The Orchard in Vari is a unique mixture of farm, restaurant, and educational experience. The versatility of the 4 acres that make up the Orchard can immediately be seen in the name the Greeks use for it, the Perivoli in Vari. Perivoli means a combination of an orchard and a vegetable garden. However, the uniqueness of the orchard extends beyond what it grows. They utilize permaculture farming techniques in order to create all necessary resources from within their microcosm and use these resources to their fullest potential.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with permaculture, the name was originally created by combining the words “permeant” and “agriculture”. This is explained by the main philosophy behind permaculture, which is that by observing and learning from nature, we can imitate the natural processes that occur to support plant life without having to introduce outside resources. Therefore, creating a permeant way to support agriculture.
As for how a permaculture farm is achieved, there are many methods. The first idea that should be kept in mind is that we should work with nature instead of against it. Nature can provide all the resources necessary for farming if we allow it to and in a much healthier, sustainable way. For example, there is no need to use foreign fertilizers when a natural, more effective alternative can be provided by composts. Another important idea of permaculture farming is that every element can serve more than one function, and by using them all we prevent having to waste other resources.
The Orchard has effectively utilized these techniques to create a self-sustainable ecosystem which provides for their onsite restaurant and all other services provided to those who visit. One of the innovative methods they use is a called a Chicken Tractor. This is a mobile chicken coop which was designed to be placed wherever crops were recently harvested. It is a beneficial design for both the chickens and the farm. When they are placed inside of it, they eat the leftover crop residues, get rid of the weeds, provide natural ventilation for the soil, and fertilize the land with their waste. So now the land is prepared for another round of crops all while saving time and resources. Furthermore, through research they learned that this is actually the ideal environment and food supply for the chickens, and therefor has caused them to produce eggs richer in vitamin A.
Another method the orchard uses is a 3 square meter container that can hold up to a ton of earthworms and hundreds of pounds of food waste. They call this the “Wormhole”. All the food waste that is produced from their restaurant is put in the wormhole to feed the worms, and therefore is no longer “waste”. The worms in turn provide the orchard with nutrient rich soil that will help to produce more food for the restaurant, therefore closing the food circle. This creates a cycle that embodies the ideas of permaculture by being completely waste free and serving multiple purposes.
The Orchard also participates in other practices outside of farming and livestock that prevent waste. Their solar toilet is a perfect example of this. The South African invention uses only solar energy and air to function. It works by exposing waste to high temperatures which evaporates the liquid and kills all pathogens. A small amount of dry, odorless residue is produced that can be incorporated into the soil. This is all done without chemicals, water, or electricity and reduces waste by 95% compared to a typical toilet.
All of these methods create an environment ideal for producing quality foods in a sustainable way, and when you visit the Orchard in Vari you can experience this firsthand. Primarily through their restaurant you can taste the products of the Orchard. They use their own vegetables, eggs, and grass-fed meat and dairy to make a variety of dishes. They also offer different food tastings such as honey and olive oil. The honey is produced from their very own bee farm, and the olive oil is made on site by pressing olives straight from their trees. While tasting their honey, you can also learn about the bees and honey production process. They even allow you to bring you own olives and use their portable pressing mill to make your own oil. Other ways to experience the Orchard include picking different fruits and vegetables for yourself depending on the season, participating in a cooking workshop, or sitting in on a variety of educational seminars.
The creator of the Orchard, Anna Mordechai, started it to show the public that these practices are not outdated. By allowing them to them to experience it firsthand, they can see how permaculture can easily be implemented into everyday life and integrated with modern technology to be efficient. Today we will get to see for ourselves how the Orchard in Vari is the perfect place to not only observe permaculture, but also to learn about it and participate in it yourself.
Sources:
http://www.perivolivari.gr/
http://www.neverendingfood.org/b-what-is-permaculture/
https://familyexperiencesblog.com/perivoli-urgan-farm-athens-with-kids/
https://www.talcmag.gr/volta/volta-perivoli-vari/
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