In Greece in the southern Peloponnese, Franciskos Karelas has created a thriving oasis of sustainability from the fallow land of his great-great-grandfather. Eumelia - melodious sound - he called his eco-farm, and the gentle melodies of birds and cicadas accompanied by the scent of lavender can actually be enjoyed particularly well here, because the entire area is remarkably free from noise and light pollution.
Five apartment buildings in the middle of the old olive trees have been available to guests since 2009. They are built and equipped with environmentally and health-friendly materials and have sounding names such as sunflower or almond tree houses. Inside, comfortably and luxuriously furnished, each is surrounded by a garden area with a terrace, from which the view can sweep up to the breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains. In the main house of the farm there is the reception as well as a seminar room and common rooms, in which all comforts can create a social atmosphere like in a youth hostel.
The operators of Eumelia pay attention to waste prevention and strict waste separation. Water is saved by means of our own reprocessing plant, and self-produced green electricity is used as far as possible. The guests have the free choice here whether they want to enjoy nature and peace or prefer to be active. Then Eumelia offers you all sorts of offers, such as yoga, cooking or soap courses and whoever wants to can also get a taste of farm work, feed the animals, harvest olives or take part in wine pressing.
Eumelia would like to act as a model and inspiration for its guests and employees and also for the people of the surrounding region and thus make a contribution so that sustainable use of the environment and nature is firmly anchored in people's consciousness.
Apartment | from160 € |
ArchitecturePainted red and built in a traditional way from eco materials, the buildings of Eumelia stand in the middle of the red earth. They are designed with environmentally and health-friendly materials and colors on the outside and inside.
FoodEumelia works according to the principles of biodynamic agriculture and the plants are supported with homeopathic remedies specially developed for this use. Eumelia's red soil grows olives, juicy oranges, almonds and lush grapes, among other things. A wonderful 100% organic olive oil is pressed from the Eumelia olives, which is offered for sale locally and internationally. Olive tea is also produced here, as are various products made from almonds and the various herbs that grow on the site, such as mint, lavender, pink canina and others. Cooking and soap courses are offered to guests. You can take part in oil and wine tastings or take part in the oil and grape pressing yourself, which is done in the traditional way with musical accompaniment.
At Eumelia, school classes from the region have the opportunity to learn about organic farming methods and environmental awareness. Guided tours on this topic are also offered to guests. As part of "Work and Travel", the farm offers many interested people the opportunity to meet like-minded people from all over the world, to learn ecological farming and to contribute to the idea of sustainability. Eumelia advises local small businesses on their sustainability efforts and also adheres to local products and food when shopping.
EnvironmentEumelia lives according to the philosophy that the gifts of nature are accepted with gratitude and that a healthy coexistence of environment, people and animals should be promoted. In this respect, every waste of resources is avoided. Waste water is converted into clean process water in our own reprocessing plant and reused to water the plants. Organic waste is used as fertilizer or animal feed. The heating necessary in winter and the cooling of the houses, which is essential for a restful sleep in summer, is realized with energy from geothermal energy. The power supply on Eumelia is still under construction, but the aim is soon to generate all the necessary electricity itself using solar and wind energy. Guests in Eumelia are involved in the sustainability process from the bottom up. They are required to carefully separate their waste and also have the opportunity to contribute to resource conservation, for example by agreeing that towels and bed linen are only changed every three days instead of daily.
Well-BeingThe soothing sight of the buildings in the midst of silvery olive trees and blooming herbs, which are homogeneously integrated into the landscape, and the wide view of the high mountain ranges are the great well-being factor that Eumelia has to offer. The friendly interaction and the many opportunities to be in contact with nature and animals do the rest. In addition, yoga seminars and meditation courses are always offered on Eumelia.
Apartment | from160 € |
Farm Eumelia is located about 2 km outside of Gouves in the Laconia region, which is about 45 minutes southeast of Sparta. The sea with the Gulf of Lakonikos is about 13 km away. The closest airport is Athens International Airport. From there you drive about three and a half hours to Eumelia (295 km). You will receive the exact route description with the booking.
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