Last week we bid farewell to our group of European volunteers after two months of living together, learning, and working side by side in the region. These have been intense weeks in which people from different corners of Europe—Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, and Poland—have joined our daily life at Semillistas, bringing energy, curiosity, and a strong desire to get involved.
During this time, we shared knowledge about forest restoration, direct seeding, and the functioning of Mediterranean ecosystems. But we also learned together about collective organization, community life, and ways to relate to the environment through care and collaboration.
One of the most visible results of this experience has been the planting of thousands of acorns in the Sierra Lújar, near Órgiva. However, beyond the numbers, what we take away is something harder to measure: the relationships that have been formed, the conversations, the laughter, and the mutual transformation that occurs when we share time and purpose.
We know that this experience leaves a mark on both those who have come and those of us who are part of Semillistas. It transforms us as people and also, little by little, transforms the land we inhabit and care for.
So, a big thank you to Gaby, Íñigo, Jules, Marisha, Nikita, Pipa, Sara, Biaggio, Elena, and Sasha for coming to share. Also to the organizations and programs that made this possible, such as the Órgiva City Council, the team of workshop leaders who shared their knowledge, and the supporting initiatives like Erasmus+ CES and the collaborating institutions.
We continue walking, learning, and sowing, with the certainty that every gathering is also a way to regenerate.
