Day 14 - Orgiva Community

With everyone back from Etnosur having had a great time, we spend a last morning at Orgiva getting ready and chatting with Ras, Pixie, Vicky and Eddie.

Ana enjoying a last dip in the Pixieland "alberca"

Orgiva is an area which has attracted many “alternative” types. Some live on private land in huge communities of over 200 people, where there are no rules, which has resulted in nothing really advancing, to the point that with all those people they have not yet got their toilets and other basics sorted out - when enthusiastic people arrive here, they soon lose the oomph as they get affected by the general laissez-faire virus...

Others have created more structured organizations such as the Valle de Sensaciones (in this case German-run), which we have been very kindly invited to but we unfortunately cannot visit although it sounds good, as they are away preparing and participating in Etnosur.

And yet others like Ras and Pixie have taken on the stewardship of their own piece of land, trying to integrate with the locals, and also trying to strengthen the network of good people who are dotted around, and who make up in Orgiva a community in the sense in which Danny and I agree on: a network of like-minded while multi-faceted people, who share views about the health of the planet and our effect on it, but who each have their space to “play with” to suit their personal views and tastes, while sharing resources, ideas and labour when required. For example, there is an abundance of organic farms organised in an association who have together bought a shredder for all to use (and turn garden clippings into mulch). Also, they have teamed up to get their olives turned into beautiful oil.

Pixie kindly shows us around the neighbouring Steiner school, for whom she does the accounting. No mean feat, as this school is riddled with debt and crippled by various practical aspects, like the lack of running water and little official support, plus other more inmaterial ones, such as the difficulty to reach agreements amongst the parents, who are from many different countries, “alternative”, and therefore each with their own personal views. Knowing that a school is the staple of a community, and with the support of the Spanish Steiner association, Pixie is working hard to try to revive this school which held 60 kids in its hey-day within its amazing facilities: seven yurts and a composting toilet, within two large fields and with the mountains as backdrop! What a dream location!

Hearing about the problems involved in getting strong-minded people to agree, be practical and commit; and then in getting Steiner-trained teachers in the area; and in sourcing the labour and funds necessary to maintain the facilities, we cannot help but encourage Pixie whole-heartedly and thank her for her vital work. If anyone reading can help in any way, whether with funds or teachers, please do consider supporting Pixie! Let us know, we will put you in touch with her.

We leave Orgiva laden with delicious oil from Pixie and Ras's ancient trees and dried fruit that is better than any confectionery, feeling inspired and with the strong feeling that we will be coming back this way...

After all, we heard through the grapevine that this whole area may soon be declared Pueblo Ecológico by the Spanish government! It certainly has many of the right ingredients...

And on to Granada city! It's hard to leave this beautiful bubble we have been in, but we are excited about discovering Granada and its secrets...

Wary of driving around and parking up in a big city, we head for the municipal campsite and park up there. Suddenly our little mobile home which sat so comfortably in Orgiva seems a little displaced...

We get our party hats out and hit the town and its wonderful tapas bars, enjoying night-time views of the Alhambra from the old Muslim quarter of Albaycín. This is one place we have to try to get to tomorrow!