Welcome to El Molino Verde - The Green Mill
El Molino Verde or "The Green Mill" in English is a website about frugal living and self sufficiency in Andalucia Southern Spain. It naturally includes 'green' issues by it's very nature and of course the whole idea is sustainability not just for now in our lifetimes but for the generations yet to come after we are dead and gone.
I, Andy the editor, had a deep yearning desire for about ten years for something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Something in my life was either missing or out of kilter with my natural instincts or subconscious needs. I found myself constantly frustrated and dissatisfied with my life and surroundings because something was niggling at my brain.
Despite being reasonably successful and happy in my chosen line of work, Loving being able to live in Andalucia, Southern Spain, it's culture, people, scenery, climate, music and food, despite being surrounded by great family and friends, something essential was missing from my soul that left me fidgety and restless.
I found myself seeking out the "hippy" types for want of a better phrase and people living alternative lifestyles. I eventually realised that I was becoming "part of the machine" so to speak. I had lost touch with nature to some extent and was not taking the time to enjoy or appreciate the world around me. I was sinking into depression and consumerism always wanting the latest gadget or something else that, once I had it, was soon discarded and abandoned in a draw. Oh yes, and I was feeling increasingly old and lazy.
So I made a decision to change my life. As I am married and have been for over 26 years this decision obviously involved "Head Quarters" to a great extent and so to achieve my desire needed her involvement as well. I was expecting very strong objection and resistence but to my surprise, the boss was agreeable and quite enthusiastic about the whole thing!
The only thing left to decide was when. Eventually new years eve was the agreed upon point at which we would begin to make the decisive and positive changes. I like a drink and have been dissapointed before when a new years resolution to quit didn't pan-out. I like a smoke and have also been dissapointed before when a new years resolution to quit didn't pan-out. As for losing weight... Forget it! So my new year resolution was to change my lifestyle and I have to say that so far I have kept to it and I am happier even if I am constantly preoccupied with how to pay this bill or that.
We are not experts! No no, we are just beginning to learn and so at the moment all we are doing is passing along information we have garnered and learnt from other people and websites such as Richard Cannon's superb website, Down the lane which was my inspiration.
Much of the information here reflects the information found on other frugal living and self sufficiency websites because the basics of nature don't change too much. However, where applicable, the seasons, timings and ingredients for things have been changed to suit the needs and peculiarities of growing vegetables, keeping chickens, keeping goats or whatever in the somewhat different climate of Andalucia Spain.
We are also compiling a table of translations for pertinent words and where it is neccesary for you to know what an English word is in Spanish you will find a roll-over explanation like this: Chicken, Cockerel, Goat, Garden, Vegetable.
We think a good starting point is "About Frugal Living" to help you understand what this website is all about but of course, if you are only interested in the Chicken keeping, Goat keeping or Vegetable Growing or other sections that is just fine.
Please note that we are still building this website and please come back regularly.
