Crete, Greece: Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries Educational Network 5-Day Seminars on Biodiversity and Gastronomy. Dates: September 20-25 and October 11-16, 2021. An experiential learning program with expert presentations at historic sites, nature reserves, and visits with award-winning organic farmers, olive oil producers and vintners. Discover t...
Last October, Paths of Greece became 8 years old. When it all started, it seemed an impossible attempt. During the crisis years, the birth of a financially sustainable enterprise that would work on the development of hiking trails seemed irrational to many. Often, when I had to say what my work was, I used to be replied: “And what is your main job?”. Answering “this is my main job”, to hear again: “Well, and what do you live off? Who walks today? We have cars. Why don’t you get a serious job?” Yes, I live off that and I am happy every single day. This work fulfills me with experiences. It gives me the opportunity to meet people and places all over Greece. Together, through the trails, we develop opportunities for financial and social amelioration as well as environmental protection. Let aside that hiking is healthy. The first years passed, and what I was doing with external partners became in November 2016 the Social Co-operative Enterprise Paths of Greece, with Sotiris, Christina and Spiros acquiring specific roles within our project. Throughout these years we worked with many external partners too. With some of them, the partnership became exclusive. From our very...
An ambitious 14-month European Union-funded grant project under the rather long title “Technical Assistance action to support tourism planning and policy for the promotion of sustainable tourism development in Greece Reference No.: SRSS/S2016/013” was completed in September and last Friday 15/9 ECOCLUB.com was invited to attend the final “Dissemination Workshop” in downtown Athens. The project was supported by the EU Structural Reform Programme (SRSS), led by an Austrian consortium composed of the Federal Procurement Agency (BBG) and the Agency for Economic Cooperation and Development (AED) and involved the cooperation of the Greek Ministry of Economy, Development & Tourism (MEDT) while “twin” experts from Austria/EU and the Greek side were allocated on each topic. The leading domestic and foreign tourism experts also involved ECOCLUB.com Members Mr Robert Travers who was responsible for the Diving (sea) parks segment. The two key aims of this ambitious and multifaceted project, which started in July 2016, was to support, through knowledge transfer, the Greek Tourism authorities in their efforts to diversify and increase the quality of the tourism product so as to extend the tourism season beyond the summer months, and secondly, to promote sustainable tourism policies and to foster responsible business practices and policies. In...
Crete, Greece, July 10 - 16, 2017 Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries Educational Network in partnership with The Center for Responsible Travel is hosting a unique program in Crete: Discovering Crete's Cultural, Culinary and Natural Wonders. During this program we will explore the island to meet many residents working on action programs to protect and cel...
Greetings, On the air now from Washington DC, a 2-part public TV program with guest chef-instructor and ecotourism director, Nikki Rose from Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries Network. Discussion about Crete's culture, cuisine and Responsible Travel initiatives. Part 1: https://youtu.be/hoP6bTUqBBo Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff-r5-2pAF4
Throughout Europe the 'Natura 2000' network of protected areas, created with the aim of conserving natural habitats, flora and fauna and in particular wild birds, is considered a blessing: Natura 2000 areas constitute an institutional, legal and funding framework which helps local communities and local governments attain a high standard of living through environmental and cultural conservation using democratic methods and without depending on the intentions and plans of central governments. Two other useful methodologies/tools are the White Paper on European Governance (2001) and Local Agenda 21, which when combined with a well-functioning Natura 2000 area which has a managing body and a management plan they can bring sustainability and success to local communities. The White Paper on European Governance proposes the following key principles: Openness, Participation, Accountability, Effectiveness and Coherence. Local Agenda 21, a horizontal management system, which is followed by 90% of western European municipalities, offers information, communication and networking of citizens with institutions and NGOs, enabling them to be masters of their lives. However, in Greece, even before the fiscal crisis, most of the above had proven to be a paper exercise (and not just in Natura areas) and thus the blessing of Natura 2000 turned into a...
Workshop in Crete, Greece May 12 - 20, 2014 Lessons from the Mediterranean: Applying Yesterday's Wisdom to Tomorrow's Table Continuing Education for Food, Nutrition & Health Professionals. A 7-day workshop-experiential learning program. Organized by Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries Eco-Agritourism Network and Field to Plate. CPEs: RD/DTR: 49; American Culinary Federation CEHs: 35 http://www.fieldtoplate.com/2014-crete.php
University of Missouri and Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries Study Abroad in Greece: The Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle 10-Day Accredited Program May 20 – June 1, 2013 A comprehensive experiential learning program designed to provide an overview of the culture, nature and cuisine of Crete. This program is designed for teachers, students and professional researchers of nutrition, cuisine, sustainable living, tourism, and agricultural practices. Explore Crete's cultural and natural treasures with resident specialists. Experiences include private guided tours of archaeological sites, organic farms, natural parks/botanical hikes, food markets, olive oil factories, wineries, as well as demonstrations by artisan food producers, and food preparation classes. Presentations are exclusive to our small group of 20 attendees. This course will be held in several regions of Crete and in Athens on the final day of the program. Learning opportunities will be provided by Chef-Author Nikki Rose, Founder of Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries and her network of over 30 residents-teachers, and MU Nutrition and Exercise Physiology faculty, Candance Gabel, MS, RD, LD. Space is limited. Program Details: http://extension.missouri.edu/hes/studyabroad/Greece/ Contact Nikki Rose Nikki Rose Founder & Director, Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries Eco-Agritourism Network Educational programs celebrating Crete’s cultural and natural heritage An award-winning program for best practices in...
While (and perhaps because) geopolitics are getting messier each year in the post cold war era, it is the grassroots, empowered and emancipated by information and communications improvements that may take humanity a long way forward during this century. Here are two random, seemingly unrelated, developments, we spotted today: The reopening as worker-run of an, abandoned by its owners, metal factory, "Viomihaniki Metaleftiki" factory is taking place today 12 February, in Thessaloniki, Greece. In a country where unemployment has already climbed at 30% following the austerity, neoliberal policies imposed by IMF and the EU., such are obvious and necessary solutions. And the discovery of a simple-to-use method for diagnosing cancer, which costs just 3 cents (and may continue to do so unless/until big pharma get their hands on it), by 15 year Jack Andraka old who following the sudden death of a close family friend decided to search for answers online. As Andraka says: "through the Internet anything is possible...but instead of posting photos you can change the world!" So true, so how about supporting the Vio.Me workers with an online donation at www.viome.org ? Related film by Brandon Jourdan of globaluprisings.org
Earth Sea and Sky 2013 - PRESERVE, RESCUE and INFORM - With the help of the Sea Life Centres in England we have taken many steps to save the Loggerhead Turtles and Marine Life of Zakynthos. We want to preserve this very special and rare animal so our children’s children will learn and cherish them in their time. The Caretta, caretta (Loggerhead) Turtle has existed since the dinosaurs, gets older than humans, as heavy as 100 kilos and even grow to 1 metre in diameter. A fully grown turtle has almost no natural predator, only we humans are the biggest problem to them. So before coming on holiday get some information from our website how you can spend a ‘turtle friendly’ holiday in Zakynthos and, once on the Island, make sure you find time to come and visit our Information and Rescue Centre at Gerakas. Also take a look at our new DVD on the following link: http://youtu.be/z8Z86zbIZuA Since our last newsletter we have come on leaps and bounds and are very happy with where we stand today. We would like to thank everybody who has contributed to all this either by donations or sponsorship or those of you just sharing your holiday time with us at the Information Centre. ...
