Sometimes only tractor power will do

Before moving here we spent a lot of time working out as many practical details as we could, in part because we were so excited about the place, but largely to have a budget for the work and equipment we needed before we made an offer to buy it. Little point owning the property but not being able create the deluxe apartments we wanted for our guests.

Of all the things we considered, a tractor didn’t really register with us.

We spent the first year on the plot moving everything by hand – rocks, soil, water, plants, gravel, wood, and equipment. We used a petrol brushcutter to trim the grasses and wild-flowers on the olive groves, taking a few days each time to complete. 

In hindsight we realised we hadn’t considered just how much there would be to shuttle around the site, but it was proving to be an immense task in its own right, and was imposing limits on what we could achieve, and how long it took. If we wanted a dry-stone wall somewhere, for example, the first considerations were getting rid of spoil and bringing in rocks and stones from elsewhere on the site. Back-breaking work before even a stone was laid. These practicalities were stifling important projects at the outset, shaping what we tackled and how good the outcomes were. It was also taking its toll on us. We finally accepted, aching bodies and all, that we needed help!

The search for a cheap tractor began. It needed to be low to get under the olive trees, rugged to move around the site with its changing levels, and versatile.

Our budget meant we had to pick from a crop of older machines – vintage, you might say. Finding nothing suitable locally, we drew up a shortlist from further afield and one day in October we set off on our first serious viewing trip.

On the way to our first appointment, we drove past a huge dealership that hadn’t made it onto our search radar and made a note to drop in on our way back.  After an hour looking at a wonderful collection of tractors, we singled out a funny little bendy tractor with a chisel plough that was the best of the bunch, and moved on.

We called into the dealer we spotted en-route and found ourselves surrounded by vast grape harvesting machines so large we could drive our car underneath them! In amongst this collection of giants were two little vintage tractors, both lovingly refurbished and waiting for new homes – a Massey 135 and a John Deere 1035. Both were vine tractors, so potentially a little taller and narrower than we’d been looking for, but both appealed and we really warmed to Albert who had shown us around.

Our trip continued into the afternoon and we stopped at a couple more places to complete the shortlist, but the little John Deere was the stand-out of the day. He pushed the budget a bit, but we knew that he’d be a hard worker as his pedigree was so good.

A week later we were back with Albert and a deal was done for ‘Little John’, a plough, rear box and brushcutter, and he was delivered to us a few weeks later. Alberts brother, Josep, took care of the delivery and gave us detailed instructions on everything. 

In the meantime, we cleared a space for Little John in a sheltered spot on the site with a view to putting a small shed over him in due course. 

He now is an essential member of the team, although he arrived too late to help with the olive harvest! But the burdens of fetching, carrying and mowing are now shouldered by our little green tractor, for who’s help we are eternally grateful!

Claire & Ed