The restoration of the haystacks of the Pinolere Ethnographic Museumwith a municipal investment of 100,000 euros, is part of the protection and conservation program, whose objective is to recover, restore, disseminate and protect these infrastructures. At the same time, it enhances the ancient trade of corkers, the cultivation of rye and the agricultural landscape. Mayor, Francisco Linaresexplains that the City Council seeks to “maintain these buildings so characteristic of the midlands of La Orotava in good condition.”
These works focus on rehabilitate the haystacks that are on municipal properties, although the objective is also to favor the recovery of privately owned ones. An example of the objectives of this plan is the rehabilitation of the hayloft located at the Manuel de Falla school, in 2021, which after the rehabilitation houses the ethnography classroom of the educational center.
Of the three haystacks located in the Pinolere enclosure, In the coming days, one’s comprehensive recovery will culminate. The others were the subject of the renovation and the placement of the framework for the roof, waiting to collect the rye straw in the month of June, since the fire affected the crop and there is not enough material to do it now. The haystacks of the Pinolere ethnographic site are used to preserve the museum collections, above all.
The municipal government announces that next year it plans to rehabilitate the two barns of Water Meek, which are located on public land. The investment will be around 350,000 euros, so the City Council will request financial support from the Council.
La Orotava also hopes to implement in 2024 the municipal ordinance to protect the haystacks, which will regulate the system for covering the haystacks and simplify bureaucratic procedures for owners who want their recovery and conservation.
The haystacks or haystacks of La Orotava have a rectangular plan, stone walls on which the traditional hipped straw roof rests. They were homes in the past, so they are part of popular culture, and are a symbol of rural areas. La Orotava works with an inventory of 290 haystacks, most of them private and in poor condition.
