Xuso Jones discovers the authentic side of Gran Canaria at La Jaira de Ana
Is it possible to switch off from the noise of the television and social media for an afternoon? TV presenter and influencer Xuso Jones proved that it is. On his recent getaway to Gran Canaria, Xuso decided to leave protocol and the rat race behind to immerse himself fully in the traditions of our island, choosing La Jaira de Ana as his natural retreat in Agüimes. Known for his energy and sense of humour, Xuso was looking for an experience that combined nature, wellbeing and, above all, authenticity. What began as an afternoon of unwinding ended up being a total immersion in the life of our farm school. What did Xuso Jones get up to at La Jaira de Ana? If you’d like to follow in the footsteps of the man from Murcia, here are the activities he took part in: 1. Connecting with animals and visiting the farm Nothing cures stress quite like direct contact with nature. Xuso got to meet our stars, the jairas, and experienced the most heart-warming moment of the day: feeding little Escarlata. Xuso’s look of surprise at seeing the energy of our little goats says it all. Book our Farm Visit here. 2. Hands-on: Artisan Cheese Workshop Guided by Anabel, the heart and soul of our project, Xuso swapped the microphones for an apron. He took part in our Cheese Workshop, where he learnt the traditional process of making Canarian goat’s cheese, from the importance of the raw ingredients to the manual pressing. We can vouch for his talent in traditional cooking! Learn to make your own cheese at our Cheese Workshop. 3. The taste of the Canary Islands: tasting and sampling To round off the afternoon in style, a tasting of locally sourced produce was a must. Xuso sampled a selection of our finest cheeses paired with local wines, enjoying the tranquillity and scenery of south-east Gran Canaria. Book your Tasting and Sampling session. Take a look at the summary of his visit Looking for something a bit different to do in Gran Canaria? Xuso Jones’s visit reminded us why we do what we do: to offer a place where time stands still. Whether you’re with family, friends or simply looking for a bit of personal well-being, we look forward to welcoming you to La Jaira de Ana, where you too can be the star of your own rural adventure. Will you be visiting us? Book your activity now via our website.
Rural life sustained by all: Anabel’s reflections following a March of voice and earth
March has been a month of action, of words and of deep-rooted values. A month in which the voices of many women from rural areas have resonated louder than ever, reminding us of something essential: the countryside cannot sustain itself alone; it is sustained by all of us together. Here at La Jaira de Ana, this month has been an opportunity to share, learn and also to pause and reflect. Because behind every rural project there is hard work, history, community… and, very often, women who make it all possible. Today we want to share Anabel’s reflections following a March full of meetings, interviews and conversations that have left a lasting impression on us. March interviews Over the past month, we’ve had the opportunity to take part in various events that have highlighted the role of women in rural communities, conscious entrepreneurship, and the importance of raising the profile of authentic projects. Here’s the interview with RTVE, in which we discuss entrepreneurship, hard work, and the value of women in rural areas. In this interview, we share how La Jaira de Ana came about, the challenges of starting a business in the countryside, and the importance of building projects with a purpose, where sustainability is not just a label, but a way of life. We are also part of this initiative that highlights the role of rural women in the Canary Islands, championing the countryside as a safe, dignified and violence-free space. A necessary, genuine message that still needs to be amplified further. You can view the ‘Sustainable Rurality, Built by All’ campaign here. Social media and the role of the countryside: How can we bring the countryside to screens around the world? On the Ponte al Día programme, we discussed something that is becoming increasingly important: how to communicate the rural world in the digital age. Social media has become a key tool for: Showing the reality of the countryside without filters Giving visibility to authentic rural projects Connecting with people seeking a more mindful life Bringing the land closer to those who live far from it Sharing what we do is not just about communicating; it is also about raising awareness. What does ‘Sustaining Rural Life’ really mean? Sustaining rural life is not just about farming the land or looking after animals. It goes much deeper than that. It means keeping alive the values, traditions and knowledge passed down from generation to generation. It means embracing a way of life that is slower, more respectful and more connected to the environment. But it also means providing emotional support, offering companionship and building community. Rural life cannot be sustained in isolation. It is sustained: Through networks Collectively Often by women Through care, not haste In projects such as La Jaira de Ana, sustaining rural life means opening our doors, sharing what we do, and allowing others to experience the countryside in a genuine way. The impact of the campaign ‘Sustaining rural life together’ This month has not been just about words; it has also been about impact. The campaign has served to bring necessary conversations to the table and to remind us that the rural world has a voice… and has a lot to say. Three lessons from this March 1. Visibility is essential What is not seen does not exist. And the rural world needs to be told from within, with authenticity, without idealising it but also without making it invisible. 2. The countryside is also about innovation Entrepreneurship in rural areas is not about looking to the past; it is about building the future. It is about combining tradition with new ways of communicating, producing and connecting. 3. Community is everything No rural project stands alone. Behind it all are networks, support, collaboration and many hands working together. Rural life is collective or it is not. March leaves us with the feeling that we are on the right track, but also with the responsibility to keep sharing, educating and building. Because sustaining rural life is not just a slogan. It is a daily commitment. And, above all, it is something we all do together. 📍 Find out more about our activities and experiences at La Jaira de Ana
Life Finds a Way! Welcome to the Newest Baifos at La Jaira de Ana
Some moments on the farm simply can’t be planned. They just happen — catching you with your hands full and your heart about to burst. The birth of the baifos is one of those moments. No matter how many times you’ve lived it: when you watch a newborn stand on its feet for the very first time, something inside you just stops. At La Jaira de Ana, we don’t just offer you a pretty place. We offer you a day in the heart of nature, surrounded by animals, workshops, games and (plenty of) smiles. A place where adults and children alike enjoy themselves — no screens, no rushing, no background noise. Just what matters. The Magic of Farm Life: When New Baifos Are Born On the farm, time moves differently. There are no quarters or deadlines. Births mark the rhythm of nature with a precision no calendar can match. And when kidding season arrives, the whole farm feels it. The other goats grow restless. The dogs stay sharper. We sleep with one eye open. It’s exhausting and it’s beautiful, in equal measure. What Is a Baifo? Tradition and Rural Culture in the Canary Islands If you’re from the islands, you already know. But if you’re visiting from elsewhere, you might be wondering: a baifo? “Baifo” is the Canarian word for a baby goat — a newborn kid. It’s one of those words that sounds exactly like what it is: small, lively, still a little wobbly on its feet. Its origins are uncertain, but it has been part of the islands’ farming vocabulary for centuries — especially in Gran Canaria, where the majorera goat has been far more than a domestic animal for generations. The goat has been the lifeline of many Canarian families. Milk for the children, cheese to sell at the market, meat for celebrations. In times when nothing went to waste, goats gave almost everything. And that bond — that quiet, almost wordless gratitude toward the animal — is something we at La Jaira de Ana work hard to keep alive. Animal Welfare and Respect for Nature’s Cycles La Jaira de Ana is not an industrial farm. We are a small holding where every animal has a name, a story and a personality of its own. Where goats graze, roam and interact. Where we never force or rush anything that shouldn’t be forced or rushed. Sometimes nature makes decisions we don’t like. A difficult labour, a fragile newborn. In those moments, we step in with everything we have. But we have also learned to watch without interfering, to respect the process, to trust what these animals have been doing long before any farm existed. That balance between care and respect is, for us, the very heart of what we do here. Meeting the Baifos: An Educational Experience for the Whole Family There’s something baifos do without even trying: they reconnect people with something they had forgotten. When a child — or an adult, let’s be honest — sees a baifo up close for the first time, touches it, hears it bleat, something switches on. An ancient curiosity. A question they didn’t know they had. Where does the milk I drink every morning come from? How is cheese made? Why is this animal looking at me like that? What the little ones learn Farm visits aren’t just entertainment. They are education in its purest form — no books, no screens. Children learn that food has an origin, that animals have needs, that rural life demands constant effort and attention. They learn to respect what they didn’t know before. And in a world where most children believe milk is born in a carton, that’s worth a great deal. Activities You Can Book at La Jaira de Ana If you’d like to come and meet the baifos — and while you’re at it, learn a little more about life on the farm — here’s what you can do with us: 🌿 Visit the farm Come for a walk around the holding, meet our animals and see how a real working farm runs day to day. The baifos, the goats, the dogs that guard the herd — they’re all part of the same story, one you can experience firsthand. 🧀 Cheese-Making Workshop One of our most special workshops. You’ll learn the entire artisan cheese-making process from start to finish. No prior knowledge needed. The workshop is hands-on, relaxed and designed for all ages. You’ll work with your own two hands and go home with the pride of having made something from scratch. And a serious craving for cheese. That too. 🥛 Milking Workshop (Sundays only) On Sundays, we offer the chance to milk one of our goats. Yes, you. With your own hands. Guided every step of the way by someone who knows exactly what they’re doing. Milking is one of the oldest tasks in livestock farming — and one of the most intimate. You have to earn the animal’s trust, be patient, find the rhythm. It’s not as easy as it looks in videos, but when it comes together, the sense of achievement is immense. It’s an activity that forms an essential part of Canarian farming tradition, and at La Jaira de Ana we keep it alive every Sunday. Visiting La Jaira de Ana: Nature, Learning and Connection If you’re looking for something different in Gran Canaria — something beyond the usual tourist trail, something with real substance — La Jaira de Ana is exactly that. A place where time slows down, where the animals set the pace, where you learn things that stay with you. It’s a plan for families, for groups, for curious couples, for anyone who wants to reconnect with something more real than a screen. 🌱 Life Keeps Growing on the Farm The baifos born these past few days are already taking their first steps. They already recognise their mothers. They’re already exploring the world with that mix of nerves and boldness that only the newly