Sustainability
Sustainability, solar energy and water conservation measures such as the use of geotextiles (up to 60% water saving) and the use of purely natural fertilizers.
solar energy
At Equus Jardinillo, solar panels stand as silent sentinels, capturing the sun's rays with remarkable precision. Stretching across vast expanses of the farm's terrain, these panels serve as a testament to the commitment towards renewable energy. By converting sunlight into electricity, they power various operations crucial to avocado and olive cultivation, from irrigation systems to processing facilities.
The synergy between solar energy and agricultural practices at Equus Jardinillo is palpable. Not only does solar power minimize the farm's carbon footprint, but it also ensures a reliable and sustainable energy source, independent of conventional grids. This self-sufficiency empowers the farm to operate efficiently while minimizing environmental impact, aligning with principles of eco-conscious farming.
water conservation measures
Equus Jardinillo Farm integrates traditional farming wisdom with modern sustainability practices, exemplified by its innovative use of rainwater for irrigation. On the farm, a rainwater harvesting system collects rain water, channeling it into reservoirs for future use. This approach conserves water, mitigates soil erosion, and ensures optimal hydration for avocado and olive trees, fostering robust growth and abundant yields while demonstrating a profound respect for the environment. As avocados ripen and olives mature under the nurturing embrace of rain-fed irrigation, Equus Jardinillo Farm stands as a beacon of sustainable agriculture, inspiring a future where abundance and conservation coexist harmoniously.
use of geotextiles
Equus Jardinillo Farm implements geotextiles as a strategic tool to conserve water resources. By deploying these innovative fabrics across its fields, the farm minimizes water evaporation, fosters soil moisture retention, and reduces weed growth. This sustainable approach not only enhances water efficiency but also promotes healthier root systems for the crops, ensuring optimal growth and yield while exemplifying the farm's commitment to eco-conscious farming practices.
History
The estate Jardinillo is a farm belonging to the municipality of Benalup-Casas Old, located between kilometer point 8-9 of the CA-211 Medina road - - Benalup. It is divided into two parts because of the Medina road, so It borders on different terrain. The largest part of the estate borders south with the Medina road; to the west with the current industrial site (so close that only separates them a fence of tunas), with Paternilla's register and the countryside football; to the north with the Cañada Real de Algeciras and to the east with the Padrón de Peña Hincada. The other part bordered to the north by Medina road; to the east with the estate of Diego el Engomao; to the south with the Port of the Chinese and to the west with the Padrón de Peña Hincada.
The estate Jardinillo has, as we have seen, large extensions of land, some dedicated to the cultivation of wheat, barley, beet, etc.; others dedicated to the cattle, in this case, is the mountain area where there are species like the acebo, the lentisco, the bush, the carrasca, etc.; area that is very appropriate for cattle that is in this area in winter, as in summer it found in the cereal stuble.
The part of the mountain abruptly, which we have already cited, has a very important species and much more scarce, as is the palm. That's why the part of the estate where this is species is called the Palmar Bello. This plant has been very important to people who lived in times of misery, although today they also take, the as well as tagarnines or asparagus.
During the 1950s the estate belonged to the brothers Benitez de la Cuesta, Don Manuel, Dona Isabel and Don José. The main purpose of these brothers was improving the performance of the farm, for this they commissioned a company to search for water through wells with galleries, until they finally found the water on the part of the me, today the plain part of the farmhouse. There they did two underground wells to those that put high-powered engines, which with one Pipeline passing by the CA-211 road fills two pools from which they leave other pipes that carry the water to the vega.
The brothers Benitez de la Cuesta had a pretty good retinal livestock, which had inherited from his parents. For the maintenance of these cattle they made good use of the water, sowing large expanses of sudan grass, grass that sewn green to store in The four silos they had in the farmhouse. With the cultivation of this grass they could feed the calves that they bait for sale. They also dedicated themselves to the calf d e cattle charolés, since they were large cows that give a meat excellent and some very good calves.
During this There were a lot of people who were working fixed all year, most of them were of Medina, since the owners were of this People. Among the workers we find Mechanics, jeans, waterers, loggers, guards and the manager. Almost always three families have lived in the farmhouse, so the farmhouse had the infrastructure appropriate for the daily life of these families; Three families were distributed in the two houses of the farmhouse and the house of the Palmar Beautiful. There was also a house for the temporary stay of the owners that He was next to the farmhouses.
The families who lived in the houses were the families of the the guards, jeans and head of irrigation. The rest of the workers went and They came every day. The loggers spent the winter cutting off the branches of the acebuches for the retinumed cattle. With what remained of these branches those people from the village they wanted to sting, from whom they supplied during the winter or they sold for their livelihood.
Some people in the village were also involved in some cortijo tasks like the partridges of the birds, or the Hare shakes, although the latter were less common.
These smoothies are in the months of November or December, so it almost always rains. This task is to distribute a number of people for the estate so that take the birds to the stalls where the shooters are (which can be guests of the owners, people who pay to throw or the owners themselves and Family members). The whiskers, who were the ones who frightened the birds, wore banners and shouted to scare the animals; they usually went on foot and were led by the guard who carried a kind of trumpet with which he gave the order to start the smoothie. These whiskers, among those who can also the workers of the farm received a day, in addition to the traditional Chorizo sandwich, fruit and hard egg. The smoothie was a task that was celebrated. as a party in the farmhouse, although its purpose is to decrease the number of birds or hare/rabbits, as they eat and spoil the The same is true of traditional blacksmiths, who are also almost a party. This task can be done with both foals or calves, all They're young (8-10 months old). In this case only the farm workers, although the owner usually has guests on this day. The It involves putting the smallest animals the owner's iron (a kind of sign to identify them) and a number with which you are identify within the livestock. To do this, they depart. their mothers' animals and they are taken one to each other fenced where are tied up and subjects to put the iron on, which has been put on a Cande it. This one. Iron is taken by the owner who supports it on the animal, thus being marked, then one of the workers, who is in charge of it, takes a series of medicines that are put on the wound to the animal to avoid possible - Infections. After it's messed up the animal returns to its mother.
After getting all the animals is done a little meal where workers and ladies spend time together. These tasks continue to be done, although no longer with as much root as before.
In the late 1960s or early 1970s, Don Manuel, one of the brothers Benitez de la Cuesta, dies in a traffic accident, he used to come daily from Cadiz, where he had his usual home.
After this, his brothers were forced to share their possessions, already that had more estates.
Jardinillo was divided in two: a part was preserved as originally, it is say, he remained within the Benitez de la Cuesta family, but now he belonged to Don Manuel's widow, Dona Juana M to and heirs, who leased them to the brave beef winger M to Carmen Camacho. This part of Jardinillo, now called the Jardinillo above, it is made up of the mountain area, the area of crying of dry (two of the plots on the other side of the road CA-211) and the Palmar Bello. Jardinilllo's other part was sold to Don José Manuel Durán Gallardo. This would be the so-called Jardinillo downstairs today, which is composed of irrigated land, the other two plots that are to the other side of the road and a slice of mountain.
In the part belonging to Dona Juana M to and heirs a new farmhouse(approximately 1975) in which there was a house for the cowboy, since the cattle of the brothers Benitez de la Cuesta continued on the farm, and one house for the owners by the time they came to the farmhouse. It was after a while. cinging Dona Juana M decided to lease her lands to Doña M to Carmen Camacho, More or less in 1985. This lease lasted until about 2001, until Then many brave calves were raised from this prestigious livestock in Jardinillo, where they stayed for a while. Soon after they were taken to La Fifth, estate owned by M to Carmen, where they were until they were bulls It's good for the deal. In the summer period, cattle were taken to other farms for them to graze (exhaust), this transfer was made on foot; one of the farms Where the cattle passed the exhaust was Gallardo, a farm near Jerez.
During the period of lease to Dona Mosmen dies of the doña Juana Ma, due to the death of her mother, the heirs Benitez decide sell the Jardinillo estate above, given its inexperience and lack of time you need to keep a farm.
Today part of this estate belongs to the municipality of Benalup-Casas Old (current fairground), another area is part of a project of a new golf course and another of a future urbanization(El .Palmar Bello.)
Along with all these projects or already done they continue to graze retinct rescues Of all this.
Regarding Jardinillo from below, it continues to be owned by Don José Manuel Durán, who begins to blow up the estate from the moment of its purchase. It started. with the sowing of irrigated beet, wheat, barley, etc., crops With those he continues today. It also has a livestock, composed so much for horse cattle (Hispanic-Arab and pure Spanish race) as for cattle (mainly retinta race). This livestock participates in numerous fairs, in which it has won major prizes. Among the fairs stand out the fair of Jerez and the fair of San Miguel de Sevilla.
The already named cattle is born and breeds in the estate, until it is ready to be sold to the slaughterhouse. The cattle horse is destined mainly for sale, a horse of this iron was bought by the retired rejoneador Javier Buendía.
Since 2020, owned by Mr. Peter Silling and his family, a modern farm that cultivates olives and avocados according to the latest standards. As well as breeding and selling top-tier polo horses, meticulously selected and expertly trained to excel in the demanding sport of polo.