Our Volunteers, What Do We Look For?

• Ability to take initiative
• Dependability and skills appropriate to the volunteer position
• Passion for their choices

Attendee profile

Everyone is welcome, but volunteers should be driven to learn as much as they can about the cultivation of organic food and about the Cretan diet. It is expected that volunteers will take with them what they have learned and adapt it to their daily lives, whether they be farmers or students, lawyers or bankers. Programs are tailored for a wide variety of interests; those who want to learn all aspects of producing a particular product (as an apprentice) can spend their entire volunteering period with a farmer. For those who are interested in getting an introductory experience to food production on Crete , there are one- to three-month long opportunities.

Volunteers should be flexible and motivated: willing to share a communal life, work in both populated and secluded areas, as an individual or as a member of a team, and under sometimes harsh conditions. Although relevant experience is not necessary, the ability to live and co-operate with people of different cultures and background is essential.

If you have an eager desire to assist in protecting soils and agriculture and are willing to experience working with many other people like you, complete and send the enclosed application.

The Mediterranean Association for Soil Health (MedASH) is a non-profit organisation based in Crete , Greece . MedASH was founded in order to assist farmers, professionals, and consumers to realize that soil health is as important for the survival of humans as the quality of air and water. It's aim is to help farmers produce healthy crops on healthy soils and to inform the public about the idea that healthy food can be produced in healthy soil without the use of synthetic chemicals.

A Call for the Passionate

Enthusiastic and committed volunteers are requested to assist the Mediterranean Association for Soil Health (MedASH) and local organic farmers while participating in educational programs to cultivate, produce, cook and preserve food in the traditional ways of Crete.

MedASH volunteers will learn the Cretan methods of producing and cooking organic food in exchange for providing labor to MedASH co-operating farmers. Participants should expect to receive 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) to culinary instruction (bread-baking, traditional Cretan recipes, fruit and vegetable conserves and other preservation techniques) while they offer their expertise to MedASH members, according to their skills. Attendees will have the option to choose a focus and participate mainly in those elements. However the majority of farms involved with MedASH are mixed production farms (they produce olives, vegetables, grapes and raise livestock) and work will include all activities to maintain the farm. If desired, there will also be opportunities for volunteers to explore the island and participate in guided adventure and/or culinary tours or culinary related activities and significant area visits.

Daily activities on a farm are not always glamorous and will likely include hard work and some mildly unpleasant tasks (like stable cleaning!). However, those are duties that farmers perform in their everyday work and volunteers should be willing to conduct all activities that are required to maintain a successful farm.

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