Peloponnese yurt holiday in Greece

Environment

I live as eco-friendly as possible, with solar power, composting toilet and home grown veg. I recycle as much as I can and also re-use many things. Greece is not well known for being very environmentally friendly, I try to enlighten the local people and show by example how to re-use and re-cycle goods, I recently had a 'free' bazaar, where people could come and get all sorts of things for free, books, clothes, kitchen goods etc. I have a large tank which collects rainwater in winter, I re-use this water in summer to water my garden. This is not a commercial area and most of the people live a simple uncomplicated life, we help each other when we can even if there are language barriers. My land is all organic, If something is eating a plant, I usually wait for a bug to eat that bug, most times the garden bugs sort themselves out without me reverting to sprays and chemicals, it goes in seasons, you just need a bit a patience! Buzzards circle overhead and there are pine martins and various other little creatures that roam around, all doing their little jobs, even if it means some eat or disturb your plants, they were here before me.

Community

I try to integrate as much as possible into the greek community, my greek is not that good, but I get by. Our village has 4 places where you can eat or just get a beer or coffee, all of which are family owned and known to me, I use and recommend them as much as possible . I support the local community as much as I can. If I need a 'helping hand' I use local labour, and pay them a respectable wage. Occasionally I have small bazaars in the garden with local people selling their handicrafts and playing music. This is not a large tourist area and most of the people who live here and are not Greek try and use the shop and cafes and join in with local events. Sometimes a group of mixed nationalities get together to go through the village and pick up any litter. Recently fund raising has seen benches appear through the village for everyone to enjoy . Greek people are very proud and don't accept charity or second hand goods very easily. The local people are very friendly and happy to show you around their small farms or gardens.