Help us with our permaculture project in Samothraki, Greece

Details

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  Description

  we just bought a beautiful piece of land in the magical island of samothraki .
  our vision is to create here a self sustainable paradise, and also a place where people can come and learn different skills related to sustainable life and well being .
  samothraki is an amazing island , 1600 meters high mountain on the mediterranenan sea, rich with forests, springs, waterfalls, thousand years old trees, crystals, hot springs and natural beauty all around.
  in the last years is suffering from overgrazing (since european union funds brought to a terrible increase in the number of goats and sheeps on the island ), and part of the project aims to reforest the land and also the mountains.
  we are a couple, Baba and Iason.
  Baba s interests, are all the tools practices and activities that are related to growth, well being, and authenticity.
  working with the land, planting food and taking care of it , restoring houses, building with natural materials , beekeeping, hicking and exploring nature, as well as conscious movement, somatic practices, body attention, dance, shamanic jurneys. in the last years she decided to learn what in her experience are the most effective tools to gain well being, and is currently teaching sensitive dance , facilitating family costellations, and being a Grinberg Method practitioner.
  Iason is a diver and a carpenter, he just took with a freind the abandoned diving centre of the island and start working it again. he loves climbing, kite surf, and building things in the most precise and effective way .
  We both love exploring island nature, swimming to remote beaches, eating fruits from the trees, and growing through life experiences.
  the land is four and half hectars, starting 150 meters from the beach and reaching the base of the mountain.
  it has big plane trees, some bits of woods, lots of wild pear trees, and beautiful views of the sea and mountains .
  in old times had probably houses on it -there is big amount of stones and pieces of clay around- and it had some terraces. in more recent times was used to grow corn for the goats, and after just to have the goats grazing around .
  the first part of the project aims to restore the soil fertility, create a water retantion landscape and a natural pool to collect and use the rain waters, planting lots of trees , remodeling and rebuilding the stone terraces, and starting to plant all we want to grow : trees for shade, for food, for wood , for life :). bushes and different officinal plants, as well as flowers, herbs, and of course a big variety of food and vegetables .
  we want to grow rice and spelt following the natural agricolture method , to grow grapes to make our own wine , and have at least a thousand of different fruit varieties :)
  when the natural fertility and aboundance of nature is restored and food is there, we want to start building the spaces to host seminars and workshops about many different techinques, skills and practices that sustain the wellbeing of ourselves, our relationships with fellow humans and with the planet we live in .
  a place where people who are motivated to get rid of their limitations and sufferings and to grow to be as happy and free as the conditions around allow it, can come and find tools for their own self developement.
  a place to grow .

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  with us you can learn a lot about the island , its herbs and plants, and remote corners of paradise.
  baba is a great cook , and if you re interested you can learn lots of traditional italian and greek recipies, plus different food from differents parts of the world.
  gardening, pruning , planting , building with stones, with woods, with clay .
  natural agricolture.
  making tinctures, essential oils, beewax creams, and how to use them .
  we both like to share what we already know and happy to learn from you !

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  Help

  we need help with many different things :
  in the garden, digging and keeping clean channels for watering, planting seeds and taking care of small plants, planting them in the garden, weeding , collecting and storing seeds.
  planting small trees, from seeds or from branches, and taking care of them .
  cleaning spaces that will be garden from stones, and making stone terraces plus restoring the old ones.
  fencing the part of the land that still need fence: painting the iron poles , putting them in the ground, putting the fence .
  cleaning the forest parts from dry branches, bramble bushes.
  collecting woods for fire, making wooden poles to support climbing veggies
  making compost
  collecting from neighbours and around the island the branches they throw away and animal manure to add oraginc material to the land
  building a compost toilet, a clay oven , a communal kitchen .
  welding iron doors for the fence .
  planting a green fence around the land -wild roses, hawthorns, and others spiky bushes-
  cleaning sheep wool and carding to make pillow, materasses, clothes.
  making land art, magic corners , beauty all around
  building a stone floor around the container, a shed to keep woods dry.
  building two small stone huts

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  Languages spoken

  Greek: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate
  French: Intermediate
  Portuguese: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  the accomodation is very basic . we have no toilet yet, we dig holes and cover them after.
  we have a canvas tent that can host up to 4 people . we have blankets and materasses and can provide clean sheets.
  you are welcome to bring your own tent if you prefer, and we have space to park a van if this is how you re travelling .
  water runs from the river, is fresh and aboundant . we drink it also , but specially summer we also bring drinking water from a spring.
  we use natural soap a friend makes here to wash ourselves, dishes and clothes.
  we take shower with the water from the stream in summer, and in colder days we have an outside bathtube that we heat with fire.
  as regards food, we provide the groceries for breakfast , and we have a big meal all together once a day.
  we make our own organic olive oil, buy spelt flour and pasta from local farmers in the mainland close to the island, bake our own bread, eat mostly from our garden .
  meat cheese and eggs we use are local , vegetarian and vegan option are easy to satisfy.
  the days we do not work together you are responsible for you food (groceries and cooking)

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  What else ...

  samothraki is one of the most beautiful places on earth!
  the island has a really strong energy, very intense and sometiems challenging . it used to be the second most important place for mysteric religion in ancient greece, hosting the cabirian mysteries .
  at walking distance you can reach the beach (five minutes), the hot springs (about half hour walk ) and natural pools and waterfalls (also around half hour walk). the mountains is just up , with very few paths but lots of incontaminated beauty, springs and waterfalls, huge ancient trees, crystals , and peace.
  the closest village in the summer is very lively, with markets, people gathering and playing music, and the hot springs .
  there is possibility to organize diving, canyioning, mountain hickes, swim trecks , as well as enjoying the sounds of the goat bells and the birds singing from an hammock looking at the sea .
  there is a bus going to the port and back, is easy to hicthike, and sure we can take you when you need.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  we do not have wifi yet at the land. even so, there is good reception for the phone, and i can work online with my phone connection, so i guess you can do it also !

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  Space for parking camper vans

  the land has lots of space, big trees for shade. so you are defenetly welcome to come in with your van, if this is how you are travelling !

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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