I am Héctor Edo, a young farmer who is passionate about the countryside. I grew up among orange trees, and I worked caring for them for a few years while I was studying and for a while after I finished as well. Then, together with my father, I decided to embark on this tropical cultivation project off the shores of the Mediterranean. Originally I had decided to work as a sales manager, since working conditions in the countryside were not so prosperous. Though over time being stuck in an office, I began to miss the field of agriculture, therefore I decided to reinvent myself professionally. Since my studies had always been focused on commercial and marketing work, I decided to also train myself in the agriculture sector. I took specific courses on pruning and handling the tropical plants that we were going to grow. I visited many farms and met many producers and farmers from the Axarquia area, the heart of tropical crops in Spain, and thanks to them I learned about cultivation methods and varieties. Alongside all of these experiences, the time that you learn the most, in my opinion, is through trial and error. What works in one type of terrain with a specific climate is not always optimal in a different one. I want to continue working in the countryside to improve the conditions, both mine and those who accompany me. I raised my employees salaries by 10% more than the average salary in Spain, and we also offer a flexible work timetable that does not exceed 8 hours a day. Therefore, with the help of my father we began to transform the orange orchards into tropical ones whilst I started to assemble the team. Today, after 5 intense years of changes, we are a stable team with better conditions than are usually found in agriculture. Our motivation to join CrowdFarming is mainly due to the fact we share the same values and concerns, and we feel totally aligned with the project. We want more people in Europe to be able to enjoy all the flavour of the fruits that we grow with so much love and care.

The Sierra Espadán is our surroundings, and Finca Aguas Vivas is the headquarters. Our Aguas Vivas farm is located in the wonderful area of the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park, specifically in the municipality of Artana, Castellón. The Sierra creates natural protection in the shape of a horseshoe that protects us from the cold north winds and gives us beautiful views of the sea to the east. The farm is named this way due to the fact that it has several streams and ravines running through it, and the water flows naturally down to the plain in the rainy season. It is a beautiful setting, littered with hiking trails through the Natural Park. In the upper part of our farm is the Penya Migdia, it is known as this since at noon the shade comes over these rocks, and this served the farmers of past generations as a sign that lunchtime has arrived. Carob trees, olive trees, and pines make up the majority of the landscape that surrounds our farm. Oranges have always been grown here, but in 2018 we decided to change the crops for tropical ones, mainly avocados, but we have also dared to plant mangoes, making us one of the local pioneers in the area. There is a large pond to store the water, which is supplied by the Artana irrigation community, and this belongs to the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation. We also have a small warehouse equipped with solar panels to obtain the necessary energy for irrigation. We use drip irrigation to avoid wasting water. In 2020 we decided to start the transition to organic farming as we believe that it is necessary to take care of our environment by being more respectful towards it. We want to avoid contaminating water and soil with chemical products. To nourish our soils and trees we mainly use manure, and if needed we use fertilizers that are authorized for organic farming. In order to cut the grass between the trees we have a buggy and a brushcutter. The remains of pruning are crushed around the trees and left as compost, which helps us control weeds by creating a blanket of organic matter that the earth slowly absorbs later. The fruits that are not suitable for shipping are distributed among the family and the team and this way nothing is wasted. To conserve the native flora and fauna, and to promote the development of natural enemies, there is part of the farm that is not cultivated. Trees, shrubs, and plants native to our climate grow here, where animal species from the area, and different breeds of birds, insects, etc. also breed. My team is made up of 4 people; David who has been with me since 2015 and helps me with the daily work that is needed: pruning, harvesting, clearing, assembling boxes, preparing orders, etc, Carmen, who has also been part of the team since 2015 and helps me prepare the orders, assemble boxes, etc, Raquel, who has collaborated with us to connect with more people via marketing for approximately two years, and myself (Héctor) who is in charge of making sure that everything works well. My father, Joaquín, helps us also, he loves walking around the farm with our dog, Bola. We do our very best to give our team the best conditions possible regarding a flexible schedule and a good salary, so that they feel rewarded for their efforts.