A single room farm building was built on a terrace, with a track leading down onto the grove. About 150 "rough" lemon trees were planted in neat rows on the flat valley floor in front of the building.
The land close to the stream was used as a vineyard and at some point a drilled well was made between the vineyard and the lemon grove. This was apparently quite a challenge; it took three attempts to find a deep water source.
In the mid 1980s the vineyard next to the stream was replanted with 150 of the the "interdonata" variety of lemon tree which produces beautiful seedless fruits. The rootstock for these trees is "bitter orange" which is supposed to be more resistant to disease caused by damp conditions. unfortunately vines continue to spring up each year, winding through the lemon tree branches.
The Lemon Grove bacame part of Trigono-Lamda in March 2000. It was a productive grove, though some trees were large and overgrown. The grove was devastated by ice in 2003-4 and has never recovered; partly due to lack of funds and partly to recurring winter frosts.
Living at the lemon Grove
The Summer House has been inhabited for short periods of time from 2000. Although the drilled well is broken, tanked water can be brought during the summer months and in winter water can be collected from the stream and rainwater harvesting. For drinking and cooking bottled water or mains tap water from the village must be used. Lighting is not needed in summer and torches, gas lamps and olive oil lamps can be used for night-time lighting. Heating during cold spells was provided by calor gas which was also used for cooking. An alternative would be to install a wood-burning stove. Barbecued food is good; but lighting fires in summer is dangerous and bonfires are forbidden. We did not use a fridge when We did not use a fridge; however a gas fridge could be installed.
Annual Work at the lemon grove is to clear round the trees each year to prevent brambles and vines taking hold, and to remove dead branches from the trees. The land has been tilled most years. Areas around the trees have become a rich habitat for wildlife but the trees have suffered.
Renovation of the Lemon Grove 2009-2010
The first stage of the renovation was completed using heavy bulldozing equipment in April 2009, leaving the grove cleared of dead trees but not tilled. Although the idea of using such a heavy-handed method of reclaiming the land seemed alien, opening up vistas within the grove will enhance it's beauty once smaller plants re-colonise the cleared areas. The machinery was brought by lorry to a place close to the site; then unloaded, making the remaining journey under its own power. Work was completed in two days.
First to be cleared was the 2 strema of flat land above the lemon grove. This has been levelled and shrubby growth removed, so that the three remaining trees become features and the southerly view from the summer house is clear. Unfortunately the wall was bulldozed away which was not part of the plan!
Trees have been removed from the original tractor access area on the North side of the building, while excess soil from the formation of a new, gently sloping, road to the south has been piled against the bank on the east side of the house. A future stage of the project may be to put a retaining wall here. of the grove. The large olive tree on the bank has not been harvested for four years. About 100 citrus trees remain, some of which bear lemons, while others bear bitter orange fruit but have been retained because of the exceptional fragrance of their flowers, and the attraction to, bees and other wildlife.
Although the grove overall has been devastated, some trees are likely to benefit from increased light and air. These include a Kumquat tree by the stream and mandarin trees closer to the summer house. It may be necessary to plant some other native trees to enhance the new grove, and if so they will be chosen carefully to withstand the damp winter climate as well as the summer drought.
By December 2010 the grove should be looking much neater, though more like a park than a grove. It is intended that some Some land will be left untilled each year, possibly on a rotating basis, so that bienniel and perennial plants will flourish along with wild bulbs and annuals. The area immediately surrounding the building has been cleared and covered with black plastic sheeting, coated with loose stone chippings to help keep weeds in check without using weedkiller.
Where there are buildings in rural areas, there has to be a balance between keeping wild areas and protecting humans from bites and stings.