Adventures in the farm, part I

The festival of plant seeds | Paros island

A few days ago I received an invitation to visit the annual ‘’Festival of plant seeds’’ in Paroikia.

“We are definitely going!” I told my friends Ada and Simone that had come to Paros to visit me for the weekend. And to point out my decision I pointed out my coffee table that was proudly all covered with books on organic gardening and magazines about flowers and herbs. Ada and Simone were as excited as I was about going to the festival as they also love gardening, and they are getting really good at it!

The Festival of plant seeds, which was organized by The Paros Local Committee of the Hellenic Society for Environment and Culture, is all about the exchange of traditional indigenous natural seeds, in order to preserve the local varieties of plants and to help maintaining pure and healthy dietary choices.

The morning of the plant seed-sharing day arrived, and despite my previous enthusiasm, I started feeling a little nervous. Questions like: ‘’What exactly are we going to do there?’’ or: -‘’But I don’ t have any seeds to exchange, so will they just give me theirs?’’ started popping up in my head. And finally I realized that after reading dozens of books and articles about farming and planting I simple didn’t have a clue on what to do about the seeds I was supposed, or not supposed to take from the festival. Should I plant them directly to the soil? Should I make seed beds? When should I plant them? Oh, how I wished I hadn’t bragged about my earlier planting attempts to my friends in Athens!

A few hours later, my friends and I were sitting in a coffee house in Paroikia, examining our tiny white paper bags that were full of our precious seeds. The farmers we had met at the festival and the members of the Hellenic Society were very helpful and so kind to answer all of my stupid questions; I felt so confident again!

So, in a few months’ time, fingers crossed, I should have my own crops of watermelons, potatoes, green beans and tomatoes. Right? Oh, well. Maybe not.. : )

words:  maria alipranti

photos: christos drazos