Hello

[Lee JD]

Hello everyone,

I am Lee and with my wife Elaine we have been rebuilding a Cortijo near Castril in Granada for the last 2 years. I have been reading this website as a guest for quite a while and thought it was time to join and introduce myself. Congratulations to the guys that run this website and the great work they are doing, long may it continue.

My wife and I are hoping to turn our Cortijo in a bed & breakfast so that we can show as many people as possible the beautiful area of Spain that we live in and all that it has to offer. We are both very much interested in the flora and fauna of Spain and spend a great deal of time exploring our area. Our plans are very long term and at present we have been rebuilding for the last 2 years and it could be another 2 years before we have a habitable home but we know it will be worth the wait.

I spend the majority of my time working overseas as I am in the Oil & Gas industry.....I can hear the groans...well rightly so. I really do dream that one day I will be able to put back into the natural world what it has given me. I started in  the Oil industry over 20 years ago and then it was just a well paid job, now I am dismayed by what I see being done to the natural world and very much dislike what I do but I trully hope it is a means to an end, a financial security that means I can devote all my time to giving a little back to the natural world.

Our Cortijo plans to be as eco-friendly as we can possible make it, including full solar & wind generated electricity, full rainwater harvesting and as self sufficient as possible. We are pretty passionate about that and are excited by what is possible these days.

I would like to get involved with local conservation however spare time is very limited at the moment, once my work commitments are completed I would like to do as much as possible to educate myself and others about the very special area that we live in and how it can be protected and encouraged to flourish - I believe eco-tourism is a good tool for doing this.

Just a little bit about me and my wife.

Many thanks
Lee

[Clive]

Hi Lee and Elaine and welcome to

Thank you for your kind comments about the forum.... Sure there are a coupla "admins" looking after this site but to be honest what really makes it great are the very clever and amazing bunch of people who do all the contribution of questions and answers and observations..... without them the forum wouldn't exist...

I too grapple with morals some times in my search for leading a better and cleaner life... I drive a car and burn gas to cook with but I try to use these resources with respect and am aware of wastage etc... I try to do things that offset my inevitable negative impact on the world around me and very often feel that I don't do enough... Note to self... Must try harder!

[lisa]

Hi Lee, welcome to the  forum from up north in the Picos de Europa and good luck with your project 

[tonyninfas]

Welcome to the Forum, Lee and Elaine.
Great to read your observations and looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Tony

[Technopat]

Greetings Lee and Elaine and Welcome to this Great iberianatureforum!

From what little I know of rebuilding and such matters, I'd imagine you'll have little time left over for sharing your experience and thoughts here on the Forum, but I know there's many who'd be interested in knowing what kind of solar/wind/rainwater technology you'll be installing for future reference. And I'm sure there's others who'll be able to help you out with any possible doubts you may have in those areas.

Best-of-luck-hard-work regs.,
Technopat

[Sue]

Hi Lee and Elaine,
thanks for your great intro and keep us posted on your progress, and whatever treasures you find on the way   
regards
Sue