The biologist Josep Maria Riba was in a professional get-together with the second CFGS students of Gestión Forestal (Forest Management). The theme was about factors that predispose and trigger plagues and illness in forest areas mass and how to manage these elements to minimise the cost and problems.We could analyse the Maresme's forest situation mass and the different Pirineo's forest areas.Also, they discussed the problem between natural parks of USA and Canada. Once the meeting ended, he shared with all of us his experiences and his big insect collection (with adult and larva size), insect galleries and symptoms that throughout his professional life he has been collecting. In this way, we ended up knowing clearly how are the main plagues of perforators and defoliators of Catalonia.
On May 23, the second students of GM of gardening had a working day with little excavators, machines very used in the gardening sector. The working day started by doing all the theoric part, about the excavator's functioning, the controls, the maintenance, the purchase and rent price, the efficiency and, especially, the precaution and security required when we work with them. When the theoric part was done, we switched to the practice part. The students, all and each of them, could practice either with the little excavator or the little rotating machine. It was a very good experience that will help them in professional life because they will be able to rent and work these machines with security and knowledge. At this point, we would like to express our gratitude towards the implication of Mr Carles Viladecans during the day.
Student visit of the second GMF group. The students visited Camadoca's wild fauna centre. It's a centre managed by the Asociación de Defensa y Estudio de la Fauna y la Flora Autóctona (ADEFFA) which works in different Berguedà's native fauna conservation projects, like naiads and native crabs. With the visit, it was expected to raise awareness among the students about the invader species problem and the importance of native species breeding programmes. Environmental education and awareness is a key line of work at the centre because through education the ecologic value of these species can be published and put in motion the importance of biodiversity and the key role that people execute when it comes to preserving the environment.
Quick visit but very intense by the school's teacher, Jordi González in Argentina from April 28th to May 5th. Among the scheduled activities, he assisted to the "Encuentro del Consejo de Administración de la Asociación Internacional de Movimientos Familiares de Formación Rural " (AIMFR), of whic he is the coordinator. Also, he was intervened as a guest from the "Ministerio de Eduación" to the 3º "Congreso Internacional de Escuelas de Alternancia" in Posadas city. Mr González visited three EFA and four ex-students to exchange impressions about their professional projects, know more about the rural environment situation of the country and its pedagogical aspects teaching in the EFA.
This month March has ended the “Herramientas de Interpretación” classes, “Comunicación y Gestión” of the first edition of the course. We leave behind the sessions of “Análisis del Paisaje y de las Actuaciones Paisajistas”, in relation with the new interventions like the ones that are related with the maintenance aspects and environmental reality conservation of the forest and gardening sector. The sessions have been in a class combined with some interesting and varied countryside trips, lead them by numerous landscapists, technicians of the sector and Universidad de Vic’s teachers.
+ info: http://www.quintanes.com/curs-paisatge-rural
Quintanes increase the machinery park for the “Jardinería” students with a battery lawnmower of the ECHO brand. Thanks to the collaboration we’ve done with Garriga’s Honda-Echo and Manresa’s Aldimak, we have managed to get this latest generation lawnmower. Battery machines, past and future, are the students' tools that use to test, to see and verify its efficiency and the results they offer. Therefore, we want to express our gratitude for the collaboration and involvement of these company in the traineeship of our students.
Student visit in Terrassa’s Vallparadís parks with the 2º GM students of “Jardinería”. We have explained aspects related to the management and the maintenance of public parks. Vallparadís park is made by three torrents: “Vallparadís”, “Monner” and “Ànimes”. Through the years the farmers distinguished the different areas of this green lung with the following names: “Torrent de les Bruixes”, “Torrent de Sant Pere”, “Torrent de Santa María”, “Hortes dels Frares”, “Hortes velles” y “Hortes de la Font de Sagrera.” The Vallparadís’s project period was adjudicated to Manuel Ribas Piera’s studio, an urbanist architect. The park was opened on February 8th, 1995 and made accessible to the citizens the first part of the actual park. In the subsequent stages that developed until its finalization. More than 395.000 m2 of green zone turn into one of the biggest urban parks of Catalonia. Vallparadís is Terrassa's green lung with a 3’9 km of length.
+ info: https://www.terrassa.cat/vallparadis
On Tuesday, 19 March Mr Jorge Heras, boss of the “Sección de Planificación del Departamento of Generalitat de Catalunya” gave us a professional get together. He has different functions. On the one hand, he is in charge of projects development and public investment programs in forestry hydrology area, hydrology restoration of basins, defence against erosion and avalanches and, preservation of forestry lands. On the other hand, he informs about the suggestions of urgent interventions zones. Also, Mr Jorge Heras is responsible for studying preventatives structures against forests fires in projects about reforestation and natural regeneration. And, he is in charge of elaborating programmes about forestry production, of improvement and pasture ordering. So, the get together definitely has been very interesting and rewarding.
The 1º students of GM of “Aprovechamiento y Conservación del Medio Natural” visited the Mas Pujol de la muntanya studios. In the visit, they worked and went into detail about country house management and the beginnings of vegetal health. Juan Marfil was responsible who explained to us the different topics related to the centenary chestnut management and the beginnings of vegetal health.
This March some students of Olot's Escuela PIA, who are currently studying PFI: “Programa de Formación e Inserción Forestal (Education program and forestal insertion) have visited us. The studies are made for young people from 16 to 21 year old who weren’t able to get ESO. The visit was leaded by Marta Domènech, Forestry engineering of the Ripollès’s regional office.
Thursday, 27th of March, we visited with 2º students of “Superior de Gestión Forestal” the Aricoforest company installations in Les Preses. During the visit, the manager Antoni Arimany (Quintanes’s ex-student) explained to us how he managed, starting from almost nothing, to open a company dedicated in works about forestry, gardening and roads maintenance; how it is organized and how they manage to control it. And, how the company has been able to consolidate and enlarge. He also told us about Aricoforest bet by the use of alternative energy like sunlight and electric vehicle. The students could see the Aricoforest’s machinery part and its installations.
2o GM students of Gardening with Jordi Rosell and Toni Martorell, both practice teachers, have built the Escola 4 vents garden in Manlleu. The garden was designed by Carles Lorca and Manuel Vicente. The idea was about combining in the same area what each wind could provide to the school: a forest, a vegetable patch, an aromatic labyrinth and a sandbox where the kids could play. It was a great challenge! The students had to manage the replant, material and plant supply, and its execution with a closed budget. Thanks to the support of Albert Mas, who allow them to use his little excavator, the project was able to finish in a day. A complete success!
On Tuesday 7 March, 2o GS de Ramaderia i Assistència en Sanitat Animal students visited the Hospital Clínic Veterinari UAB. Our students could see the different areas assigned to animal treatment, either small, big or exotic animals. Whereas CRESA, health service animal’s laboratory, has as objective, in a general sector, researching and technologic development, studies and education in all the aspects of animal health. The students could see how does work a laboratory with biocontainment of Level 3 (NBS3). The visits were very enriching and motivational for our students.
On Thursday, 28 February, the 2o students of GM in Agriculture and Livestock Production made two student visits to complement the study machinery plan. In the morning, they visited Can Fraser de Aiguaviva where Mr Jordi Aulet explained us all the machinery they have, putting any kind of details about use, maintenance, failure, production, comparing between brand, price, profitability and so on. However, in the afternoon they visited Juscafresa company in Camallera where Juscafresa family explained us and show us everything regarding the design, manufacturing, assembly and commercialization about all their products, which they principally are spreaders trailers, UNIFEED trailers, platforms, zero grazers, etc. So, we want to express our gratitude to both company for their availability and good treatment towards us.
On Thursday, 28 February the school received the visit of three teachers from Lycee & CFPPA of Guingamp-Kernilis de Plouisy Bretaña (France). This secondary school (Lycee) is putting into practice a program of Erasmus. The objective of the visit was to know the school and its professional training methodology in Catalunya and set up a future collaboration between both schools in order to exchange students and teachers.
On February 15, the 1o students of GM of Agriculture and Livestock Production visited SESACOR company, dedicated in fattening, importation and exportation of calves and lambs. They work principally with “graze” calves of different breeds like Montbeliarde, Xarolaise, Suïssa, Llemosína and so on. In total, they fatten 5000 heads and when they gain around 720kg of weight, they put them on sale. One of the most important parts was the visit to different installations. They started with the old ones and ended with the latest. Through the visit, the students could see the advantages and disadvantages of each one. Sergi and his father Joan attend us very well and explained us all the questions we had about management, health service, commercialization, etc.
On 30 and 31 January, the 2o students of GM “Producció Agropecuària” practiced a sowing trial. It has been market 12 smallholdings with different types of barley and one of wheat. The practice goes especially for the study of seeders, Maintenance, use, calibration, and so on. Once all the lessons are done. The sowing trial starts.
Visit to Vernis & Taberner Equips S.L. On the last 18 Friday of January,
the 1o students of GM “Producció Agropecuària” visited Vernis &
Taberner Equips S.L company in Gurb, dealer of the John Deere brand.
Mr. Manel Lara showed us all and each one of the company’s installations
while answering our doubts. When we finished, we took a look at the
store and in the exhibition zone of new tractors. Also, we ask all the
questions we had prepared before to take good advantage of the visit.
The visit pleased a lot all the students.
Therefore, we want to thank “Can Vernis” for their predisposition and
their excellent treatment that they always give.
On Tuesday 22 January, the 1o students of CFGM of Gardening visited Parcs I Jardins de Catalunya, SL. In this company they produce, build and design gardens, as well as their maintenance. In addition to this, they design and plan playgrounds and play areas over Catalunya. Parcs I Jardins de Catalunya is a leader company of gardening and environment in Catalunya.
On Wednesday, 9 January, the 2o students of CFGM of Gardening visited
BrucJardí in the morning and CORMA in the afternoon. In BrucJardí,
attended us Francesc Caballero, its manager, and Joan Soler, who is a
commercial technic.
During the visit, they showed us the different installations explaining the
diverse materials that exist to build a garden and the current trend.
In the morning, the students were able to see a lot of inert material, while in the afternoon, they could see thousands of plants in CORMA.
Both visits were perfect to get useful information for their student project.
We want to thank Francesc and Joan for their attention and well
treatment towards us. It’s always a pleasure to visit them.
On January 11th, the Mas La Carrera farm, located in Sant Esteve d'en Bas (La Garrotxa), was visited by the students of the second-year students of the High Degree in Livestock and Animal Health. Mas La Carrera is a family company that currently has about 300 meat cows of different breeds, which fattens calves and markets quality beef products with the Natrus brand. Salvador Carrera, he explained to students the evolution and current operation of the company. Mas La Carrera is a pioneer in the introduction of cows of the Angus breed. This breed is recognized for the quality of its meat. In Mas La Carrera they also do agricultural work on the land. The livestock feed is of their own harvest, and in the case of cows it is based on pastures and forages, in addition to summer cows also transhumance in Ripollès to take advantage of mountain pastures. Cows are provident with an individual identification system and the Global Positioning System, GPS, which includes sensors that help the herd’s management. Feeding fattening calves is a "unifeed" type ration with a high fodder base. Mas La Carrera is a sample of a company that evolves, and undertakes improvement projects. The school, we appreciate Mas La Carrera the opportunity to make this interesting visit.
On 11th December, the Mas Bes dairy farm, received the visit of first-year students of High Level of Livestock and Animal Health. Mas Bes is a company that produces cow milk branded ATO Nature. Joan Viñolas, explained the evolution and how the farm operates nowadays, the biogas plant where they produce electricity, and the farm’s visits available to all kind of groups of people interested. The visitors can supplement the experience visiting the historical Farm Museum, seeing the evolution of farmers’ lifestyle, the shop where you can buy several farm’s products, and finally eating in the restaurant farm. Mas Bes is an example of a company open to the public, which evolves, undertakes news projects, and announces products which are the result of their work and values. We, the School, thank the Mas Bes farm, for giving us the opportunity to make this interesting visit.
