six to seven offspring to just two or three. Economy Until the middle of the 20th century, agriculture and related activities such as blacksmithing or watermills were Alkiza's main economic activities. Agrarian activity was organized around the farm and it was largely a subsistence economy. They used to live on what the farm produced. Unlike in other Gipuzkoan regions, it doesn't seem that shepherding had a great weight in the economy of the Alkiza farms. Alkiza has historically three mills: Igaran, in Arana neighbourhood on Mandabe stream, and Olaa and Goiko Errota in Aldapa neighbourhood on Aranguren stream. These last two mills were active until 1953. Corn and wheat were ground. In the 16th century, it is worth noting the Egurrola forge, which had a very important activity between 1511 and 1615. The forge were destroyed by a large flood. Charcoal was an important monetary supplement for the farmers of Alkiza, who sold it to the industry and homes in nearby municipalities such as Tolosa. Wood from the forests of Hernio is a very suitable raw material for the manufacture of charcoal. This activity shaped the structure of Alkiza's forests, resulting in many pollarded beech trees. This activity survived until the early 1960s. In the 1950s, a dozen and a half charcoal bunkers could be lit at the same time. Between 1945 and 1950 a group of entrepreneurs, including the mayor of Alkiza, Mateo Aranburu, built a system of cables, pulleys and posts used to take down beech wood from the forests of Hernio to the Konporta farmhouse in Asteasu. This wood was sold to bakeries and used to cook bread. In the last decades of the 20th century, Alkiza had a small industrial estate next to the Umanea neighbourhood of Asteasu, which is no longer active. Baldosas Jarri was the main local company. At present, Alkiza has a very weak economic activity of its own and the locals work mainly outside the municipality, mainly in the industry and services of the region. It is worth noting the presence of a significant group of university professors among the residents of Alkiza. In 2020, two farms, the Lete rural hotel, Inazio Urruzola Txakoli winery, the municipal restaurant, Elektralkiza mini hydroelectric plant and a sharpening company make up the productive fabric of Alkiza. Politics Since Alkiza became an independent municipality citizens got the right of electing the mayor. As mentioned above, the