From The Green Connoisseur by Alice Julier, September 2010 "Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries is a unique, successful, and beautiful approach to sustainable tourism." http://thegreenconnoisseur.com/c/travel/eco_destinations/crete's_culinary_sanctuaries.html “Hotels don’t make a place special. The residents and natural beauty do,” says Nikki Rose, founder of Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries, an innovative program of sustainable agro-tourism that works to preserve the growing traditions, foods, and cultural practices of this wonderful Greek island. The pleasures of travel are deepened when tourists act responsibly as visitors to ecologically fragile landscapes. But while the overdevelopment of many popular travel destinations has created a host of eco-alternatives, true sustainability is only achieved when locals are provided with the means to preserve and enhance their cultures, as well as their natural resources. For many destinations, the only sound choice truly supports the land, it’s products, and the local economy. An expert in the field, chef and certified educator Rose has been working worldwide...

  May 2-8, 2011, Crete Greece A 6-day interactive educational program for enthusiasts of archaeology, nature, traditional organic agriculture and cuisine. Explore Crete's cultural and natural treasures with resident specialists. A great opportunity to support grassroots heritage preservation projects while learning. A small group program for 12 attendees. For more information: http://www.cookingincrete.com/CCS-Biodiversity-Seminar-May-2011.html

  The Guardian.co.uk, 17 September 2010 Interview with actor Edward Norton, UN goodwill ambassador for biodiversity. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2010/sep/17/edward-norton-biodiversity "...biodiversity and the health of ecosystems is neither an abstract scientific concept nor the pet project of a green elite. Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are the vital underpinnings of human society Food and energy production on land and from the sea; medicine; tourism, and real estate: these industries...have been shown to be starkly vulnerable to the destruction of marine and terrestrial ecosystems...."

  Highlights of our 12 years of work in sustainable community-based tourism in Crete, Greece. CCS is an award-winning program for best practices in responsible travel. See our website details. Note: This video is not a film or documentary. It is highlights from our seminars to give you and idea of what we do and why. We hope you find it to be a delicious adventure! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv55HJxLYk8 Nikki Rose

  "Find the best organizations working to preserve island environments, plus see articles from the Green Guide section of the magazine, with expert advice from the editors of ISLANDS." http://www.islands.com/articles/green-guide-crete

  Flip Flotsam - 25min Documentary October 2003 Ever wondered what happens to your footwear after you're finished with it? ...award-winning and startlingly original documentary traces the fantastic journey of Africa's most popular shoes: the flip-flop. Easily bought, quickly discarded, the flip-flop stands as a symbol of the summer holiday for millions of westerners. But in its African homeland, it undergoes a series of versatile transformations. Filmed over a two year period, this startling and uplifting film takes an ingenious look at the lifecycle of the flip-flop.  YouTube Clip and information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cGlcjQkPbA

  A fantastic clip. Narrated by Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons, this "mockumentary" video, hammers home the stark reality of California's plastic bag pollution situation.  YouTube clip link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLgh9h2ePYw Learn more at http://www.healthebay.org

Since I've been working in the fields in Crete nonstop for months, I had to catch up on food news. Here are highlights, some of which have prompted great comments on my facebook page and others, including the USDA's. USDA Web Post: "Yeast Genes Improve Shelf Life of Tomatoes" By Avtar Handa, Purdue University, July 6, 2010 http://www.usda.gov/blog/usda/entry/h2_yeast_genes_improve_shelf [Note from Nikki: what the hell?] Blue Ocean Institute: Connecting with Chefs on Sustainable Seafood Info and Sourcing: http://www.blueocean.org/programs/seafood/schooling-chefs [great projects!] And. where some people actually "get" their news. ColbertNation. Interview with Carl Safina of Blue Ocean Institute re BP-Gulf disaster. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/312631/june-15-2010/carl-safina      

The is a condensed version of a longer piece I wrote in June 2010.   http://www.cookingincrete.com/Articles-Responsible-Travel.html

Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries Eco-Agritourism Network Seminar:Historic Food and Wine Routes from the Minoan Period to TodayAvailable Dates:  June 6 to 14, 2011An 8-day program designed for professional researchers and serious enthusiasts of archeology, agroecology, botany and cuisine. Explore Crete's cultural and natural treasures with resident specialists. Enjoy low and medium-level hiking during the journey, just as our ancestors traveled. Stay in small family-run lodging in the regions we will explore to support community-based sustainable tourism. Discover a taste of Crete’s fascinating heritage while supporting important grassroots initiatives of the present. Our professionally guided tours, presentations and hikes are private and customized for our small group of 12 attendees.See our Schedule Page for more information and other upcoming CCS seminars: http://www.cookingincrete.com/CCS-Historic-Food-and-Wine-Routes-Seminars-2011.html