Bonilla, Antonio (Alpujarra, Andalusia,Spain), part 1

Authors

• 1140 3. 014.1

Document Type

Audio

Publication Date

5-3-1998

Comments

Conversation outdoors: Describing the landscape and explaining to the interviewers which areas used to be agricultural lands. Tells how they irrigate the potato fields, the acequias, showing los castaños, los nogales, los chiopos [trees]. Telling the interviewers this lands used to be agricultural but at the time of the interview they were not used for farming because the place has become more touristy and people prefer to build and live on tourism. The architecture of the town is very traditional preserving the original design. Ways of water distribution for irrigation, mergas de agua. In the past there used to be fruit trees but they have dried due to lack of irrigation. He continued showing and describing the land and the mergas de agua. He says it has not snowed in the town for many years. There was an extended drought, but after that they had an aggressive rain season that flooded and eroded some areas in town. Talking about the climate change. Ways farmers used to grow produce in the past only using the natural fertilizers like manure and the contrast with the modern ways of farming full of pesticides and chemicals that damage the environment and the quality of the produce. Stories of how the people used to live in the town. The devotion to San Isidro and la Virgen de la Cabeza. Explanation of how the pine trees came to the area, the interaction with ecologists and new regulations to handle the land. The lands in the town have become protected areas by the government, regulations to preserve the architecture, los ayuntamientos and their administration of the land and estate rights. Water management by the community of water custodians and the ayuntamiento.

Recommended Citation

Anselmo Arellano collection (MSS 1140), Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University Libraries, University of New Mexico