Origins

The origins of our farming family go back a very long way. The genealogical studies we have done have allowed us to identify five generations on our family tree. We are the fourth, and the fifth are currently studying how to take this project forward in the future.

The first and second generation lived from the land, because they had no other alternative.

Beginning with the third generation, difficulties that affected society in general and rural areas in particular at the time meant that they had to work for other people, but always in farm-related work. They either worked as seasonal farm labourers or doing other farm-related work, or formed small cooperatives to rent land to grow and vegetables and legumes on. They also transported citrus fruit — mostly oranges — from the fields to the stores. When all these tasks were done at the end of the day, they worked in their own fields, striving to increase the standard of living of their families and children.

Thanks to the hard work of the third generation, the fourth found it could no longer depend on the land for its sustenance, tending the soil for a very low return and sometimes even suffering losses. This forced many of the labourers’ and farmers’ children to sell off their citrus groves or transform them to be used for other crops.