Greek Odyssey '16 -- Hellenic Farming and Baking

We mentioned this in our last post but can now tell a bit more of the story while we are on the road to Delphi. Today was a great opportunity to visit with Petros Zotos, one of the brothers who owns the hotel we enjoyed so much in Nauplio. He invited us out to his family's farm to show us his life's work. 

While an orange grove might sound simple and of limited interest, Petros spoke with such passion about his organic, polycultural produce that the students were held enrapt by his narrative. He produces oranges, of course, but also olives, spinach, onions, and wheat. He also keeps chickens in order to produce eggs but also to fertilize the trees and aerate the soil. He explained how the chickens eat the fallen oranges, which removes harmful acids from them, and leave the rinds and aerated soil to nourishment the trees. It really was a lesson in natural farming techniques, a sort of holistic science. 

Petros gave us bags in which to carry more oranges than we could possibly eat! Greek hospitality, to be sure. 

Students enjoyed walking among the trees and tasting the fruit as they picked it. 

Honestly, it was just the sort of adventure that makes you say "orange you just in love with Greece?"

(Sorry. Couldn't help myself.)