10th Pan-Hellenic Festival for the Exchange of local seed varieties
On Peliti land, at Mesochori, Municipality of Paranesti, Drama Prefecture
2010 has been designated as international year of biodiversity and we have chosen the 10th Pan-Hellenic Festival for the Exchange of Local Seed Varieties as a central event among Peliti festivities. The festival will be held at Peliti’s private property, in Mesochori, Municipality of Paranesti, Drama Prefecture.
The festival was started by Peliti in 1999 as a need for the varieties that had been collected with great effort and were being destroyed to be handed out. Today the festival embraces people from all over the country and from abroad, a festival hallmark on the issue of local seed varieties in Greece and not only here. For the 10th Pan-Hellenic festival we have as guests cultivators and organizations not only from all over Greece but also from many corners of the earth.
Organisation of the festival
The festival is organized by Peliti and the Centre of Environmental Education of Paranseti, Drama Prefecture.
Objectives and Conditions of the festival are
1. To make local vegetable and grain varieties available to as many farmers as possible.
2. To bring farmers of local seed varieties in contact, to exchange seeds, knowledge, information and experiences.
3. To give farmers who don’t have local varieties the chance to obtain them.
4. To have all exchanges done freely, without the use of money.
Who can attend
The festival is open to everyone who is interested, regardless of whether they have seeds or not. Whoever brings seeds from local varieties, plants or local farming animals must have filled in the participation form by 19th March 2010. The cultivators and farmers who will not have sent their application by 19th March 2010 will not be accepted as cultivators at the festival.
The cultivators who will bring seeds must bring at least 50 small paper bags.
They must bring their seeds packaged in paper bags on which there will be stated:
- the variety
- the region of cultivation
- the name of the cultivator
- the method of cultivation
The cultivators who are unable to do this packaging must inform us so that we take care of the packaging of seeds.
We also ask that the cultivators and farmers bring with them photographic material and pin it up on their kiosks. The cultivators and farmers will have kiosks where they will display their work, their seeds or their animals.
The cultivators and farmers, upon arrival on the grounds of the festival, will be given by the secretary-if they have not been given it already- a special tag with their name so that they can participate in the meetings.
The meal of love
In the early afternoon, there will be a communal meal made with traditional varieties. The food is offered by the cultivators who participate in the festival and by friends. You are welcome to bring something for the common meal such as bread, oil, cheese, olives etc.
Volunteer for the festival
The festival is set up by volunteers who work all year long. This year the festival will be held at Peliti’s premises for the first time. This requires much greater work than any other time and it would be our pleasure if you could help us in this event as volunteers.
How to get to Mesochori, Municipality of Paranesti
Mesochori is a village that belongs to the Municipality of Paranesti, Drama Prefecture. It is built close to the banks of river Nestos at an altitude of 120 meters and at a distance of 40 km from Drama, 48 km for Xanthi, 72 km from Kavala, 105 km from Komotini, 205 km from Thessaloniki and 715 km from Athens. From Chrisoupoli airport via Kavala it is 110 km and via Kechrokampos 50 km.
Mesochori is approximately in the middle of the provincial road Drama-Xanthi.
By bus or train
You can come to Mesochori by bus (KTEL) from Drama or Xanthi and by train to Paranesti. Mesochori is 2 km away from the train station and from Paranesti, seat of the Municipality.
Useful numbers:
KTEL (bus company) of Drama 00302521032734
KTEL (bus company) of Xanthi 00302541022684
Paranesti Train Station 003025240 22148
Do not forger to bring warm clothes with you (it is essential)
Also, your good mood, cooperation and patience.
Applications
You can ask for information and apply at 0030 2524022059 from Monday to Friday morning hours.
You can also get information from Peliti website www.peliti.gr
You can send your application by post at the following address:
Peliti
Mesochori Paranestiou
Postal Code 66035 Paranesti
Greece
Or by email at:
We look forward to seeing you