Don and I took a train ride from Cagliari up to Sassari on the island of Sardenga. It was a great chance to see the countryside and made for a good adventure. The train system was really nice and on time. We made it to the station early in the morning with over a minute to spare before the train left. We rode for about three and half hours each way and got a chance to walk around Sassari and grab some lunch.
The island of Sardenga offers quite a bit of variety from low country plains and farmland to some fairly rugged mountainous regions. This place is dry dry dry. All of the farms had some form of irrigation. There were large structures out in the farmland that we finally figured to be water tanks. There is a lot of drip irrigation and some spraying.
It appears that workable farmland here is created through lots of hard work. The native land is very rocky. We saw some fields in various stages of preparation for becoming a plantable field. The rocks were gathered up and placed in big piles around the field. Most of them ended up being used to build fences. As more rocks are cleared enough grasses will grow to allow sheep and goats to thrive. As more clearing is done and more rocks moved the soil appears to get to a point where it can support crops. Most of the fence lines dividing farm plots are rock walls. I guess you have to put them somewhere.
The first few clips of the train ride we are riding through olive country and you will see rows of olive trees. We picked up some of the best olive oils I have ever had at the market in Cagliari. Last night I fixed us some olive oil and garlic pasta that was yummy. I'm glad we don't have to meet closely with anyone today...
The movie below is not particularly exciting but it gives some good glimpses of what Sardenga looks like. I try to make my "home movies" somewhat interesting or no one would ever watch. Enjoy!
The island of Sardenga offers quite a bit of variety from low country plains and farmland to some fairly rugged mountainous regions. This place is dry dry dry. All of the farms had some form of irrigation. There were large structures out in the farmland that we finally figured to be water tanks. There is a lot of drip irrigation and some spraying.
It appears that workable farmland here is created through lots of hard work. The native land is very rocky. We saw some fields in various stages of preparation for becoming a plantable field. The rocks were gathered up and placed in big piles around the field. Most of them ended up being used to build fences. As more rocks are cleared enough grasses will grow to allow sheep and goats to thrive. As more clearing is done and more rocks moved the soil appears to get to a point where it can support crops. Most of the fence lines dividing farm plots are rock walls. I guess you have to put them somewhere.
The first few clips of the train ride we are riding through olive country and you will see rows of olive trees. We picked up some of the best olive oils I have ever had at the market in Cagliari. Last night I fixed us some olive oil and garlic pasta that was yummy. I'm glad we don't have to meet closely with anyone today...
The movie below is not particularly exciting but it gives some good glimpses of what Sardenga looks like. I try to make my "home movies" somewhat interesting or no one would ever watch. Enjoy!