A Year in Portugal - Part 2

Day 99
Feather Day 51 Flowers before Vinyards
Tomato planting Two roads
Flying Pigs to the RightChick
Olive Branch Nested Orange
Little Red Hen Little Red Crazy Hen
Chickens
blue transport
50 KPH tractor ridin
Down the road...

Life in Portugal has been interesting. I lived in the Lisboa (Lisbon) area, the largest city and capital of the country, but recently (as in the end of March recent) moved to a part of Portugal known as the interior. The Ribatejo (literally; above the Tagus {Tejo in Portuguese} river) to be exact. It's farther from the big blue ocean and hot sandy beaches. The towns are smaller and more quaint. The people, more friendly. The country here is just as beautiful as the other, but in a different way.

Here is where the farmers reside. The ones who make many of your Portuguese vinhos (wines) and azeite (olive oil). The ones who grow their own food from the land and choose to give the extras to their neighbors, not because they expect something in return, but because it's the thing to do. 

With a small horde of young galinhas (hens), my family and I are slowly getting this new home,  a quinta da familia do marido (husband's family farm), up and running. This will take time, work, and money. It'll take research and learning and a willingness to keep trying when something fails.

The goal is to produce enough for not just ourselves but to pay it forward to the people who have shown us such kindness. 

And, if you're interested, to share how it all goes.

If you enjoyed this post, please check out A Year in Portugal - Part 1.

7 comments:

Bonnie English said...

I am lookig forward to more about your farm.

Nancy said...

Hi Rochelle,

Your photos are beautiful. Portugal is on my list of places to visit. Good luck to you and your family :)

Unknown said...

I'm looking forward to showing you more :D

Unknown said...

Thank you Nancy! It's a beautiful country, you must visit some time. I need to make sure to make it over to your part of Europe too :D

Anonymous said...

These photos remind me of the village where my grandma lives :p
I actually live near Oporto, (you should visit the north region of Portugal!), but most of my family lives in the "interior"... Your photos show exactly the simple lifestyle that people have in this part of Portugal.

"Beijinhos", Márcia

Unknown said...

Thank you Márcia! I do need to go farther north to see more of the country. I've only gone as far a Monsanto, but love how it gets more rustic and a feeling of history comes out the farther you go.

Anonymous said...

That's right, it gets much more rustic the farther you go :)
I hope you enjoy your stay here in our little country ;)

 

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