KOSTAS G. BOUYOURIS, Agronomist,
President of Mediterranean Association for Soil Health, Crete, Greece,
e-mail: info@edaphon.com

The Mediterranean Association for Soil Health (M.A.S.H.) is a non-profit organization (NGO) that has been established for promoting the idea “Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People®� in Europe (idea originally expressed by the Rodale Institute, USA).

Two of the projects of M.A.S.H create, promote and establish direct links between tourism and organic farmers, on the island of Crete, Greece.

“CULINARY JOURNEYS IN ORGANIC FARMSâ€?. This project is performed in co-operation with Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries. In 2006, it is one of the top 3 finalists for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards - Destination Category.  The Award Showcases the World’s Leading Examples of Best Practice in Tourism Development (also known as sustainable travel or responsible travel).
Picture above: Visitors from U.S.A. and U.K. having lunch in a farmer’s house, during a culinary tour (January 2006).

Tourists discover the secrets of Crete’s wild nature, culture and cuisine during visits to historic sites, organic farms, villages off the map, tranquil beaches, and walks in the majestic countryside.
The journeys change with the seasons and include a range of farm activities such as organic olive oil production, beekeeping, winemaking, cheese making and… always.. eating well.
All-local team of chefs, sustainable organic farmers, botanists, archaeologists and outdoor adventure specialists work together to present an invaluable and memorable experience for visiting friends.
Programs cover the whole picture of Crete: culture, natural beauty, food and organic gardening. Tours are guided exclusively by local experts who have a proven track record in culinary-cultural preservation projects and sustainable tourism action programs.  That includes agronomists, members of local women’s agricultural cooperatives, musicians and local outdoor adventure companies.  Members of the academic community teach the subjects of archaeology, botany and nutrition.

Representation in TM
M.A.S.H. will be represented in TERRA MADRE 2006 by its president Kostas G. Bouyouris (picture below). Kostas is an agronomist specialized in Organic Agriculture (M.Sc., Wageningen Agricultural University). His main activity in M.A.S.H. focuses on Farmers’ Groups Formation and Farm Planning & Management; incorporating income generating activities other than production of organic vegetables, in order to link farmers with tourism and product direct processing and sales.

Kostas can be reached at . M.A.SH. website in english is www.edaphon.com (under improvement).

Another project of M.A.S.H. that links organic agriculture with tourism is the one titled “TOURISM SUPPORTED ORGANIC AGRICULTURE�: Linking large hotel industries with groups of organic farmers through guaranteed consumption agreements of organic products. Organic agriculture can be an excellent tool for the protection of soil, water and air, the resources that tourism depends on. By setting up groups of organic farmers to produce food for local big hotels, both sides are benefited. This project is already running since 1995. Farmers are offered guaranteed consumption agreements and lower price threshold.

The rest of M.A.S.H. projects promote the understanding of the idea “Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People� in local societies.

“TRANSLATE SCIENCE INTO PRACTICE�: Science applied on the field, used by the farmer. Measuring soil health on the field by using the Soil Health Kit developed by the Soil Quality Institute (USA). Develop cheap and effective composting techniques for Greek farmers; communicate the techniques. Develop experimental farms on Crete for fresh vegetable and fruit produce and for animal husbandry, in co-operation with individual farmer or a farmers’ group. Bio-Intensive organic agriculture is demonstrated as a practice.

“MINI ORGANIC FARMERSâ€?: School program where children of age 5-12 learn to cultivate organic food. Started in 2003, M.A.S.H. in co-operation with teachers from schools in Crete set up and run programs where children cultivate the soil and produce their own organic vegetables during the school year. At the end of the school season (around April-May) the children organize local fiestas with food prepared from their organic vegetables.  Some schools also sell their produce in a “backyard-marketâ€?, thus generating funds for the school.

“ORGANIC AGRI-CULTURAL EXCHANGE. A Volunteer program�: Enthusiastic and committed volunteers are requested to assist MASH and its members (local organic farmers) while participating in educational programming to learn to cultivate, produce, cook and preserve food in the traditional ways of Crete. MASH volunteers will learn the Cretan methods of producing and cooking organic food in exchange for providing labor to MASH members. Participants are offered a mixture of experience, from agricultural techniques (organic gardening, organic farm management, plant care and propagation, biodynamic techniques -working with the moon and cosmic forces-, permaculture design, etc) to culinary instruction (bread-baking, cheese and yoghurt making, traditional Cretan recipes preparation, fruit and vegetable conserves and other preservation techniques) while they offer their expertise to MASH members, according to their skills. Attendees have the option to choose a focus and participate mainly in those elements. If desired, there are opportunities for volunteers to explore the island and participate in guided adventure and/or culinary tours or culinary related activities and significant area visits.