Peliti
Peliti is an non for profit NGO
l for the preservation and exchange of indigenous seeds and animals with out the involvement of money
l the exchange of services and products without money
l a community
The main activities of Peliti are the running of the national seed exchange network and a seed bank, national promotion of the preservation of indigenous seeds and animal, educational seminars to schools and groups, organizing music events for the promotion of the above and of course the national seed exchange meeting that takes place in early April every year where more than two thousand people from all over Greece and many other countries attend.
All work is done by volunteers with Panagiotis Sainatoudis (the founder) been the most committed volunteer of Peliti. We are based in Mesoxori next to the head village of Paranesti in the region of Drama, East Macedonia. We are a family of three Panagiotis, Sofia and Petros (6). The office is based in the grounds of the main family house with a large garden. We are vegetarians, we cook traditional Greek cuisine and eat together in the kitchen which is the heart of the house, we bake bread, make cheese and yoghurt from local milk, we make sweets and cakes and depends on the season we make preserves and other farm foods. We have a large network of local national and international friends and volunteers who visit us regularly.
Peliti has a land of 1 ½ acre (6.000 square meters) and the use of 2 other plots of land as well as a guest house (two houses up the road from the main house) and here is where the volunteers stay. The house has all facilities so it provides independence to the volunteers, together with the family atmosphere of the main house. Traditionally in Greece the main meal of the day is lunch which is shared in the main house, for breakfast and dinner we provide you with food to take at the guest house. We ask of the volunteers to work 4 ½ hours a day 5 days a week from 9am till 1.30pm. The main tasks are maintenance of the organic garden and other projects that need green fingers at the other plots. This August we will build a straw bail house in the main Peliti plot, for the keeping of the seeds.
We are on river Nestos valley surrounded by 3 mountain ranges perfect for hiking with lots of forests including the virgin forest of Frakto, one large and lots of small rivers (rafting, canoeing, climping wall, parapente, over the river zip wire, archery and jeeping are available near by), many gorgeous waterfalls, lakes and the Nestos straits train ride.
Paranesti is easy to reach as it is on the main national rail line and all train services including the intercity services stop here. We will peak you from the train station. You can reach as easy by car or bus (K.T.E.L. Dramas).
We will be very happy to see you here and share our life with you and do our bit to pass on what we are given.
Happy travels and volunteering
from Peliti, the family, the local seed produces and all our volunteers