Δημοσίευση από Stephanie (13 Νοεμβρίου 2021) στο Greece Travel Diary , Human Stories

http://thelovingenergy.com/human-stories/michalis-maniadakis/?fbclid=IwAR3_ZmW8vnEcsgxghJXK4P2utEwEkNux_A65NCbZLXXm8G0Xtd4d1MuPo54 

The 'little school of earth': Regenerative Agriculture and "Social and Therapeutic Horticulture"

 Regenaration of the Earth                                          by Michalis Maniadakis

Harmony and generosity are just some of the gifts that earth gives us openhandedly every day; this unique and irreplaceable home of ours.

All of us in the "Little School of the earth" have a vision and a purpose as a minimum token of our gratitude and love for her. Only together can we complete a farm like no other. A farm that rests on the basic principles of balance and respect for earth; a farm that will function as a productive system of coexistence and will give back to all of us numerous benefits. Our vision cannot be completed without you, our companions and friends in this endeavor.

Our purpose is simple:

- To cultivate the earth together, with love, so as to help her to be restored by herself, on her own unique and harmonious pace

- To guide you in a simple and experiential way on how you can cultivate naturally, in simple steps, without complex procedures. Therefore, everyone will be able to contribute to the revitalization of the environment and to cultivate not only the earth but also his/her soul

In short, the character and the purpose of the farm can be summarized in two main categories:

- the cultivation and regeneration of the earth

- and through this process, the "cultivation and healing" of ourselves

What makes "The Little School of the Earth" unique is the fact that it is there for everyone. It is not just another venture for the fortunate few. Our goal is for the people of all ages to visit us, to get to know us, and to see with their own eyes the magical processes of our planet through their involvement with the Agricultural Ecology. Then, they will be able to pass on this knowledge and experience to others.

In 2021, the "Little School of the earth" won the Gold Design Award in Greece and Cyprus, in the “Landscape Architecture Awards 2021”, and this filled us with joy and pride. However, what will really be a unique distinction and recognition for all of us, is to have you by our side on this project, and in this challenge/invitation to implement this award-winning plan; a plan whose imprint and benefits will hopefully be passed down from generation to generation.

In more detail, we have developed our own method that we call as "Layered Recomposition "; a method based on the techniques of Regenerative Agriculture where we use absolutely:

• NO pesticides or fertilizers
• working exclusively with natural organic ways and 
• also quite notably, without digging! 

We use and ecologically manage the natural resources and the 'waste' of the farm. We create a natural ecosystem, so that the processes of nature will carry out the regeneration of the earth, and the sustainable, balanced interaction and healthy growth of the plants. This, ultimately, contributes to the regeneration of the whole environment.

At the same time, these pure and of high-quality products, contribute to a healthy well-being, while the involvement in the activities of such a farm, helps in the psychosomatic discharge and healing of the participants.

We would like to pass on all of the above to our younger and older visitors, so that they can learn and experience an active, functional paradigm of Agricultural Ecology, and subsequently implement this knowledge on their own area and everyday life!

Horticultural Therapy Garden

Modern-day man and especially people who live in big cities, often feel the need to “release some steam”, to get “recharged” and "healed", away from the hard and crazy rhythms of everyday life. Therefore, we decided to create "the little school of the earth", a picturesque, edible landscape, as a model of active involvment of people with the "world of plants", and their experiential learning on cultivating the earth without any pesticides!

At the same time, our strong belief that gardening really heals, led us to the study of "Social and Therapeutic Horticulture", a specialized therapy through gardening, as a tool of complementary help to individuals and social groups in need... it was developed in America, around 1970, by the AHTA (American Horticultural Therapeutic Association) and in England by THRIVE.

"Social and Therapeutic Horticulture" concerns a variety of people:

1. the "stressed person" of everyday life

2. individuals and groups, adults and children, who can benefit both by improving their functional quality of life and by developing their professional and soft skills (socialization, cooperation, correlation with others, etc.).

3. Also "Little school of earth" uses gardening to bring about positive changes in the lives of people who are living with disability or ill-health, or are isolated, disadvataged or vulnerable.

Services and Products:

• Seminars in Regerative Agriculture for adults, proffesionals, groups.
• Seminars in our method for Eco farms, Orchards, and Vegetables "Layered Recomposition" for adults, proffesionals
• Educational visits for, kindergardens, schools, families, groups.
• Programs of "Social and Therapeutic Horticulture" for, individuals, groups, children.
• Regenerative Farm Design.
• Veg basket of our fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, eggs.

Michalis Maniadakis

Once upon a time ...... I grew up in a suburb of Thessaloniki (St. John), in the early 1970s, and although the houses we lived in were "petty bourgeois" working-class homes, I felt like I was living in a "rural village", since all around, as far as I could see, there were small forests, almond trees and crops, wheat and barley, orchards, horses, donkeys and cows...

Whenever I would turn my gaze to the block of flats, a feeling of unhappiness would fill my soul, but then I would turn my gaze to the endless meadows and my soul would feel free, blessed and immeasurably wealthy ....

Together with the other children of our neighborhood we would imagine and conjure the most incredible games, all made up with the rough materials that nature generously offers to all of us...

Studies:

- Florist (IGE, Athens)

- Regenerative Agriculture Designer (Australia Institute of Permaculture)

- Specialist in “Social and Therapeutic Horticulture” (Social Therapeutic Horticulture Practice “Thrive”, England)

Professional experience in the private sector:

• TOMI AVETE, Foreman in Olympic Green Works, Athens.

• "Orchard in the City" Founder of the Urban Ecological Gardening Company, Athens.

• Columnist in the magazines "Bionews", "All about the garden".

• "The little school of the Earth" Founder of the Ecological Farm of Regenerative Agriculture, "Horticultyral Therapy Garden", Ano Kalessa, Heraklion Crete.

Maria Kapnistou

Studies:

-Architect Engineer (NTUA, Athens)

-Landscape Architect, MLA Landscape Architecture (Harvard University, USA)

Professional experience in the private sector:

-in Athens as a collaborator of the Architectural office: 'A66 Dimitris and Suzana Antonakaki'

-in America as a partner in the 'Eric Blake - Ecological Landscape Architecture' office and as a partner of the Multinational Company of Architecture-Arch. Landscape-Urban Planning 'EDAW', with 32 branches worldwide.

• Physical Pedagogy (Athens)

Professional experience in the public sector:

-in Athens as a permanent employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DEEAP),

-in Heraklion as a permanent employee in the Decentralized Administration of Crete (PEHOS and DTE).

-in Heraklion as a preschool teacher in a private kindergarten.

In general, I have dealt with private and public studies and projects, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, etc.