The weekly market of Azpeitia has welcomed the first presentation of LandarLantzen 2019. Onintza Irureta, member of ARGIA, explained that it is the second year that ARGIA publishes the book of agendas for the orchard, and that the intention is to keep this publication every year. This year it focuses on the working tools of the garden. After thanking Jakoba Errekondo, the author of the book of Agenda, for the facilities he has been given to make presentations to the Azpeitia Food Centre.

Jakoba Errekondo: "Plants work for moons."

Errekondo showed the suitability of the fair of Azpeitia to present this publication: "Here we have in front of us the fruit of the work of the garden, of the forest, of the garden and of the fruit trees: the vegetables, the loaves... are the result of the work of the baserritars, the fruit of our cultural landscape, of our desire to live with quality". He explained that the book of Agenda has two uses; on the one hand, to read the works to be done at the time and, on the other, to write precisely what the user has done: "Each passing month, we explain what the main work is to be done. Because plants work for months, for lunar periods. On the other hand, the agenda offers the possibility of writing the work done in the garden week after week, and this is very important, as we will be able to draw conclusions in the light of the results of our work".

Why this year’s brochure has been dedicated to the instruments: "Many tools have been used in agriculture for years, but today many machines are being used and the names and techniques of tools are being lost. This publication is a way to know how many instruments have been used, how many names they have had, how the work is done with these tools and with what materials are made". Antton Olariaga has illustrated the whole agenda, and after Errekondo told her that it is only for these "luxury" drawings that is worth buying, she gave it to Olariaga.

Antton Olariaga: "In the paper garden, my atxurra is a ballpoint pen."

Olariaga explained the process of elaborating this book of agendas: -I don't know about the orchards. Jakoba informs me and I try it in the paper garden: my atxurra is the ballpoint pen, I hold it in colors... and I pass the result on the screen: 'Jakoba, is this so?' The process has been a great pleasure, and then seeing the product, tasting the fruit."

Finally, Errekondo highlighted the value of collecting and transmitting local knowledge: "We've added the dictionary at the end of Landare Lantzen. In fact, how many words we have to say the same thing, for example, 'Inausi.' We should all collect and transmit the knowledge that we have around us, by counties, by peoples. That's what the Errezil Fair Association has been doing a lot in the last 30 years." Stressing that they deserve a tribute, he acknowledged the vision of the Errezil Market Society: "Today agriculture is fashionable, but 30 years ago, who thought so? Together, these women from Errezil created a very interesting project to create jobs, get their jobs out into the street..."

Although in these 30 years more members of the association Feria de Errezil have passed, today there are five women who compose it: Begoña Galarraga Toledo, María Jesús Galarraga Galarraga, Jone Irulegi Amenabar, María Luisa Aranburu and Belén Esnaola Biain. The first three were next to Errekondo and presented their trajectory.

Begoña Galarraga Toledo: "Women have felt very strong in the group"

Thus explained Galarraga his birth and evolution: "We started this project 30 years ago, on the one hand because we couldn't sell the Errezil apple to give the way out, and on the other, because a lot of people came by apples and there was nowhere to buy. The City Hall made the call and we only got the women, the men didn't want to start with us. Now something has changed, but the woman who used to be in the markets was much more than her. So we started selling our apples and each of us in our homes to produce sweet apples, tomatoes, breads ... The City Hall left us the place to sell it and people left us, and that gave us a lot of encouragement." Galarraga highlighted the collaboration between women: "We felt very strong in the team and gave us great support," he added. Now they're going to sell Friday afternoon to Azpeitia: "We felt very comfortable, because we have made a beautiful place and it is a very nice place. The warehouse feeds on everything we have a week. Jone Irulegi Amenabar explained which products they produce and where they sell: "We make jams with Errezil apple, apple sweets; we make jams with fruits different from the village; we also sell beans, nuts. We attended different fairs: We also bring our products to the shops of Tolosa, Ordizia, Beasain, etc. The Errezil store is open every day, also on Sundays in the morning." He ended with this call. "On the first Sunday of December we celebrated the Errezil Sagar Eguna, and this is where we present the apple of our people and the issues we have made with it. Let people come to Errezil, as they did before, for apples."

You can get the signed book

LandarLantzen 2019 agendas book for 12 euros is now on sale at the ARGIA Fair. If in the notes to whom you want to offer, you will receive the signature of Jakoba Errekondo.