The Mysterious Rock Circles of Lanzarote: How They Helped Farmers Survive

💡Lanzarote's farmers have overcome challenging farming conditions by creating a unique microclimate using wide shallow basins, volcanic walls, and a special volcanic rock called pecan.

🌱The innovative farming method in Lanzarote conserves moisture, protects plants from the sun and wind, and amplifies warmth, allowing crops like grapes, figs, almonds, and onions to grow without artificial irrigation.

🌋Lanzarote is a volcanic island in the Canary Islands with a history of frequent volcanic eruptions and occasional catastrophic flooding, posing additional challenges for farmers.

🔥The volcanic eruptions on Lanzarote in the 1800s destroyed hundreds of square miles of cropland, but the farmers' ingenuity and use of pecan volcanic rock helped restore life to the barren landscape.

👩‍🌾The farming technique in Lanzarote has become an inspiration for gardeners in dry climates worldwide, as it proves that crops can thrive even in arid and sunny conditions with the right agricultural practices.

What are the main challenges faced by farmers in Lanzarote?

—Farmers in Lanzarote face challenges such as a lack of water, volcanic terrain, frequent volcanic eruptions, and occasional catastrophic flooding.

How do farmers in Lanzarote overcome these challenges?

—Farmers in Lanzarote have developed an innovative farming technique that involves creating microclimates using wide shallow basins, volcanic walls, and a special volcanic rock called pecan. This technique helps conserve moisture, protect plants from the sun and wind, and amplify warmth.

What crops are grown in Lanzarote using this farming technique?

—In Lanzarote, crops such as grapes, figs, almonds, onions, and row crops are grown using the innovative farming technique.

Are artificial irrigation systems used in Lanzarote's farming?

—No, the crops in Lanzarote are grown without artificial irrigation. The microclimate created by the farming technique helps the crops thrive with the limited rainfall the island receives.

How has the farming technique in Lanzarote inspired gardeners in dry climates?

—The farming technique in Lanzarote has shown that crops can be grown successfully in dry and sunny conditions with the right agricultural practices. This has inspired gardeners in similar climates worldwide to explore similar techniques for their own farming or gardening endeavors.

00:00Lanzarote, an island in the Canary Islands, is known for its distinct landscape and challenging farming conditions.

02:52Lanzarote's farmers have developed an innovative farming technique using wide shallow basins, volcanic walls, and a special volcanic rock called pecan.

04:06This technique helps conserve moisture, protect plants from the sun and wind, and amplify warmth, allowing crops like grapes, figs, almonds, and onions to grow without artificial irrigation.

05:39Lanzarote's volcanic eruptions in the 1800s destroyed cropland, but the farmers' use of pecan volcanic rock helped restore life to the barren landscape.

07:35Despite the volcanic activity and occasional catastrophic flooding, the farmers' ingenious farming technique has turned Lanzarote into a horticultural triumph.