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Recently spent a week travelling through Portugal. Saw a lot of cork-based trinkets for tourists. Didn't realise cork was such a fundamental part of Portuguese

Recently spent a week travelling through Portugal. Saw a lot of cork-based trinkets for tourists. Didn't realise cork was such a fundamental part of Portuguese culture. Also didn't realise it was fire resistant! I am now intrigued by the possibilities of what we could make with this spongy wood. But at over 40 years until it's harvestable, it doesn't look like I'll be reaping the rewards of planting my own cork trees any time soon. Are there any ways to support existing cork farms and invest in new plantations?

PedroBatista 4y ago
Quem pensa em si planta um eucalipto. Quem pensa nos filhos planta um pinheiro. Quem pensa nos netos planta um sobreiro. ------------------- Who thinks of himself plants an eucalyptus. Who thinks of his children plants a pine tree. Who thinks of his grandchildren plants a cork tree. The best way to support is not to fund mega touristic projects / intensive farming or solar projects that cause cork trees to either "disappear" or die magically. Cork trees are protected by law.
- HarryHirsch 4y ago
  For non-Portuguese: the eucalypt refers to eucalyptus plantations, the wood being used for paper production. They are a disaster for native species and also extremely susceptible to forest fires.
  - mickdeek86 4y ago
    Californians, especially long-time Californians, are sadly well aware
- libertine 4y ago
  Vinhas minhas. Olivais dos meus pais. Montados dos meus antepassados. --- Which is a nice saying, but also points in the direction that those who reap the benefits from this industry are the ones who got lucky to inherit land from their ancestors. While it's definitely a cultural mark of Portugal, that represents work and sustain in some regions, it's also a mark of wealth. A lot of the shifts you see, are just people looking for other ways to leverage their lottery land for more wealth gains - usually the fines are worth paying for the short term returns. They should be held accountable for the luck they had - should be a privilege, not a right.
rvieira 4y ago
I bought a cork wallet 10 years ago as a "novelty" thing. Still going strong (just a bit darkened by handling)!

PedroBatista 4y ago

Quem pensa em si planta um eucalipto. Quem pensa nos filhos planta um pinheiro. Quem pensa nos netos planta um sobreiro. ------------------- Who thinks of himself plants an eucalyptus. Who thinks of his children plants a pine tree. Who thinks of his grandchildren plants a cork tree. The best way to support is not to fund mega touristic projects / intensive farming or solar projects that cause cork trees to either "disappear" or die magically. Cork trees are protected by law.

HarryHirsch 4y ago
For non-Portuguese: the eucalypt refers to eucalyptus plantations, the wood being used for paper production. They are a disaster for native species and also extremely susceptible to forest fires.
- mickdeek86 4y ago
  Californians, especially long-time Californians, are sadly well aware
libertine 4y ago
Vinhas minhas. Olivais dos meus pais. Montados dos meus antepassados. --- Which is a nice saying, but also points in the direction that those who reap the benefits from this industry are the ones who got lucky to inherit land from their ancestors. While it's definitely a cultural mark of Portugal, that represents work and sustain in some regions, it's also a mark of wealth. A lot of the shifts you see, are just people looking for other ways to leverage their lottery land for more wealth gains - usually the fines are worth paying for the short term returns. They should be held accountable for the luck they had - should be a privilege, not a right.

rvieira 4y ago

I bought a cork wallet 10 years ago as a "novelty" thing. Still going strong (just a bit darkened by handling)!