Text and pictures : Nikki Rose
The Mediterranean Diet concept, which originated in Crete, is not a diet...it’s a way of life.
Beyond the seaside resorts and imposing limestone cliffs are villages locked in time, where people gather wild snails, artichokes and chamomile, and hand-grind wheat to bake bread in communal ovens. Cretans think socializing is as vital to life as water. Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries is an all-local network of people working to preserve their island’s rich culture, agriculture and striking natural beauty. There are many stories to tell and people to meet. Sustainable organic agriculture has been inherent in rural life since the Minoan era. Small-scale producers of organic olive oil, cheese, wine, honey, and bread are still thriving on the island. With over 4,000 years of production history in Crete, farmers seem to be born with the necessary skills. But as the decades pass, more farmers disappear into the modern world, leaving their skills and cherished land behind. This is the window of Crete that is worth preserving...and discovering. The value of agrotourism and ecotourism is to experience a foreign land’s wild nature and unique, unfamiliar customs, sights, sounds and scents — to embrace a place for what it is.
The CCS Network (Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries) is community designed and operated, but not in the "ordinary sense" that we may encounter in general directives. We work closely with participants on their presentations. They receive compensation that is generally 200% to 300% more than their average earnings. Then, 50% of CCS revenues are shared with the Mediterranean Association for Soil Health. Because these individual communities are so small, they could not stand up on their own as an "agritourism destination." CCS provides the strength in numbers that small communities need to succeed, through our tours and continuous promotion of their work on an international scale. So the CCS island-wide network continues to grow. Most importantly, CCS has encouraged others to create their own programs and form local cooperatives. CCS work with their primary participants based near Rethymno such as Shepherds and Cheese makers, Traditional Home Cooks, Traditional Taverna/Kafeneon Owners, Beekeepers, Sustainable Organic Farmers (wine, olive oil, produce), Fishermen, Locally and/or farmer-owned and operated villas and apartments, Local Members of the Academic Community : Archeology, Botany, Nutrition & Health, outdoor adventure specialists who are also actively involved in conservation projects (trekking, rock climbing, paragliding, horse back riding, cycling)
Contact
Nikki Rose
Skisma, Elounda, Crete, Greece T.K. 72053
Tel. : (30) 28410-42797
Mobile : (30) 69.4822.6150.
E-mail : nikkirose@cookingincrete.com
Internet : www.cookingincrete.com
Language : English
Other Tour Operator in charge of the booking. www.ResponsibleTravel.com
Recommended Tour
Discover the secrets of Crete’s wild nature, culture and cuisine dring visits to historic sites, organic farms, villages off the map, tranquil beaches, and walks in the majestic countryside. Our journeys change with the seasons and include a range of outdoor adventures and activities such as organic olive oil production, beekeeping, winemaking, cheesemaking 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.
