Since we arrived here in November, we have been looking for a way to give back to the community that has welcomed us so kindly. We have always volunteered, so when we heard about a network of environmental volunteers who help replant and clean up Ronda and its surroundings, we signed up immediately.
Today was our first day with la Red de Volunterios medioambientales de la Serranía de Ronda. We were to repopulate a natural park, which were destroyed when they constructed in a 2 million liter water receptacle for helicopters to use in case of forest fire. A pickup truck showed up with flats of rosemary, thyme, lavender, hawthorn, wild rose and other species native to this area. A dozen volunteers with pick axes in hand planted them with care and the usual Spanish jokes and bantering. Amongst them were a turkey famer, two bird watching enthusiasts, moms with offspring, a pipe smoker, Lola our fearless leader and a couple of people from the city.
The sun was shining and the air was fresh. There was hardly a noise other than the occasional call from one of the kids, when they found tadpoles in a pond, a praying mantis on a tree or another worm for their collection: Mira, una lombriz (Look a worm!)
I could not imagine a better way of spending a Sunday, than digging and planting aromatic plants for the betterment of our community.