Green Living
‘Getting back to basics’
We do everything we can to nurture and protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us.
Our holistic approach to gardening lets nature do what it does best with just a little help from us in terms of pruning and tidying. We don’t use any chemicals on the land, and you will find abundant native species of herbs, flowers, trees and bushes as well as birds, insects and a couple of friendly local chameleons.
Our wild, natural gardens include shady spots for relaxing in a hammock, flower-filled meadows for picnics and scenic walks across unspoiled countryside.
The beach is 5 to 10 minutes walk away, and the famed Pinos Piñoneros, or ‘magic mountain’ as Karen calls it – a giant sand dune bristling with umbrella pine trees, delicately scented with lavender and rosemary, that rises up straight out of the back of the property – is great fun for ‘sand surfing’.
Maintaining the houses and chozas
We use ecological and traditional cleaning products like vinegar where possible. In all of the houses you will find green products for washing up and cleaning, and eco balls are available from the office for the washing machine. Ecological paint has been used in the interiors of the all the properties and we kindly ask our clients to bring ecological toiletries with them.
Caring for the land and gardens
No chemicals are used on the land and we have a small vegetable and herb plot. We ask all guests to recycle their organic waste, such as raw fruit (not citrus fruit) and vegetables in our composter located behind the office. If you are unsure of what can be composted and what cannot, please consult the list in your rental accommodation and on the compost bin. We also shred the branches and trimmings of plants for use on the ground to prevent erosion and water loss due to evaporation.
Water conservation
Andalucia suffers with drought and we kindly ask guests not to waste water: don´t leave taps running, shower rather than bath, etc. For the purposes of watering we have two purification tanks and we also have our own well, which supplies the houses and chozas with water for washing etc. You cannot drink the tap water.
Flora and Fauna
Within Casas Karen and our surroundings we have a wide variety of wild and native species including chameleons and other types of animal. Please respect their habitat and leave it as you find it.
Projects
In the longer term we hope to install solar panels to supply much of our electricity.
