Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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Community
Social & Environmental Responsibilities: there is a strong ‘eco’ message in our website and also the comprehensive Information Book placed in each house booklet, which explains both how the individual rental properties and entire estate works together - including water & energy conservation, recycling, our sustainable ecological practices etc. We promote smaller local businesses that actively support the welfare and protection of the environment, such as whale & dolphin trips, birdwatching & wildlife tours (one who is also listed on Responsible Travel), cycle and horseriding hire, as well as providers of organic & ecological products, local crafts etc.
- Self Catering: We give details of local shops and markets, particularly the individual ones and those stocking regional and organic produce or handicrafts in our Information Books. All guests receive a bottle of organic red wine sourced from a local merchant, who is happy to give tastings and suggestions too. We also offer the services of a wonderful local chef who also runs Cookery Courses and introductory ‘market mornings’ (our suggestion), who we have worked with to provide several menus & a shopping service all delivered to your door – using as much local, fresh, seasonal and organic ingredients as well as regional recipes as possible.
- Restaurants & Markets: We strongly encourage guests to always ask questions about food provenance and not to buy endangered fish (such as the local bluefin tuna) in restaurants and local markets. Vegetarian options are listed too
- Notice Boards have been placed in communal areas, listing interesting local services and events throughout the year – particularly those with an emphasis on the environment, traditional culture etc to support our local community.
- Animal Welfare – We actively work to neuter & vaccinate local farm cats, as well as re-homing disabled cats and dogs that would otherwise be destroyed, which some guests like to contribute to. We also give details of two wonderful local charities that we support in our Information Books - who not only rescue abused and abandoned animals, but also work hard to raise public awareness and promote animal welfare in general throughout the area.
- Future projects: We have offered the use of a larger Casita during our quieter months to two well-known charities that grant ‘wishes’ to sick children, so that they can enjoy a holiday with their family. As well as our ongoing ‘wet woodland’ project around the new lake (see below), we are also looking to install a wooden Roundhouse/lodge to offer activity and educational courses in the future - such as wildlife lectures, painting & yoga for all ages etc. In the meantime, we are now working with both a local yoga company and a painting group from Scotland to gain valuable feedback on future requirements, with two other yoga companies actively interested for future workshops and retreats.
Environment
We are passionate about the environment and the impact of our lives and business upon it, so this is clearly reflected throughout the ecological finca and every aspect in running our self-catering rental business.
Conserving and improving local wildlife: A great deal of work (and most of our profits!) has been invested to protect and improve the local biodiversity and conservation of our finca using many regional and drought-tolerant plants - half of the estate is completely turned over to a new wet woodland project with a new lake dug and now naturally filled, sustaining local wildlife in the hotter months. We sit inside a protected National Park with Marismas (with seasonal water meadows), so there is already a wealth of local wildlife – including one of the most critically endangered birds in the world, the Northern Bald Ibis, which our guests regularly see over the estate and we promote local birdwatching & wildlife tours with responsible and qualified guides. The entire estate is completely organic and ecological, with a very proactive permaculture scheme in place for the orchards and herb gardens – supported by a large Bees & Butterflies ornamental herb garden in the centre. Plants are also used to create natural shade and wind-breaks around houses too.
General:
- Property Renovations: All our self-catering rental houses were either restored or re-built on existing footprints and everything from original buildings recycled on the finca. We incorporate insulation as well as natural materials and products, using locally sourced or produced items, wherever possible and all wood is certified.
- Property Management: To preserve our resources and prevent overcrowding, we are firm about the maximum number of guests in each property and overall on the estate. Bedlinen & towels are usually cleaned weekly, while general household items provided such as washing-up liquid, handsoap, toilet paper and dishwasher tablets are bought in bulk (as ecologically rated as possible) and decanted into refillable bottles as required. For personal laundry, the Casitas share a utility room and guests are offered eco washballs, magnoballs, drying racks & pegs.
- Recycling: everything possible is re-used or recycled, either on the estate such as ash, compost & newspapers or via third-party providers. Guests are given ‘glass’, ‘paper’, ‘compost’ and ‘ash’ bins to easily separate and recycle their waste – with a new ‘plastic’ bin to be added shortly, once the plastic recycling bank is delivered to the village.
- Guest Information: Individual painted signs for careful energy & water consumption were commissioned from a local artist and copies are framed on the walls in all the key areas. The Information Book in every property also gives clear messages of energy & water conservation, including everyday tips and suggestions for everyday life!
- Energy consumption - All bulbs possible are low-energy or solar and appliances ‘A’ rated, with electricity from local wind turbines. The Cortijo has solar hot water panels and underfloor heating in bedrooms/main living areas with thermostats and we use eco-heat panels and woodburning stoves (with carefully sourced seasoned wood) in all the houses. No electric fan heaters or aircon units are provided, but we do offer fans in the Summer - with seasonal practical eco-tips on how to also help keep the houses cooler/warmer naturally throughout the year.
- Water consumption is very carefully managed in many ways, using just our own natural resources throughout the properties, swimming pools and grounds. Winter rains feed our wells, which is naturally filtered and regularly tested for health and safety - so no chemicals are added.
- Properties: magnoballs in dishwashers, washing machines and toilets greatly reduce natural limescale (and need for cleaning/washing products); dishwashers in all the houses reduce both water & soap useage/wasteage, with dual flush on all new toilets and items to reduce water useage in each cistern, with low-flow taps (and controlled pressure) elsewhere. We use a local commercial laundry to reduce water useage and power on our estate, while all linen & towels are 100% cotton and blankets & duvets are made of either natural materials or recycled fleece products.
- Grey Water & Septic: All grey water from three new multi-chambered composting septic tanks is recycled into the grounds, using a new irrigation watering system at cooler times of day to further reduce water consumption.
- Swimming Pools: cleaned by silver & copper ionisers rather than chlorine, while excess water from the pools and their showers is used on non-edible planting and orchards.
Green Business
We are a completely on-line business with an almost a paperless environment - from everyday management to filing Tax Returns! All communication is by e-mail or telephone – using 100% recycled stationary products, such business cards for suppliers and our Information Books. All our electricity is from local wind turbines and server provider is carbon neutral. When working with suppliers, we actively source reclaimed or environmentally sustainable products – (hand)made or bought as locally as possible and also minimise/combine all transport. To maintain high standards for both our employees and our guests, we also ensure all our local staff are properly trained, qualified and paid an above average wage - either by ourselves, or companies we work directly with.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
