Profile information
Host rating
65 %
Last replied
17 Apr 2024
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Email verified
Details
Description
Here at our gardnes in the ancient village of Potami, we care about preserving some of the old ways and in so doing, preserve Mother Earth. We are a certified organic herb farm growing and cultivating for sale a wide range of medicinal and culinary herbs including Rosemary, Lavender, Calendula, Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Louisa, Mint, Nettle, Rose, Rosehip, Marjoram, and many more. We process all herbs by hand to ensure the highest quality and create products ranging from essential oils, teas, and dried culinary herbs, to natural soaps, body and facial creams and tonics. Everything is made lovingly by hand with care for the environment and our bodies foremost in our minds.
The village of Potami is the village where my parents and grandparents have been growing olive trees for generations, and where I spent my childhood. It lies at the foothills of the beautiful Troodos Mountains and is only a half hour drive to bustling Nicosia where you can experience the preserved Old City, lively street markets, great restaurants and bars, art galleries and historical sights. Nicosia’s illustrious history and geographical uniqueness have made it a crossroads for some of history’s most important civilizations. Imprints left by greats such as the Ptolemies, Romans and the Byzantines, the Franks, Venetians, Ottomans and finally the British may be encountered as you wander aimlessly through the Old Town area of Nicosia. You can also take easy day trips by bus up into the mountains to experience traditional village life in picturesque towns like Kakopetria or rent a car and drive through the wine country of Omodos within 1hr. Limassol and Larnaca are both only 1hr away, Paphos is a 2hr drive.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Hospitality/Tourism
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We follow organic farming process and endeavour to grow our farm to help promote Cyprus internationally as a destination for eco tourism and for quality organic products. We are very active with the rest of the Cypriot (and European) organic community and are very happy to introduce you to anyone that may suit your particular interest. We love to share our knowledge of medicinal herbs and will be happy to teach you the techniques of drying and distilling herbs to ensure the highest quality essence. We are also able to teach you how to make body creams, and all manner of natural body products and if timing is right we may even be able to take you on some workshops.
We are proud of our Cypriot culture and are very happy to share it with you in whatever capacity you are interested. Language, history, customs and food - we will share it all with you in abundance!
Help
Depending on the season the help required can be anything from planting seedlings to cultivating herbs, drying and packing herbs, garden maintenance, picking olives, small building projects, helping with market stalls, distilling oils and more. Our product is a premium quality product so respect for the process is important. Sometimes the tasks will be supervised but more often than not you will be expected to be unsupervised according to an agreed schedule. Communication is mostly in Greek but we have previously had volunteers who spoke minimal Greek and we managed to communicate effectively using broken English and Google Translate. We'll help you improve your Greek and you can help us improve our English!
We are a small family operation so we treat our volunteers like members of the family and in doing so are looking for people who want a meaningful experience on a certified organic farm who will bring their respect for the earth and others to help us build our small but thriving eco business. We believe in the power of community and will introduce you to many likeminded producers in Cyprus if this is your interest. The work is not difficult and we like to enjoy ourselves while we work, so bring your laughter and desire to share knowledge and you'll have a great time!
Languages spoken
Greek: Fluent
English: Beginner
Accommodation
Accommodation consists of a double fold out sofa bed in a separate bedroom within the laboratory at the farm. There is a very functional kitchen and bathroom and we will endeavour to make it comfortable for you, whatever the season. The lab is located in a remote area and is very secure, however, for your own comfort we think it is better suited to a couple rather than someone on their own. We live offsite in Nicosia so you have the full run of the lab after the days work is done. As it is a workplace we expect our volunteers to keep it clean and tidy at all times - just common sense!
We will provide you with ingredients to make your own meals and from time to time will provide home cooked meals and treats from the specialist bakeries. There is an excellent taverna in the village of Potami that is open Thursday-Sunday only. As there are no other food options in the area, you will need to be comfortable cooking for yourself in the evenings.
What else ...
On your days off you can catch a bus into Nicosia or the hill towns and if we are available we can drive you to the bus stop which is about a 1hr walk (although locals passing through will generally stop and offer you a ride). It is also possible to rent a car very affordably from any of the main towns and they will come and deliver it to your door. You can then take a weekend trip to any of the beaches within an hours drive along the south coast, or up the mountains to enjoy thermal springs, to the wine country, visit ancient ruins and quaint villages. Cyprus is incredibly easy to traverse by car so there really is no limit to what you can see.
Depending on your interest, we could visit together some of the mountain villages, go picking wild herbs and Rosehip, visit other organic farms and businesses or do workshops together. We want you to enjoy your experience and leave with warm memories of Cyprus, so all you have to do is ask!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
