ORCHARD CHANNEL

orchard channel
action for the exhibition La No Comunidad (The Non-Community). Centro Centro. Madrid
video streamed for 96 consecutive days (October 26, 2018 – January 27, 2019) from the Juan Carlos I Royal Botanical Garden of the University of Alcalá de Henares
2 minutes 19 seconds

Since 1997, an organic garden has been cultivated at the Botanical Garden of the University of Alcalá to support university and non-university activities and to promote agriculture and food sustainability. The Botanical Garden’s vegetable garden covers 1 hectare and has more than 50 varieties of horticultural plants grown according to organic farming standards. A large area has been set aside for traditional crops such as onions, eggplants, artichokes, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and practically all of the crops grown in the region. Both irrigated crops (alfalfa, asparagus, and mimbrella) and dry crops have been established, as well as aromatic, culinary, and medicinal plants, and fruit trees typical of the region and some less common ones such as jujube and kiwi. There is also an important collection of vines, with almost 20 different varieties, some of which are used to make the Garden’s own wine.

The Organic Garden is one of the different areas offered by the Botanical Garden, which also includes collections of regional flora, arboretums, cactus and orchid greenhouses, and a large historic rose garden with unique varieties.

The Botanical Garden preserves living and documented collections of almost 8,000 different plant species, with four main objectives: scientific research, flora conservation, botanical and environmental education, and the establishment of a recreational area for people to enjoy nature.