ago some days I come from Norway, where I had the opportunity to participate as a guest in the annual course on green meadows, organized by the Norwegian conservation partnership NATURVERNFORBUNDET (FoE Norway) and directed by my friend Per Oystein Klunderud.
Although the course duration is four days (this year from 8 to July 11) during the entire week I was there, I had the opportunity to participate in a mountain tours specifically aimed at some of the participants foreigners of that course (in particular to 2 of Estonia, Latvia 1, the 2 that went to Spain and 1 from Australia), although we were not alone foreign participants, for a total course participants belonged to 11 countries (plus Norway and listed, Sweden, Tanzania, Russia, Romania, Netherlands and Nicaragua) and of course, I also had the good fortune to live a few days with my Per and his family friend, as well as other inhabitants of the great farm Klunderud.
Klunderud family farm.
is the second time I visit Norway, but this time my destination was another, but I've been equally impressed by the beauty of the landscapes I saw and rode, by their natural wealth , the abundance of wildlife (Which at times there are only traces and tracks or droppings) for the waste of natural resources this country offers, particularly for the fine education and friendliness of the people with whom I had the chance to live. There
the topic to say that this or that country is "a country of contrasts," but in my opinion are just as much as Norway. Nearly 2,000 miles separate the tundra of the North and South shores, and more than 400 distance between the Swedish border, east and west Atlantic fjords. Most of the country is mountainous, with elevations up to 2,469 meters (Mount Galdhøpiggen) although they are predominantly a series of plateaus of between 600 and 900 meters, while from the latter figure are purely mountainous landscapes, with little or almost no woody vegetation, although not a few shrubs adapted to low temperatures. The lakes are abundant, occupying about 7,600 square miles, or whatever it is, 2% of the entire surface. Little more than that amount of up-growing areas (2.5%) being the other mountainous areas, especially rivers and forests. Typical
Norwegian landscape, with farm fields, forests and mountainous terrain.
say that Norwegian forests are wonderful and forget the rest of the spaces would be like saying the same thing room 12 of the Prado Museum for hosting the works of Velázquez and Goya, and ignore the rest of major works from many great authors come together there. True Norwegian forests make up a huge space full of life, but no less important rivers (short but plentiful because of the annual thaw, and where you can still safely drink), mountain areas with abundant quartz rock slopes and surprising, sometimes cut "a knife, the crystal clear lakes with great variety and abundance of fish, stunning glacial valleys with their peculiar form of" U ", the legendary fjords that gave rise of a culture geared towards the sea, and we could not forget the magnificent countryside, which sits much of the country's sustainable economy while the greatest biodiversity of these rich lands by itself. And above all is the wonderful people of this country that has learned to live with little to alter the landscape and preserving natural resources.
In our first two days we visited sites such as the impressive wooden church Heddal, a tourist town near the farm and Finnvollen, which gave us a meal home and explained the procedures for obtaining derivatives of milk they produce.
Norwegian meadows are areas that once were former forest, and whose destiny has always been maintaining a little more than livestock for subsistence. The typical Norwegian farms have a particular area intended for forest and a small redoubt for a grassland, but as in the case of our meadows, which began as an artificial habitat created by man (extremely slowly, so si), eventually ended up becoming, in addition to a system of rational exploitation of the land, in an adjacent space and complements the former, with a much greater biodiversity, containing a piece of replaced forest.
mountain landscape. Photograph taken at 950 m.
another visit, after a long journey through the mountains, led us to consider, at a distance more than reasonable, the gyrfalcon nest with chicks about to blow. The picture is large cuts.
On our second day continue to visit the most mountainous region.
The importance of maintaining the meadows in Norway is obvious. On one hand it aims maintain the landscape that has become a tradition, becoming a feature of identity. The other is to maintain the system of rational exploitation of farms. But above all, and what makes it interesting that in this country are taught annual courses on the maintenance of the fields (and going 17 consecutive years) is the need to maintain the biodiversity that contribute to a set meadows dominated forest . And you must keep them, because the forest each year claims the space that once lost. Whenever we discover yerbazal admitted between small trees (pine, birch, fir ,...) with little more than half a meter and only a few months of life, and struggle to become the precursors of a new patch of forest. Who comes from a place like Extremadura, with serious problems of deforestation and where it is so difficult to carry them into new plants and mature trees, is little short of inconceivable discover the ease with which new trees grow in these northern lands. The abundance of rainfall appears to be key, as the ground (with plenty of rocks) and the sun is low most of the year and the rest offered almost no more just.
But back to the course of Norwegian fields, nearly four days of it are much more than a few days learning about the meadows, their characteristics, need to keep them and how. They are mostly a conference on coexistence between a diverse group made up of people of different ages, professions and even nationalities, with the same feeling of respect and admiration for the environment, all in a privileged environment: Ryghsetra meadows in Buskerud County, a site which appears to have been chosen on purpose, because it shows the typical Norwegian environment: a meadow surrounded by woods, lakeside, and embraced by gentle rolling hills.
Our friend Per, carrying a scythe and accompanied by Minister of Environment during his visit to the course. The look is "just like" that of a minister here.
The activity started in the afternoon the first day with the visit of Minister of Environment, that a year was interested in the subject. I was surprised that came only with his driver, and some journalists who used the same vehicle. Nothing escorts, secretary, chief of protocol, counselors, relatives, polítiquillos area .... come on, just like if I had been here! To say that the good man showed great kindness and congratulated us immediately to the English for the recent classification of Spain in those days, for the World Cup final.
not lacking in the course theoretical explanations and practical class on biodiversity, and even musical performances.
with the audience already in place, and after a presentation where each had to say a few words, I now consider very useful for further contacts and discussions were initiated, explained the whole operation . A very neat people. Shortly thereafter (at about seven o'clock in the afternoon) took place for dinner. Hours strange to us (and stranger still considering that the sun sets at 22:15 and clarity lasts until after 24:00) but common in northern Europe. You have to adapt. The dining has prepared a group of volunteers, and give us a sample of Norwegian cuisine in generous proportions and delicious and succulent flavors. Everything a real luxury (and what is missing in the next few days), although less so after a few days with Per. Dining as soon always have time to shop around the site, chat and even a swim in the nearby lake.
The sharpening of scythes before the start of the harvest is an event, and everyone takes turns looking at the work of others.
The next day the activity started at 8:00 after a hearty and delicious breakfast. However, some had only slept so long by our habit of going to bed late and the fact of being in rooms with large windows without blinds, through which light pours. Keep in mind that the sun rises at 4:00, and almost total darkness is only between 00:30 and 2:30 (we are a darkness that prevent you from reading, but nothing else). Begin the practical activities of the course and we split into groups, but later we will rotate in order to participate in all activities: knowledge on methods of grassland management, theoretical and practical use of the scythe for mowing, drying racks for installation hay drying, manual pruning demonstrations and hay cutting machinery, artisan bread making, performance of a famous Norwegian cantente information on the history and culture of traditional agricultural landscape in Norway ...
A small sample of the biodiversity of meadows. It is amazing to see the eagerness of the audience to participate and gain knowledge in the activity of biodiversity.
to anyone who has not had the experience of the fact an entire lawn mowing today based scythe may seem excessive picturesque. Nothing is further from the truth. Learn to cut with a scythe is a challenge, and not always possible to master the technique to perfection, despite have the theoretical and practical explanations of people with a mastery of the subject. It is always important to keep traditions alive, but this experience is much more than that. Learn how to properly sharpen the blade and keep it in good working order at all times, practice the art of cutting money for uniform and effective, namely to make a row with the cut hay to facilitate its subsequent collection ... and above all feel accompanied in the activity for many people of both sexes and various ages, from children to retirees, working with great enthusiasm and tenacity. And these qualities are no less among those who, in turn, deal with haymaking, and its placement on clotheslines .... or those that have previously labored in their installation. I can think of several words to define "teamwork", "perfect organization," everyone knows their role at all times "... but I'll take one word: "coexistence."
Both my friend Jesus and I are applied to the task of mowing, perhaps less sophisticated than the professionals, but always said the important thing is to participate. By the way, what a way to handle the scythe by the two guys from Sweden (not the same in two photos are two almost equal and even dressed alike) and of course his father (bottom right).
haymaking and placement on clotheslines to dry.
pretty intense few days in which nearly seventy people from 11 countries (which I quoted at the beginning) we live in a pleasant way and learned so much, not only on the fields. Last night, after the mother of all dinners (starting at 18:00 and each made a contribution in their area, and of course, Extremadura Iberico ham and cheese from La Serena could not miss) was held, as usual, the party in the meadow, where we went after dinner and there, sitting on the grass, stood until the wee hours talking, listening to music with a small group delighted us, and having some beers.
I had the honor of cutting the ham, aided by my friend Jesus, who made a great presentation.
is fair to say that interest in the Iberian ham reaches the antipodes.
Dinner at times unusual for us.
The parties do not have schedules. And Jesus worked a little on the animation.
have always said that excesses are paid, and the faces of people demonstrated the next day (or rather a few hours later) when at 6:00, two hours before breakfast, began again the work of mowing and hay harvesting. By mid-morning everything was ready and played pick up, cleaning out the cabins and meet for the evaluation of the activity. After several days of beautiful weather rain fell sharply during the time we were together. Go aim! It rained all day before the course, and did so again right after finishing. As they say there, "San Pedro (Per is translated Peter) has influences ".... and proved it once again, as in the 17 editions of the course the rain never spoiled them the task. Finally, we say goodbye to our new friends, and each went to the place of origin.
meals in Norway (during the course and outside it) are amazing in quality and quantity. The ham and cheese from La Serena contributed his own this time, mind you.
The homemade bread for the bread course that reminds people of when we were kids. All a joy. Participate in this activity has helped me to learn the secrets of its development and implement them at home, with great success with my family. "This time at least you learned something interesting ".
Completed.
New settlers of the meadow. After harvest, many birds as the White Wagtail, come to the land on looking for worms and other small prey.
So does this Thrush Real.
But for us long for those lands was extended another day, when we had the opportunity to meet new landscapes such as Lake Fiskumvannet, place of great ornithological interest, with its magnificent observatory for birds, and stunning Klunderud forest farm, with a variety of plant species, majestic trees and lots of tracks and trails of Elk and other large mammals.
partial view of Lake Fiskumvannet.
Klunderud forest biodiversity is superb. There are many birds gather, lots of flowers, and everywhere there are traces and moose droppings.
Our friend Per, along with one of the trees of his forest, and with his dog "Wine."
Great experience that I had the opportunity and lucky to have lived. From here I send a big hug to all attendees, and especially to my friend Per and his family, my friend Jesus Valiente, with whom I lived closer, as well as Gabrielle, an Australian wanting to see the world, these days stops in Norway Klunderud family.
Contact:
www.naturvern.no / Buskerud
