CASA AMELIA AT LA FINCA
DE CASTILLO DE LOS MOROS

Casa Amelia is evolving! We are creating an eco-friendly farm on 34,000m² of land about 2km from the village of Murchas in the Lecrín valley.



We finally obtained planning permission for a Casa Rural on the site in November 2007 - only 5 years aftern starting the process!

Download the full plans in pdf format here: Casa Rural Full Plans (5Mb file)



We will follow the key principles of permaculture:

 - sustainable land use strategies, without wastes and pollution
 - establishing systems for healthy food production, and maybe some surplus
 - restoration of degraded landscapes
 - conservation of endemic species
 - integration and harmony of all living things on the land
 - minimal consumption of energy

Permaculture is not just about designing gardens. It is about designing human settlements. It is a plan that endeavours to maximise and enhance human interaction with the environment that surrounds them.

As the trees and crops mature it will provide the freshest possible ingredients to use in our cooking and, in time, we hope to add a house to provide a peaceful retreat.



The land is on a hill side that rises from about 600m above sea level to over 650m. The diagram above shows the land (green) with an indication of the terrain, the campo road from Murchas (yellow) and the approximate route of the irrigation water pipe (blue) from the main supply over 1km away.

The diagram below shows the layout of the area of land that can be cultivated. There are thirty-six terraces in total:

 - 5 on the left (L0-L4)
 - 15 in the centre (-C5 through to C9)
 - 13 on the right (R0 to R12) - the diagram just shows 12 by mistake.
 - 3 flat areas near the entrance (E0 to E2)






We began to prepare the land early in 2005 when twenty-three of the terraces were cleared and an irrigation pipe was brought across from the main supply over 1km away.

We now have much of the basic infrastructure in place on the land (access tracks, irrigation water and outbuildings), have planted over 200 trees, are growing organic vegetables and have 20 Chickens to produce free range eggs.

We will continue to plant more trees, shrubs and crops as we clear new areas. We are also considering other animals such as Goats for milk and Turkeys for Christmas!

The next major activity is obtaining permission and then building a Casa Rural on the site.

Select these links to find out more about the project.
Outline layout   Log of progress on the Land   Our project plans
Planting and landscaping   Building activities
Before, during and after images   The team

Casa Amelia at La Finca de Castillo de Los Moros is in the Lecrín Valley south of Granada, Spain.
Email enquiries: info@casaamelia.com