“The aim of the initiative has been to create the meeting point for the small seminars in the North”
- The Tree Festival was held for the first time in Biriatu on 26 November. Audrey Hoc and Aimar Rordriguez have promoted the day in collaboration with the town hall. Although this year the format is simple, they intend to continue organizing the day of the festival every year and give more strength to the day. “All the small Iparralde seminars have attended the first edition. The big ones don't, because they have another way of doing things. The intention has been to make a link between us, unite people and give the opportunity to buy trees from local producers not to buy the big multinationals,” the drivers said.
Rodríguez began his horticultural activity in the occupied countries of Navarra in 2011 and Hoc cultivated the land in Etxalar. “There we started working together for both in winter 2017-2018. On a 2,000 square meter plot we have an edible forest based on permaculture,” explains Rodríguez. About 800 varieties are grown in the edible forest. It says that the main principle is to imitate nature through different strata: large, medium, two-meter shrubs, climbing plants, small shrubs, small plants… “The format of the edible forest is the one that works by itself, each plant has different functions but are edible.”
In addition, Etxalar has a seminar on the reproduction and sale of trees and fruit trees. In addition, Hoc provides courses to learn how to carry out vaccinations, to which she dedicated herself to seeking support to develop a larger project in the surrounding municipalities: “About two years ago I started sending reports to many Houses of the People, explaining that I was looking for land to make a forest orchard and install a nursery, with the intention of starting a project to develop the autonomy of the people.” He had a quick connection to Biriatura: “When I explained the project I had in mind to the candidate, he said: “You have read our program!”
Working towards self-sufficiency in Biriatu
Rodriguez and Hoc have recently moved to Biriatura to initiate a comprehensive project of self-sufficiency in the municipality. For the time being, vaccination workshops have been held and the Festival of the Tree has been organized. “For the future, we have a thousand ideas in mind for the people to develop their autonomy, for the population to learn the techniques for this. We will see what can be done,” says Hoc.
About a year ago, all the small nurseries in the North got together and realized they didn't have a special day to sell their trees. So they decided to organize a market and Rodríguez and Hoc proposed to be present in Biriatun. “The idea was also seen in the city hall. Throughout the day we had the fair and had the opportunity to listen to the songs of the plants: putting electrodes on the plants you can hear their songs. It’s nice to see how these songs change depending on the energy of the environment,” explains Rodríguez. A lot of people came to the first tree feast and the organization was satisfied. More than the following year.
