La Matanza / The Slaughter
Friday 16 December to Sunday 18 December in Aroche, Huelva Province of Andalusia.The slaughter is a special event that has its roots in tradition, gathering friends and family around the Iberian pig. It is a ritual that goes beyond its gastronomic purposes, since it is a social act that is part of the idiosyncrasy of the Huelva province.The pigs are usually slaughtered from the month of December, although in some farms it can go until the end of February. The slaughter of the acorn-fed pig depends on the availability of acorns on each farm.The work of the actual butcher in the slaughter is essential. Not only does that person carry out the killing of the animal itself but also has to work skillfully. There are some sought after cuts like “secreto” and “pluma” that needs to be carefully cut to preserve it’s special taste. The slaughter is a moment of family meeting and to share time with friends in a special way. Always present at any gathering of friends and all self-respecting slaughter parties is a good slaughter stew with part of the meat obtained from the animal. A stew that, due to Portuguese influence consists of offal with potatoes.
Cave visit of La Gruta de las Maravillas in Aracena
23 December 2022
GEOGRAPHIC SITUATION
La Gruta de las Maravillas is located in the urban center of Aracena, a town in the north of the province of Huelva, in the Sierra de Aracena. GEOLOGICAL FEATURESThe Gruta de las Maravillas is a cavity created by the action of the waters on the Cambrian limestone and marble (more than 500 million years old). It presents numerous speleothems, some very unique, such as aragonites and blue eccentrics and floating calcite cones. The circulation of water is part of the water table of the aquifer in the area and other lakes.The first references to its existence date back to 1850 and it was opened to the public in 1914 as the first tourist cave in Spain. In 1926, after new discoveries, a larger tourist route was opened that included new halls.HISTORYLegend has it that its discoverer was a shepherd who was looking for a lost pig. The sight of the white formations suggested the name of Pozo de la Nieve, which the street where the entrance is located now bears. It was discovered by mining works in the mid-19th century and in 1911 the conditioning works were undertaken to open it to the public as the first Spanish tourist cave in 1914. Since then, it has been visited by numerous personalities and has inspired artistic compositions by poets, novelists, painters, and musicians.
Meeting / meal sharing in Aroche, Andalusia.
25 December 2022
It is winter time in the Northern hemisphere. Where I grew up in the Southern hemisphere it was the middle of summer. So, absolutely worlds apart in the activities we had but the essence stayed the same: A TIME TO SHARE!
Here on the LooseNatural farm we will have some friends over to share in the lovely winter pumpkins we still have from summer. Actually a winter pumpkin doesn’t grow in winter, it is just a summer pumpkin with a hard skin so that it can last till the winter.
If there is somebody out there and obviously close enough to reach us, who will be alone and not share Christmas day with others then we invite you to come over for a plate of soup and freshly baked bread. We also have some thinly sliced ham that was made from the pigs of the neighbour. Being alone on Christmas day isn’t a pleasant experience, so, you are invited. do let us know in advance if you can.
Come and share your story about how you see life. No one will judge you on your story but everyone will be critical of how deeply you touch them or not. It is not about being dramatic or emotional, it is about being authentic enough so that you have a story to share about your wrestling with this simple concept called “life”!
Meeting / Party life on a farm in Aroche, Andalusia.
31 December 2022
One of the real perks of living on a farm is that you do not have neighbours to consider when having a loud music party. We still find it amazing that we do not have to turn down the music even when it is early in the morning. Allow me to also share that having only two toilets isn’t a problem either as there is so much space where men can let the water out.
The end of one calendar year, the beginning of another. The year 2022 was an amazing year for us, seeing that we arrived on the farm on the tenth of March. Many dreams came true and we still have to pinch ourselves and to remind ourselves that we made it out of the towns and cities and into nature.
Should you be in the area and you are up for some dancing, then do contact us. We are not people who abuse alcohol, neither any chemical substance to make us happy or alter our state of being. We are happy with whom we are, where we are and with what we do. To have people around to share all this is really the cherry on the cake.
Talking about cake. For me it is the highlight of the new year, to have a freshly baked apple or pear tart leaving the oven and straight to my mouth. To me it is far better than champagne. Obviously we make small tartlets that are easy to devour in a few bites. MMM, can you smell the cinnamon in the air.
We look forward to meet real people. Real in the sense that you have mastered the art of having inner conversation and that you can make sense of them. HAPPY NEW YAER!