Summer in Central Portugal - New rhythm and keeping cool - Our Portuguese Homestead

Summer has arrived so we changed our working hours. Also some pointers if you are planning on visiting the region.
Want to support us and these videos? Find me on Patreon: / ourportuguesehomestead
New here? My name is Lea and I live with my partner Maarten and our toddler Puck on our land in Central Portugal. We left the rat race in the Netherlands a little over a year ago, and moved south in our old campervan. Last year we bought land in Portugal that had been abandoned for several decades. Slowly we are cleaning the land and building our dream off-grid homestead from the ground up. This channel documents all the different jobs we have to do, and sometimes some nice footage of this beautiful country we now call home. Want to see more updates? Don't forget to subscribe!
Instagram: / ourportuguesehomestead
Facebook: / ourportuguesehomestead .
Music by Mona Wonderlick
Free download: bit.ly/laundrette-download

[@tullysika]

I love your show. I'm an old man from Australia, I notice your boy runs around in the sun a lot without a top, My friend, well we all did when we were children in Australia. Unfortunately he died of a melanoma cancer and the specialist suggested it was because of what we did as children. It's your choice but I keep my grandchildren covered. Over here we call it slip, slop slap. Slip on a shirt slap on some sunscreen slap on a hat.

[@Feeoryne]

How sweet it is to see the whole family cooling of in the water!!! Blessing and magic to you !!

[@Rita-e9s]

Portuguese heat is no joke and you’re doing a great job dealing with it! 👍 People from Alentejo often have big clay pots filled with drinking water inside the house. They keep the water cool but also help to cool off the room. Carry on the great work! I wish you the all best! 💐

[@Cate7451]

Cool, thanks for posting that! I am a potter and know a little about the cooling effect of water in bisque pottery. This would be an extremely ancient air cooling system. Very early man would have known about this. Awesome.

[@mariasimao3522]

Hello from Melbourne Australia. I love watching your videos. I imagine your daughter would have the best immune system playing in the dirt. I also find you very relaxing to watch.

[@emiloprisa]

I think her daughter might be a boy 😁

[@scatteredseedsofhappiness3285]

You make me smile. Can't wait to buy our farm in Portugal. Anxiously waiting for May of next year when we will go see all that's available and hopefully make an offer. God bless you and your little family.

[@Lifeisyours.loveit]

Another idea is a drip irrigation system. That way you never get water on the leaves. As wet leaves almost become like a magnifying glass and burn the leaves . Drip irrigation is easy to set up .saves water and gets the wAter to the roots

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

I really like the channel method, as I would like to not use plastic where possible. We'll do some more experimenting next year :)

[@elliottmanning]

So glad to see Puck at your side, so that you can keep an eye on her and away from the well!!! Your COOL tub is just the thing during hot weather!!!

[@AdaMakawee]

When it is so hot it's better to water at night or at least not in full sun. The water evaporates before it can benefit the plants as much as they need. Good luck!

[@Onubense-zu4ei]

Hola, con esos baños y esa comida se combate mejor estos días de nuestro caluroso verano ibérico. Bonito huerto...saludos....

[@careynorman6414]

Beautiful!! Thanks for sharing with us!!💜👍💪

[@veronicabalfourpaul2288]

Yup, it's a funny year for tomatoes and pumpkins... One day it's 40+ and the next it's 30... I do my watering usually just after sunset, so the plants get a chance to drink it before the heat! May I suggest that you wear a hat? I didn't bother the first few years and I regret it. Keep your beautiful complexion!

[@glenndavis479]

I think the trick with pumpkins is to tip the main runners when they get about 2

[@Yolie_Bird29]

She is soo cute eating her bread.. 💕

[@nealchristensen1793]

Love your videos and you amazing off the grid Homestead and family ! Thank you so much

[@gracerafael7302]

Do you know about the three friends ? This is to plant, beans pumpkins and corn together, traditionally is done in south America and this so each crop helps the other. To know more search the three friends in horticulture. Also end of they is better for watering so the water does not evaporate so quickly and also remember that if water is splashed over the leaves and the sun is hot, it may burn the leaves. Best wishes from Grace

[@johnyboy19685]

I saw a program about growing in Africa and in the garden they dug a trench and placed small sections of pipe not joined together at the end they angled it up to the surface they filled the trench and planted their seedlings they poured water down the top and it seeps out under the plants and waters the roots without losing much at all to evaporation. The pipes were made of clay but you could use plastic or any thing it seemed like a good way to water to the root

[@tonyhussey3610]

You 3 in the pool looked priceless, that’s what life should be about..what a way to start the little ones life...Perfect..well done guys.

[@AudreyHeadley]

It's hot here in Jamaica too. What crunchy stuff your child was having 😀 sure was enjoying it . Lovely garden I collect rain water also fir everyday uses also.

[@laurastrachan7943]

Unfortunately many tomatoes will often stop producing new fruit and slow ripening when it is over 35 degrees. Sometimes the blossoms fall off. But they should start again if the temperature drops and the plant is healthy! Or if there's no end in sight, some afternoon shade could help.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Yes I was thinking just keep them alive till later in the season and then hopefully they will pick up production again. Luckily the growing season is very long here :)

[@yasminghani2073]

Enjoy watching your video

[@CindyVine]

Water! I won't make that mistake again! Your garden is looking quite good in the heat!

[@search4more]

😂😂😂😂

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Lucky for us the cafe was open :)

[@hubieheathertoes]

I am happy for you guys

[@slowandwilder]

Thank you for sharing. We are busy packing now to travel in 2 weeks to the same region. My priority is to create shade asap and set up my freezer...omgaaaad bit nervous. You're doing so well with everything and have achieved a lot.

[@tonyhussey3610]

Jo Cauldrick I have to wait 9 more weeks...😭 I’m not too far either Nr Serta

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Shade is essential! Good luck on your travels :)

[@annamariaiannacito5291]

This is a lovely video. Your patience and calmness is contagious!!! Stay safe, cool and content.

[@jameswilde3414]

hi and greetings from Ireland love what you are doing as a family stay cool and kind wishes James

[@ruinascimento1449]

Very good...you are doing well. Congrats!

[@charmainkilloran9476]

All of you should be wearing hats in that heat.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

We do wear hats but we will wear them more on camera :)

[@deltonviera2051]

Great video😉

[@nedag8276]

Your daughter is delightful, good luck with everything.

[@MrPhilgascoine]

That’s funny you start to talk and she choke it’s great to see you as a family all together not working just living the dream 🤟

[@mariosantos9334]

I'm glad that you chose my country to live in and wish that it bring to you joy & hapiness. I'm writing to ask you to be alert to fires. Please take attention dru grass and small bushes should be cut down 50m around yurt. Trees need to be away 5m and be not high then 3m. Enjoy it. Regards. Maccs

[@kokteonggan7499]

Good help. Thank you.

[@shehriyarkhan7551]

So beautiful your simple life

[@Sopranoknits]

Yep, this heat is INTENSE! I'm in the Castelo Branco region now and it's been an intense few days especially since I seem to have picked up a stomach bug (extra fun in the heat). I was in Alentejo before this and it was also very hot but not this bad...thankfully since we were doing super hard work there. Stay cool!

[@anthonysinclair5721]

Here in Canada some people have hot tubs but I never really thought about a cold tub! lol That is so good to see your daughter having a life experience like that while most kids spend half their waking lives in front of a tv or monitor of some kind. Keep it up! 👍🏿😎

[@johnsonr9]

Garden looking good!

[@firewolf7210]

Just found your guys channel already enjoy your videos so much can’t wait for more videos to come😊

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Next video will be up on Sunday :)

[@firewolf7210]

Our Portuguese Homestead awesome

[@gliOrtidiMauro]

HI! I just discovered your channel and I'm definitely gonna watch all of your videos! I Like your lifestyle and your channel! Bye bye, Mauro

[@laurentinooliveira1746]

Gosto muito do teu canal! 👍

[@jmbpinto73]

Hi Lea and Maarten! This may be the hottest week, of the hottest month in the year, August the days will be shorter and September will be preparing the autumn to come. Do you know the "Seringador" or "Borda d'Agua" publications? It's destined for farmers, with a calendar, seasons, moon phases, sunrise and sunset schedules, the proper season to plant the different things. My grand-father always had his "Seringador" handy. This year is the 155th year of uninterrupted publication, arguably the oldest regular publication. Never heard of over fertilizing pumpkins, they can grow straight out of the manure pile! Maybe you have some PH unbalance. Keep on watering them. Your SPA looks awesome. :D I love your classic "Oliva" stove. The factory is near were i live, and still exists. I am in awe with your cooking skills! Have you tried the "Gaspacho"? Is sort of a cold soup, very pleasant in the hot summer days and quick to put together. Cheers, all the best for the family!

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

I'll have a look at that publication, sounds really good! We usually talk to the local farm shop owner and other farming friends on when to plant things. We have a pumpkin growing in the compost, that actually looks the best! But our compost is also in the shade, so we'll try to figure something out so they start producing.

[@09conrado]

En de Enkhuizer almanak dan?

[@williamadams8353]

We have the Farmers Almanac here in the US. My grandmother swore by planting on certain phases of the moon. She gardened into her 90s and knew her stuff.

[@ab-ym3bf]

Good tip about the books

[@robertfoedisch9322]

Have you ever heard of starch baths? Fill a tub full of warm h2o and add a handful of laundry, mix til dissolved , bathe and dry and stay cool

[@terryg6596]

just found your channel and have subscribed ,I can relate to the heat I live in northern Thailand and we had a brutal spell a while back 40s everyday for a long officially hottest spell on record,although Ilived for 10 plus years my northern body UK still reacts to the heat and evrything I have planted has withered because the rains are and badly needed best of luck with your life and plans

[@Brunbrown]

That summer heat is the reason bcz in some areas of portugal we have the "sesta" and people sleep a bit during the day. In the sunrise is the best time to work outside. Coast areas are better. Castelo Branco and most interior is really harsh, summer and winter. I could never be so far from the beautiful coastline of portugal were the sun sets but the interior rivers and waterfalls are great ways to refresh anc discover.

[@devon932001]

You need to ask the locals what varieties of pumpkin, squash, tomatoes to grow. Look for Seniors to talk to about growing plants and the weather. They have lived for a long time and through a lot.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Most of our seeds are from a local company :) And some for the pumpkins we got from someone in the village. I think it's also the soil that we are still building. Practice will help hopefully

[@thisorthat7626]

@@ourportuguesehomestead Great attitude! You are learning and that is what is important. And you are teaching us as you learn. Thank you!

[@seriouslyjoking2]

Leah, When you water your garden, water very early in the morning & later at night. The reason is that the water will evaporate with the heat & it will not benefit your plants. Also, warm water expedites the growth. Ariel on Simple Living Alaska discovered that, too..lol. Happy to see your video today. It's my daughter's 26th birthday! Bom dia! Also...yellowing indicates a lack of nitrogen...producing flowering and not fruit is a lack of phosphorus.

[@kerryowen-holmes3719]

Very sound advice 😊

[@kingdesert7807]

Hej Where did you find this property? How much square m2 is it? Prices how much did you pay?? Best regards george

[@trickydicky78s3]

Valid points, in addition to what was said if you water during the day it will heat the ground up even more as the water dries out, so the roots if not covered by a thick layer of mulch will basically bake. I couldn't see so well if you have mulch applied? If you don't ? Do it, it will keep the heat off the roots and stop also the speed of your soil drying out, as the mulch breaks down with weathering it also is a slow release fertiliser and whilst talking of fertilisers when you pour big amounts of water in one go you can deplete them via washing them away, little at a time is far better.

[@prasadyalamanchili9802]

We can not grow tomato🍅 above 30degree temperatures

[@josedacosta5197]

@@kingdesert7807 I guess she missed your comment but if you look at her pass videos she talks, the best sites to look at real estate in Portugal are idealista.pt e casa sapo .pt , you can find land for less than 1€/sq meter all depende on the location, some local authorities don't mind people living in agriculture/green land , always best pop in at the local authority and ask before buying , there has been cases that the agency said it ok but then the local authority ask people to remove the they "mobile homes " better pay a bit more with a ruin , hope this will help you , all the best

[@sarapulford5957]

🇬🇧 You could do with some pest trapping devices made with jam jars and water usually for wasps. They get in but can't get out. You can get pest catching sticky strips for greenhouses but they probably contain toxic materials. I remember the kind around when I was young (I'm 82) and I believe they had arsenic on them. They were gross !

[@SMPwhiteshadow]

Title should be "Our private pool" lol For the looks of it, we will have a hot summer this year. Take care. Have fun :)

[@debrandw246]

Your plants are beautiful. Chickens look lush and happy. But I can see this a difficult time in the heat. I hope you can get a fan or something soon. Your hard work is paying off . Love your videos. X

[@patricesavard366]

I totally understand, it's quite warm here in southern Canada, around de 40's as well, I usually water my garden at night, so the plants have all night to absorb it!

[@42apprentice]

Maybe look into adding a drip/seepage pipe round the garden, it could be on a timer to come on 8n the cool of morning.

[@richfiryn]

Nice visit into your day, super nice to have a way to cool off in your make shift tub/pool. Have you thought of using some screening to maybe keep flying pests from bothering you in the outdoor kitchen?

[@marcoandmaria2023]

I'm in Coin, Spain I totally understand the difficulty with the heat & the struggles to keep your garden alive, temperatures have been about 43 degrees here and it's so dry... My tomatoes & peppers are doing ok, and my black eyed peas & kale are doing great... The heat was too much for something's, which I think will do much better sept/Oct xxxx

[@shahannagrey8427]

You’ve both done such wonderful work. Please get some nice big straw hats to protect those smiling faces. Hi from Australia.

[@strawberries1411]

Garden looks good..maybe consider some shadowcloth/net to take away the harshness of the sun?.. Puck is adorable.. I got these plastic slugs catchers from my mother in law, thry look like a ball lantarn, you can put some beer in de ring inside, close it up and slugs can wiggle in through some little holes and can'tget out..to my surprise it worked wonders with flies!!!..at times we catch maybe close to a hundred..maybe more I did not count..it was filled to the brim..

[@kokteonggan7499]

Well done! Good suggestion.

[@edwardmmanns7454]

Your videos are just adorable...U.S.A.

[@kokteonggan7499]

Please remember to cover up the well. Happy life always

[@mariobranco123]

Obrigado por estes videos ;)

[@coppertone711]

Your heat is similar to ours at this time. I think 38 for Saturday predictions. It is only to be 34 or 35 today as this week is cooler than last week. Your Garden is showing a lot of nice vegetables and flowers. An interesting garden choice to me, the trellis that we all use these days. My grandfather never trellis any, not even tomato. He always had tables full of yellow and red tomatoes but grew them all on the ground with only straw for mulch. I think about his garden success it all the time. Best wishes!

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

That's good to hear, I only have these trellised! Never got around to doing the rest and now I'm just letting them grow over the ground/mulch. We'll see what comes from them :)

[@henningchristensen2716]

Hej i Portugal. I have seen the video about Your kitchenstove and Your problems starting heating. You May try to do as follows: Stivk some dry grass, newspaper or other flameable things direct in the chimney, just a litle brunch. Prepair start as usual, but dont set fire to the vood until You have set fire to the stuf in the chimey, and now set fire to the vood in the stove. Your stove will behave in a fine Way, without Amy smoke in Your Home. Henning in Denmark

[@ourfloridagarden4191]

That is terribly hot. It’s 32.8 here in west central Florida. I am going out in the mornings and evenings as well. We have ac. But when we didn’t it was the art of moderation and catching a breeze. Take care.

[@mariacron6743]

Wonderfull 😊💖

[@piawal]

This heat! Here in France we had 35°C today and cooled down in a supercold waterfall during the hotest hours. Wish I could send something like that to you at your land. Though your Spa-time in the tub looks amazing :)

[@noorzaidi220]

Yes a pot in the house filled up with clean water , during night when the cold wind blew and touch the pot it will make the water more colder , when you drink during day time the feel will just marvelous , * this is the earlier formula the egypt practise during old days when they are at the center of the desert with tge camel around * and that is the system they used for home and car and air condition now days use ! But seem you got 3000 watt electric from your solar system its not a big issue ! i like to suggest for your watering plant around you just fix with a water hose and a stand pipe which can be sprinkle by instaling small type of plastic fan on top when the water pressure past the fan it will saperated the water all round 8 just like our shower sprinkler , you can install in 10 feet distance each , can be use by turning the water line part by part , it can be control by one location ,you dont have to wall all over around by carrying the water to the plant ! Easy , fast , the water hose is already there , good luck hope you plant grow in it progress before it get older ! Kuala lumpur , dannok vity 27.07.2020 monday 12.37 noon

[@manuelmachado1276]

OMG Leah your little one is ADORABLE

[@saeedandalusi7579]

Living the life.... God bless🕊️

[@elizabethhernandez4273]

Hola Leah, tu jardín esta precioso y tu gallo esta de revista muy bonito, sería lindo que empezarás a construir colmenas, tienes diversidad de vegetación que facilitaría la rápida cosecha de miel. Tu nena se está poniendo guapísima, felicitaciones.

[@patassion]

Yes have patience as you are learning

[@williamadams8353]

Looking at 100 degrees for the next two days here on the eastern plains of Colorado. I follow the same rule. Get out of that midday sun and find some cool shade while taking a swim at the river. Stay hydrated.

[@nelson1953]

All along the interior of Portugal from north to the south is quite hot at summer and sometimes dangerous because of mountain fires.

[@stephenmoss9842]

Enjoy the sunshine, raining away here in Ireland but counting the days till we're back on our Quinta 🌱🌱🌱

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

I would love some rain! But understand you want to be here :)

[@davidford694]

This does not sound like the kind of weather in which you should be hauling hoses around, even in the "cool" of the morning. Have you ever considered a gravity fed drip irrigation system? They are available on the Net for about 30 dollars and up. You can also buy a timer for around $50.00 that runs on flashlight batteries. Besides eliminating hose hauling this system allows you to be very intentional about watering, putting on exactly the same amount every time, adjusting as needed. Each emitter is rated for litres per hour, so you can easily calculate your water use. It also saves a lot of water compared to a hose end, which is often pretty hit and miss. Not to mention time. And it never forgets. I have used this type of system for a couple of decades now in 5 gardens, plus some set up for friends, and find it very satisfactory. It was invented in Israel, so is quite capable of coping with hot climates like yours. I find it gets us through our 3 months of drought each summer quite satisfactorily.

[@saraslife1972]

Puck is echt gek op kippen he 😁 schattig! Hier in België regen regen en regen... ☔ Succes met de groenten 😉

[@paulsehstedt6275]

Your place looks great and relaxing, but it's best to water the garden around sunset for better results.

[@tramptruck4859]

Those early hours in the day are the most productive for me. Another relaxing and enjoyable video for a grey day here in Ireland

[@Lifeisyours.loveit]

Use a bit of your chicken manure for nitrogen . But don't put near the stems !! They will burn . Nitrogen promotes growth. Potash fire ash is brilliant as a for of potassium. And that's for fruiting time . Just spread around the plants .but again not two thick .or water it into a bucket and pour the ash water around plants

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Thanks for the tip!

[@seriouslyjoking2]

Excellent advice!

[@sandrascotland3639]

just a heads up, ash should be well weathered first before use

[@lauraboyes6345]

Hi - Nicosia, Cyprus 40+ nobody does anything until after 6 pm here. Cool in the v early morning but after 8 am too hot to walk.

[@stephenlodge3864]

Your climate seems to be similar to our climate here in Eastern Australia during summer with temperatures ranging from 36 to 44 degrees celsius. Keep cool and out of the midday sun,

[@sharonlynnfrizell6617]

You can improve your tomato crop by doing some hand pollination. Just use a QTip.

[@rosamperez233]

I love to see your princess!!!!

[@alicjawisniewska4142]

I am sure someone give you the advice. I hear that Is better to watering plans in late evening. Water can evaporate in hot weather and can act as a magnifier glass and burn your plans under strong Sun. 🥺

[@doloresduarte4059]

well done , enjoy Lea and family. 💯👌👌 Regardes

[@jonleonard538]

You have made a beautiful pizza, or similar name. When planning a more fixed home do think of how to ventilate with ease in the warmer months without loosing the ability to close up in cold months. You do have good ideas of types of structures to build.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Yes we're thinking of some passive cooling from the ground, plenty of good ideas floating around. Now we just have to build the house ;)

[@jonleonard538]

Good to see poultry. Some of the garden may need to be re-planted for a late crop. You probably have a longer growing season in Portugal than we have in Troy, NY.

[@antoniodasilva1230]

You could grow all year long

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Yes we are planning the fall/winter garden right now :)

[@sandrascotland3639]

@@ourportuguesehomestead hope you do a video of suitable crops for that time

[@hermanteunissen990]

At the start of daylight it may be a bit cooler to do the watering. What time is that in Portugal, around 5 am maybe. No hot sunshine directly on you makes a huge difference. I got so used to early hours since farming that it has never left me and still get up at 5. It has many advantages for productivity and still a slower pace of life.

[@seriouslyjoking2]

My father was born into a farming family & I learned from him to do the watering at 5 a.m. or after 9 p.m. I learned from observing him. These lessons never leave us.

[@grahamhardyvanlife5704]

The Indie Projects did a funny thing cutting the top off a 1000l IBC tank (like yours) as a emergency cooling tank.

[@ivosilva2796]

I've seen a comment saying this but i want to reiterate and say that you should NOT water your plants with this heat. Try to do it at night after the sun is down so they dont boil and die. Great video! :)

[@andrewstrathdee1469]

Hi, Lea! I can't get over how fast Puck is growing and learning. Mama's little helper! It would be great if you could show a bit more of the vegetables such as the tomatoes and cucumbers you have growing under the palettes, so we can see the development. Have you harvested any of your potatoes yet? How will you temper and store them with no root cellar yet? Best of luck with the heat, I was really beaten by the Portuguese heat in the couple of summers I have visited and by the ants!Look forward to the next instalment, A.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

I'll do a garden update soon. I actually took out the last of the potatoes this week, they were done growing. We keep them in the shade in the kitchen now, it's not so many that they need to be stored for months.

[@punjabseth260]

Nice👌👌👌👌😍

[@master-paul2862]

A gravity fed drip water hose system would save plants in high summer and save effort and water too...

[@m.goodengumman3941]

Thanks for sharing your video, it's 16 c in Coventry, UK So enjoy the sun. When you rolled out the dough I thought you were going to make Roti, chappati bread, maybe you should try to make this, it's fast, economic bread. ? Have fun. 🙏😄💕

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

I make roti all the time :)

[@m.goodengumman3941]

Thanks for your reply, I'm pleased to hear you can make Roti, good health 👍😄

[@simplifylifenow]

Good to see you're taking it easy. When I was in Brazil we did the same thing, the active part of the day was pretty much between 5 and 9 in the morning and then after 8 at night again in summer. No point exhausting yourself during the other hours. As already mentioned by one of the other commenters, evaporation is the main way of losing water (although the mulch should help prevent that at least a bit) so the earlier you can water your garden, the better. I guess you might be able to get away with watering at night in Portugal but I'm not sure. I just know it's not the best thing to do in the Netherlands as damp leaves at night can lead to mold and similar problems here. Perhaps somebody who has grown vegetables in your area can give you some more guidance on that.

[@antoniodasilva1230]

In the morning is the best time

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

As said I water in the morning. The plants by that channel are doing very well, so next summer I'll prepare all the beds like that.

[@Cate7451]

Antonio Dasilva thank you Antonio, it's a good thing to help these people as they mean so well

[@antoniodasilva1230]

@@Cate7451 true some stuff wont grow good in the summer heat just need to crop rotate the seasons

[@nicholasleach8770]

Garden is really starting to look beautiful, and I can see over the past few months how your videography has also gotten better. Keep up the good work!

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

So nice of you, thanks for watching :)

[@atratrrr7084]

I love your video's, but I have to tell you, please put a cover on the well, because of your little girl... I know a couple who lost his four year old son... 🤗💖

[@antoniodasilva1230]

Strong chicken wire

[@Cate7451]

Atr atrrr , me too. Children are so vulnerable. So easy to misstep. Our cistern cover is a heavy steel welded 5' (1 1/2 metre) cap that I couldn't lift off. It has a spout for putting water in and gravity feeds into the house. Even rats can't get in and drown. Such a lovely child. It's nice to see that you take the time to really enjoy life.

[@kokteonggan7499]

Well worth suggestion. Prevention is better than cure.

[@jeffreyhoffman760]

Why don|t you add a drip system to your garden ... much better for the plants and much easier for you and efficient water usage

[@MaliMaslacak526]

Hi lovely family! There's a great hack to save water in a garden in a hot climate, I watched a video by Kirsten Dirksen, in a playlist called Self-Suficiency, there's a guy standing in a tub with straw hat in a thumbnail. He puts clay pots in the ground and waters only the pots to prevent evaporation. The plants get the water slowly the whole day that way. Watch the video, it's full of genious hacks! Much love to you

[@evapereira3093]

The weather & vegetables are the same here in Ontario Canada, love your cooling down pool, enjoy & stay safe xx

[@pauldaviesantiques1556]

The garden looks beautiful. Have you had time to learn any Portuguese yet? (Or maybe you know some already!).

[@athena7042]

Thanks for sharing your life with us. Never knew Portugal was so hot. We have people who came from there from the Azores. It wasn't mentioned. 40° C is 104° F 45° C is 113° F Hard to understand why it's so hot in that latitude, at that elevation and between two seas.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Thank you for watching! Not all of Portugal reaches such high temperatures. If you go closer to the coast it will cool down a lot. The Azores are part of Portugal, but are not on the iberian peninsula. It is a remnant of Portugal’s colonial past. It is an island in the Atlantic Ocean and therefore has a climate that is much more akin to the Portuguese coastal regions so it is not really surprising that your friends never mentioned the heat of central Portugal :).

[@Jesuscger]

Hot winds from Africa's desert causes high temperatures in Portugal, that's why it's so hot.

[@stephaniehuet4023]

Why not sleep during the hot hours in a burrow type of shelter where it's fresh and do a few things at night? An earthship could be a good idea for the future (?)

[@-sstevens5444]

Lazy days of summer.... probably just work hours shifted to early and later. How is the upper spring water during summer? Have you made an upper pond or catch basin yet? Viewers [like me] have to realize that you have a priority list... that changes take place slowly... that patience and staying healthy is important. I like that you spend time together -- did you put bricks in the spa, in case Puck decides to cool off by herself so she can get out or stand on? Just a thought.... 💕

[@TheTrillionDollarTradeMovie]

Does anyone know what Baiao is like what climate is concerned? Good luck with the heat Leah! I live in a similar hot place during summer, and water during the evenings. Then slugs of course love the damp ground, lol, which is not good either. Our humidity is so low, that the plants suffer so much. Im almost giving up on gardening after over 3y lol

[@davidestepena3054]

In Baião, the summer is short, warm, dry and the sky is almost cloudless; the winter is very cold, with precipitation and partly cloudy skies. Throughout the year, the temperature generally ranges from 2 ° C to 27 ° C and is rarely below -3 ° C or above 33 ° C. Baião experiences extreme seasonal variation in monthly rainfall. The rainy period of the year lasts 11 months, from August 1 to July 8, with a minimum continuous rainfall of 31 millimeters (31 mm). The maximum rainfall occurs during the 31 days around December 26, with an average total accumulation of 132 millimeters. The rainless period of the year lasts for 3.5 weeks, from July 8 to August 1. The minimum rainfall occurs around July 19, with an average total accumulation of 11 millimeters.

[@TheTrillionDollarTradeMovie]

@@davidestepena3054 Oh my, just saw your message. Thank you so much for all the info! My hubby and I fell in love with Baiao because of the municipalities' videos online... so much love and effort put into them, that it seems that there must be very nice people In Baiao, and seems such a special place. Our temps range is -12C to 42 or 43C, and very low humidity. Dry all year round lol. When it rains, it is a cloud burst from blue African skies, with thunder and lightening. Quite a show. 30 to 50mm in a matter of an hour.

[@davidestepena3054]

@@TheTrillionDollarTradeMovie 👍