind, etc
- Forest farming
- The importance of trees
- The importance of animals - from tiny micro-organisms to goats
- Desertification
- Global warming / cooling
- Eco buildings - straw, rammed earth, etc
- Waste - recycling, how much there is, how it can be re-used
- Sustainble & community living
- What is sustainability?
- Subsistence living - how different cultures live
- Sustainable farming methods
- Alternative heating methods- natural insulation, solar water heating, solid fuels
- Organic farming and cooking
- Other issues
The project will provide:
- Environmental awareness for local and global communities
- Financial benefits for local community, new jobs, outlets for traditional products and skills ie local shepherds plagued by problems of decreasing market in their produce due to flooding of the market by former Eastern Block countries. Outlet for Plantas Medicinale products etc.
- Field trips for children and adults, both local and international
- Protection of the Alpujarras, including increased conservation of water, reforestation of the area and promotion of sustainable ideas with far reaching and long term benefits for the local environment and Spain as a whole
- Redressing the balance of the effects of the industrial age and poor farming and management techniques
- Promoting state of the art eco-sustainable technology
- Training and inspiring people to take up the challenge of creating a healthy and sustainable world
- Help to support local natural flora and fauna. Working within the confines of the limitations of a fragile and extremely valuable and important eco system
- Help to avoid any visual and physical impact on the local and global environment and counteract any negative eco footprint that may result from the setting up and running of this centre
- Promotion of regional eco tourism, working with the hotel industry showing support to help negate the carbon footprint created by the industry. The short haul tourist industry is currently under threat from EU legislation. This would have devastating repercussions to the local economy. Every effort should be made to allow continued inward investment into the area.
- A positive and inspiring vision of the future of humanity
For more information about Tierra Verde, contact Fiona Johnson at:
