Corfu self catering cottages, Greece

Planet

We place bins in all the cottages to separate rubbish into recyclable and ordinary rubbish, and deliver these daily to the municipal bins. Vegetable matter is collected and added to our compost bins which is used on our organic vegetable garden. In each cottage there is a large material shopping bag to reduce the accumulation of plastic bags. An local organic farm delivers vegetables, honey, egg, excellent produce delivered in a recyclable box without any plastic waste. We initiated several years ago the SOS environmental group, pressurising local authorities to create a recycling plant on the island which is now in operation; and cleaning beaches which are now cleaned by local councils. We regularly clear our approach road of rubbish.

Our buildings have been restored and preserved in the old Venetian style of Corfiot oil presses: vaulted ceilings, huge crossbeams, marble framed windows and doors, clay tile rooves. Two years ago the huge roof on the main building was completely renovated using environmentally friendly materials and insulation which has reduced our heating bills significantly. Most furnishing materials are in traditional style; and many of the works of art that hang in the buildings are family treasures or more recent paintings of Casa Lucia and the surrounding area by friends and guests. There are many pithoi - traditional oil jars - in the garden as well as other artefacts found in the grounds and the buildings. We have an album of the progress from a ruin to the restored buildings for our visitors to enjoy.