Permaculturing in Portugal

One family's attempts to live in a more planet-friendly way

Ripeness

Can’t help but wax lyrical about this, but we’re really enjoying the experience of eating juicy warm sun-ripened fruit fresh off our own trees and bushes. There’s a vast difference between the vibrancy in a fresh ripe plum or peach that’s reached the peak of perfection while still being very much alive and attached to the tree, and the teetering-on-the-brink-of-decay ripeness (if you’re lucky enough to get it to ripen before it goes mouldy) of fruit purchased in your average supermarket.

Plums growing on the quinta

Plums

Peaches

Peaches

We did get to enjoy some of our peaches last year, but this year there’s been both more rain and more work on irrigation on our part. As a result, the trees have been much less water-stressed and the fruit is much better.

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6 Comments

  1. Beth July 9, 2010

    Hi Wendy,
    I remember so well the picking and eating straight from the tree, still warm from the sun….. my mouth is actually salivating since seeing the above pictures …. yum scrum … well done you ! xxxxxx

  2. Antonio July 12, 2010

    There is a saying in Portugal, a saying or rural knowledge, that you shouldn´t pick and eat plums during hot hours of the day, otherwise you might get some instestinal problems. I don´t know if it is true but on the safe side… :)

    Congratulations you have beautiful plums and peaches.

  3. Quinta do Vale July 12, 2010

    Thanks for that information Antonio! Interesting. Makes sense. Well none of us suffered in the least from eating sun-warmed fruit, but I’ll keep it in mind for visitors with more sensitive stomachs.

  4. Enzo July 16, 2010

    Hi Wendy, not related to this post
    but reading it I read the word “visitor”, so I wonder if you could tell me more, since I am interested in visiting reality like your family is experiencing: “One family’s attempts to live in a more planet-friendly way”

    Particularly: time window you accept visitor, which landing airport do you suggest, where can visitors stay and how long, etc.
    I really appreciated you time replaying to my post
    BTW, I am Italian leaving in UK [Chester] I am employed in IT sector
    Many thanks and kind regards
    Enzo

  5. Quinta do Vale July 16, 2010

    Hi Enzo. See this page.

  6. mike July 21, 2010

    i cant even find edible fruit in a commercial market anymore.

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