Sunday, February 22, 2009

Green staircases / Escadarias verdes


How do these fields in terraces, real demonstrations of popular genius, remain green all year round? A system of ditches and furrows takes advantage of the waters that descend the hills, making them run in a thin layer over the fields. Thus, even during most severe months, the water in motion prevents the herbs of being burnt by the coldness of frost, and the livestock always have fresh food.
Como é que estes campos em socalcos, verdadeiras demonstrações de engenho popular, se mantêm verdes todo o ano? Um sistema de valas e regos aproveita as águas que descem dos montes, fazendo-as correr numa fina película ao longo dos campos. Desta forma, mesmo nos meses mais severos, a água em movimento impede que as ervas sejam queimadas pelo frio das geadas, e os animais têm sempre alimento fresco.
Fabriano cold-pressed 5"x7" - 140lb (18x12,5cm - 300g/m2) paper
Available in my Etsy shop / Disponível na minha loja Etsy

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Enlarging your postcard sized masterpiece was like opening a window and looking out to a beautiful foreign land. [It is of course] but for me, it is like being on a dream vacation being in the midst of a quaint village. Beautiful.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Thank you, Sheila. If you come to Portugal one day, I will be glad to take you to see these places. I'm so lucky that they are quite near to my place.
Have a wonderful week!

Terry Banderas said...

What are those blotches on the cobblestones?--again, I think I know. You paint so true to life.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

You know indeed, Terry :))
A mountain village streetscape wouldn't be complete without that organic evidence of local traffic.

Rafael Carvalho said...

A raça bovina, os "prados de Lima" e os espigueiros em pedra denunciam a inspiração minhota...
Cumprimentos.

Stephen Dell'Aria said...

Great sketch!!! I remember marching in a parade with my oldest daughter who as a member of a cheerleading squad was doing cartwheels in the street. Up in front of us were some horses also in the parade and you had to watch out where the kids put their hands down to avoid the road apples..haha!!!

Paulo J. Mendes said...

É bem verdade, Rafael ando encantado com estas paisagens, das quais nunca me canso.
Uma boa semana!

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Doing cartwheels is something that requires a good skill, Stephen, but the kids had to be really good to do them under those conditions!! Hope no one had a taste of the apples :))