Reflections on the 6th Pan-Hellenic Festival for the Exchange of Traditional Seed Varieties
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On the 29th of April at the Timios Prodromos Monastery, in the village of Anatoli on Mt. Kissavos, visibility is about one meter; it is pretty cold but there are lots of people. Farmers from all over Greece have been arriving from the early morning, carrying with them traditional varieties of plants and seeds. There are also hundreds of people, ambitious to find traditional seed varieties of vegetables and grains. They are searching for seeds whose fruit will be flavorful, resistant to disease and most importantly can be re-sown the following year.
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This year, 2006, the Alternative Community of Peliti, in cooperation with the Timios Prodromos Monastery, organized the 6th Pan-Hellenic Festival for the Exchange of traditional seed varieties. These events, which Peliti began in 1999, are an attempt to salvage and distribute traditional seed varieties.
The festival began with a wish for world peace, and a silent prayer by all.
Sister Theodekty then welcomed everyone and introduced the monastery, where ecological farming and the preservation of traditional varieties is of utmost importance.
Mr. Dobatzis, a teacher from Komotini, talked about how the 7th of April has become a day devoted to traditional seeds at his school. This day was proposed by Peliti and has been established as an annual event. He mentioned that when the festival started in 2002, only the students’ parents attended. Now the festival is renowned and is much anticipated by everyone.
Mr. Stathogiannopoulos informed us of the traditional varieties of tomato he cultivates and how to deal with a series of practical problems concerning tomato cultivation, and seed preservation.
Father Spiros Botonakis delivered a message on behalf of the Dimitriados Monastery.
Mr. Kasianos from Ithaca then talked about the “afflictions of making linen,” and about the “Katseno,” the red sheep of Ithaca. The Katseno breed of sheep subsists on a meager diet and is very hardy, and produces one kilo of milk per day for eight months.
Next, Mr. Kipouros from Serres discussed the fifty years he has spent cultivating traditional seed varieties without the use of pesticides, fertilizers or manure.
Mr. Babis Symeonidis, from Iraklio Crete, mentioned the citizen’s initiatives for the preservation of traditional seed varieties in Crete. He also mentioned Mr. Zaharis who resurrected the cultivation of the traditional carrot of Crete, the “Pastanagla.”
Then Mr. P. Saitanoudis, the coordinator of Peliti, mentioned the underlying philosophy of Peliti which stresses that we all are important and special and how everyone shares a part of the responsibility for what is happening to ourselves and the rest of the world.
Following the talks, time was given to the farmers to meet each other and exchange seeds and experiences. The remaining seed and plants were distributed among the others.
40 farmer’s seeds and plants were distributed, accounting for nearly two hundred varieties in total, many of which are historical plants for Greece, such as Fava from Santorini, which has been cultivated continuously since 1500 B.C. during the early bronze period.
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During the break food was offered to everyone, or to almost everyone, since the three cauldrons of food turned out to be inadequate for so many. The ingredients were from traditional varieties, offered by the farmers, and the food was for the most part ecological. Over five hundred servings were offered, in metallic dishes, to reduce garbage. All organic waste was concentrated to feed the animals and to contribute to the compost pile. |
After lunch, Mr. D. Dimos, from Avra Trikala, gave a speech about the attempt he has been making for the past twenty years to preserve Greek indigenous farm animals. Then Mr. K. Kouti of the N.G.O. “Aegilopas,” discussed the “7 deadly sins afflicted on seed.” Part of his talk protested the new laws concerning the need for organic farmers to receive special licensing in order to cultivate their own seed and the fact that no Organic Farmers Licensing Organization protested this development.
The festival was described as a success by all who attended. The volunteers were impeccable following through with all tasks assigned, and the nuns of the monastery were always willing to help with anything needed. The event ended in an atmosphere of optimism and well being.
The final talks revolved around the issue that what we experience in the material world is a reflection of our own inner world. If we have violence in our heart, violence is what we will see around us. If we have goodness in our heart, goodness is what we will see and feel.
If you were unable to attend this year, we await you next year, at the 7th Pan-Hellenic Festival for the Exchange of Traditional Seed Varieties, which will be held at the Timios Prodromos monastery, on the 14th of April, 2007, on the Saturday following Easter Sunday.
Hope to see you there.
Until then, we wish you a good harvest.