Six projects of M.A.S.H will be briefly presented in TERRA MADRE 2006:

“ CULINARY JOURNEYS IN ORGANIC FARMS ”. Discover the secrets of Crete's wild nature, culture and cuisine during visits to historic sites, organic farms, villages off the map, tranquil beaches, and walks in the majestic countryside.
The journeys change with the seasons and include a range of outdoor adventures and activities such as organic olive oil production, beekeeping, winemaking, cheese making and...always.. eating well.
Our all-local team of chefs, sustainable organic farmers, botanists, archaeologists and outdoor adventure specialists work together to present an invaluable and memorable experience for our visiting friends.

Picture above: Visitors from U.S.A. and U.K. having lunch in a farmer's house, during a culinary tour (January 2006).

“ TRANSLATE SCIENCE INTO PRACTICE ”: Develop cheap and effective composting techniques for Greek farmers; communicate the techniques; Develop experimental farms on Crete for fresh vegetable and fruit produce and for animal husbandry, in co-operation with individual farmer or a farmers' group. Bio-Intensive organic agriculture is demonstrated as a practice.

“ TOURISM SUPPORTED ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ”: Organic agriculture can be an excellent tool for the protection of soil, water and air, the resources that tourism depends on. By setting up groups of organic farmers to produce food for local big hotels, both sides are benefited. This project is already running since 1995.

“ FROM SEED TO PLATE ”: An agro-tourism project where guests learn to cultivate organic food and cook it in healthy traditional organic ways.

“ MINI ORGANIC FARMERS ”: Started in 2003, M.A.S.H. in co-operation with teachers from schools in Crete set up and run programs where children of age 6-18 are cultivating the soil and produce their own organic vegetables during the school year. At the end of the school season (April-May) the children organize local fiestas with food prepared from their organic vegetables. Some schools also sell their produce in a “backyard-market”, thus generating funds for the school.

" ORGANIC AGRI-CULTURAL EXCHANGE . A Volunteer program ": Enthusiastic and committed volunteers are requested to assist MASH and its members (local organic farmers) while participating in educational programming to learn to cultivate, produce, cook and preserve food in the traditional ways of Crete. MASH volunteers will learn the Cretan methods of producing and cooking organic food in exchange for providing labor to MASH members. Participants are offered a mixture of experience, from agricultural techniques (organic gardening, organic farm management, plant care and propagation, biodynamic techniques -working with the moon and cosmic forces-, permaculture design, etc) to culinary instruction (bread-baking, cheese and yoghurt making, traditional Cretan recipes preparation, fruit and vegetable conserves and other preservation techniques) while they offer their expertise to MASH members, according to their skills. Attendees have the option to choose a focus and participate mainly in those elements. If desired, there are opportunities for volunteers to explore the island and participate in guided adventure and/or culinary tours or culinary related activities and significant area visits.