Our Garden of Eden in Tenerife: A Journey Home.
What does “home” mean?
Is it just a place, or something deeper?
For us, it’s a journey that led us to the beautiful island of Tenerife after searching for seven years.
We felt an instant connection to the island, even before we found our house.
When we first saw the house that would become Casa Alegria, it wasn’t exactly what we were looking for.
It was bigger than we’d planned, and the land surrounding it was dry and barren.
Yet, the moment we stepped inside, we knew we had found our home.
It was a place where we could create something bigger than just a house – a sanctuary for people, plants, and animals.
Our vision for Casa Alegria was grounded in values of love, beauty, joy, harmony, sustainability, and abundance.
Our first task was to transform the barren land into lush, productive terraces.
On the first terrace, we planted fruit trees, guided by an ancient fig tree and a tall cedar.
The second terrace became a Mediterranean grove, home to revived orange trees and grapevines.
The third terrace, filled with berries, kiwis, and honeysuckle, created a natural privacy barrier.
As we embraced permaculture principles, our garden began to thrive.
We nurtured rich soil, supported plant and animal life, and created a space where beauty and art are woven into the landscape – from spiritual symbols to mosaics and stone statues.
Casa Alegria also became a place of healing and rejuvenation.
We created meditation spots, a medicinal herb garden, and reflection benches.
We aimed to be self-sustainable, growing 80% of our food on our land.
Starting with a modest vegetable garden, chickens, and beehives, we’ve expanded to include a mini vegetable farm, producing a lot more of our food.
Our journey toward self-sufficiency also involved going off the grid.
With solar power and water reservoirs collecting rainwater, we’ve reduced our dependence on outside resources.
As our garden flourished, so did the wildlife.
Insects, lizards, and birds found a home with us, and we continue to welcome them by creating habitats like insect hotels and bird boxes.
As Casa Alegria became more than just a home for us, it attracted others who shared our values.
Volunteers began to join us, bringing their skills, knowledge, and creativity.
Together, we’ve built a veggie garden, terraces, a treehouse, and so much more.
As I’m writing this in August of 2024, our Garden of Eden took quite a beating in the last two years – hot weather, 2-year drought, rabbit infestation… a lot of what we worked on didn’t survive…
But we’re just getting started on this journey…
I can’t wait to see where we’ll be a few years down the road.