Ecological and self sufficiency project on the island of Samothraki, Greece

Details

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  Description

  We are a nomadic eco-rejuvenation project based on the island of Samothraki, Greece.
  
  Our aim is self-sufficiency and self-reliance for communities of the World.
  
  We are well on our way to realising our vision.
  
  That's where you come in.
  
  Thanks to lots of hard work from our guests and workawayers we began irrigation and planting vegetables which we now eat from. We have our own clean mineral water supply.
  
  Our lifestyle is one of strong community values: Helping without being asked; consensus decision making, striving and eating together, taking care of the land, buildings, nature and each other.
  
  These things are a big part of our ethos of all growing and developing together.
  
  All Samothraki water is mineral water, you will even shower with mineral water. No chlorine or fluoride.
  
  Our vegetable garden produces volcanic soil natural food.
  
  You will feel great just being on this island, will take that feeling with you when you leave and probably want to return if not stay.
  
  This is a community project and we rely on positive forward thinking people to come and get involved and where possible teach what beneficial knowledge they've learnt to others.
  
  If you think this is your kind of thing then drop us a message.
  
  Want to change the world, looking for positive ways to do it, enjoy adventures and the magic this world has to offer. We need you,
  
  All the team

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  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

  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ learn how to live at a different rhythm and pace. Learn how to live in a community setting rather than an iCulture, where everyone is cut off from real engagement with each other because of communication technology and social media (ironically).
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ have the opportunity if they choose to partake in our work with local shepherds.
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ benefit from healthy eating daily and lots of sun. No chemicals in our water. All tap water on Samothraki is clean mineral water from the mountains.
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ plenty to benefit to be taken from our project founders, due to their extensive life and travel experience, wisdom, diverse knowledge.
  
  *️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️Check out our feedback to see what others said*️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️

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  Help

  Main focuses at present are:
  
  • Making the island green again:) Re-greening and regeneration of land
  
  • Soil erosion work to stop desertification.
  
  • Repairing damaged terraces and old stone houses.
  
  •Garden and crops maintenance. General farm duties. Animal care. Dog walking.
  
  •Day to day chores. Dealing with problems that pop up unexpectedly: invasions from neighbours' goats (so we have to chase them out before they destroy our baby trees), fixing things that strong winds may blow off... Dealing with a burst pipe... Capturing an escaped animal.... That kind of thing.
  
  •Shepherding with local farmers who we work with. Includes milking, cheese-making, and other oddities.
  
  Seasonal activities include:
  
  • Goat-milking in spring and in autumn
  • Wood collecting in the winter to stay warm.
  • Seasonal harvesting of fruits
  
  Olive harvest: October.
  
  We are very communal. We try to do all of our activities together. You will not be expected to work alone if you feel uncomfortable or incapable doing a task.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Greek: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  Refurbished traditional samothraki stone house. We have 2 rooms with 2 beds each. Please not that there is only a curtain between the 2 rooms, not a fitted door. Bedding is provided, but workawayers may bring their own sheet and sleeping bag if they so wish.
  
  In summer we have 150 square meters of yurt space. We can accommodate large groups. Obviously, this is shared within a single large yurt and the other smaller yurts. You can also just hammock up a couple of trees. When the weather is not enough, some are happy to just sleep under the stars with a mat and sleeping bag.
  
  Guests are welcome to bring their own tents if they wish. This may be more preferable for couples, etc.
  
  We have also accepted a number of workaway guests who brought their own camper vans, even a converted school bus!
  
  
  You will need:
  
  • strong waterproof boots, but I recommend bringing off-road trainers with good tread for hopping around nimbly. But even regular good quality trainers will do for times when you're not working.
  • a torch / head torch.
  • eco friendly toiletries, such as olive oil soap etc. • towel.
  • slippers.
  
  In colder months, (November to April):
  • full body rain protection (in the winter/autumn).
  • winter sleeping bags are a MUST for the assurance of a good night's sleep, 4 season, synthetic, not down as down is not good in wet conditions. We burn wood to stay warm, but can't do that all night. (Comfort rating of -5°c to be sure when we have cold windy nights).
  
  We have a communal kitchen and we cooperate daily to prepare breakfast and lunch. We eat as healthy food as possible. We can cater for vegetarian and vegan, but we are omnivores.
  
  On our land we don't have around-the-clock electricity, and we like it that way. One of things guests enjoy here is the return to simplicity, the heart-healing vibe and the slow rhythm of daily life. There's usually enough solar power to charge phones though. We seem to have a good 4G connection from the local masts.
  
    The nearest town is 15 minutes walk, with cafes, restaurants, Wi-Fi (for internet), supermarkets etc. We walk up there almost daily, so can show you de way. 🦔

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  What else ...

  There's plenty of awesome natural wonders to enjoy: waterfalls, ancient forests, beaches and other natural attractions here on Samothraki. Simply the air and the smell of Samothraki is always very refreshing and beautiful. A mixture of the smell of lots of old trees, the smell of the mountain, combined with the smell of the sea.
  
  We also have a deal with a port town scooter shop for discounts on scooter rental, so you can explore the island on two wheels as well as your two legs. If you intend to do this, you may want to bring your own goggles and the like, as they provide the bare minimum of a half-helmet.
  
  Local restaurants and tavernas serve fantastic food. We will always recommend the best ones.
  
  Art and cultural activities to partake in during the summer.
  
  
  Things to google:
  
  Fonyas
  Gria Vathra
  Therma
  Profitos Ilyas
  Fengari

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  Vehicles need to be parked at the top of the trail to our land, unless you have some serious off-road skills! Size isn't an issue, our parking at the top of the trail has accommodated converted fire trucks and school buses before.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  3 hours a day, 5 days a week. (food not provided)

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