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

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    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

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    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
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    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*️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️

  • Help

    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.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Greek: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    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. 🦔

  • What else ...

    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

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    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.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

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

Host ref number: 227595645738

Feedback (39)



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Feedback

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(4.5)

Cultural exchange:
(4.6)

Communication:
(4.7)














































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