31 May 2026
Summer has begun and Kara has settled in
A wet spring brings colour to the valley, the Hike week is behind us and the Olive week is coming. Plus: Kara is fully at home and we said goodbye to Bien.
After more rain than we are used to in other years, summer is on its way. In this post we look back on the Hike week, share how Kara settled in and how we said goodbye to Bien, and show you our new irrigation.
More water means more colour
By Spanish standards we had a wet spring. Lovely for nature and for our plants. The weeds enjoy it too, of course, and the chickens still stubbornly peck around them; we simply cannot train them to focus on the weeds.
Our lemon tree has now been bearing fruit almost non-stop for nearly a year.
The fig is coming along
The fig tree is getting ready for a good harvest. The first young leaves and little fruits are already there, ready for a warm summer.
Looking back on the Hike week
In early April, Schelto and Bjorn once again took to the mountains with four hikers. Three beautiful mountain walks that ask quite a lot of the participants. Ten kilometres may not sound like much, but the paths on our mountains are uneven and strewn with rocks. And of course you want to reach the ridge or the summit, at 1,000 metres above sea level, so there is some climbing involved.
It was a fantastic week with glorious weather and wonderful, gastronomic pampering. Relaxation through exertion!
What the participants said
Charlotte
A more beautiful setting than expected for wonderfully varied and sometimes demanding mountain walks. I thoroughly enjoyed the Finca as a base, the great care and the company. Many thanks!
Lienke
Challenging walks, delicious food, friendly chickens and, above all, a lovely little house and good company. In short: a wonderful week, well worth repeating!
Olive week, 26 to 30 October 2026
Registration for the Olive week is open and nine places have already been taken, so do not wait too long. Three days of picking olives together in a beautiful mountain grove, going to the press together and filling the bottles with pure, fresh olive oil. Including four nights, delicious meals and a wine tasting.
See the Olive week →Picking and pressing together
Kara is truly part of the family now
Pinot had to get used to the arrival of such a young livewire, of course; you could see it tired him out. But after a few months their bond grew. They played more often and Pinot even gave Kara hunting lessons.
Kara crept through the garden while Pinot watched from a distance. Suddenly a little mouse darted across the path. Pinot merely looked up; Kara shot after it. Very amusing, especially because the mouse turned out to be faster than Kara, exactly as Pinot had long predicted. These days they lie together, on and over each other, as if it had never been any different.
Saying goodbye to Bien
Our fifteen-year-old cat Bien has passed away. She had a good life, and so did we with her. She was an exceptional cat, of whom we, and many of our guests, will keep fond memories. Rest gently, dear Bientje.
Our new irrigation
After eight months of waiting for approval from the Valencia water authority, we can finally redesign our water system. A modern septic tank with oxygen supply and a four-cubic-metre water reservoir are now being installed underground, so that we no longer need mains water to maintain the garden.
Water is scarce and will only become more expensive in the coming years. We already collect rainwater, but soon we will be able to keep 7,000 litres in reserve. Good for the environment, and in time for the wallet too.
Experience our valley for yourself
Book your holiday or package at Finca Lliber and experience the valley in every season. Sunny greetings from Lliber, Sacha and Schelto.
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