greenflow project land regeneration

Project Greenflow is a grassroots organization based in a valley below the main town of Khora on the island of Samothraki, Greece.

Years of unsustainable farming practices supported by EU subsidies, alongside a general exodus of the population have led to neglect, severe land erosion and degradation. If something is not done imminently, the land will reach a point of no return. We are still in a position today where land can be reforested and replanted with native wild plants and sustainable agricultural practices re-established.

One of our major achievements has been to motivate the local community, shepherds and farmers to reverse and prevent further damage and regenerate the island by bringing together local traditional methods with modern science.

Project Greenflow work with:
- Vienna University Social Economics Department. Spearheading ecological initiatives on the island.
- Thessaloniki University Veterinary Department.
Promoting the use of the ‘Happy Goats App’ a computer application designed to help farmers sustainably manage their herds, and establish a milk and cheese cooperative.
- Lisbon University. Initiating a biodiversity permanent pastures project.

I, Daud first came to the island six years ago and was befriended by a local family. I spent three years working with them as goatherd's and soon got to know the islanders and learnt Greek including the local Samothraki dialect used by the shepherds. I was then joined by my close friend and co-founder Hatim who made several yurts by hand for the project and shared the same vision. Later we were joined by Ilkka from Finland who was so inspired by what we were doing, he joined us as a permanent member of our team.

We were initially given a plot of land with 3.5 thousand sq meters with old stone houses by the family we had worked with. We moved onto the land in March 2017. Shortly after the move other locals showed interest in the project gave us the use of a further 300,000 sq. meters and ten abandoned houses in the valley.

This support has continued and the total area of land we now manage around the island is just under a million sq meters. This comprises:
- Our headquarters (HQ) in the valley, 50,000 sqm
- Surrounding land in the valley, 250,000 sqm
- Winter pastures, 300,000 sqm
- Summer pastures and milking station, 300,000 sqm
- Olive groves, 200 trees
- Two rivers run through the valley.

So far, we have been concentrating on the 50,000 sq meters of the HQ that hold the main farm buildings and have fenced this area to keep out goats, repaired some terraces, cleared rubbish from the river and surrounding areas and laid irrigation pipes. Much of this was done with the help of Zathey social co-op Treibhouse e.V., Les Petits Grains and Arpeggio.

We also sustainably  manage a herd of about 300 goats and sheep with our adopted family. We have also become an animal rescue centre. Currently we have 3 orphaned goats, 4 abandoned dogs, several cats and four chickens.

As part of an eco-tourism project in the summer of 2017, we erected 2 yurts on the local campsite and donated one 10 meter yurt to the community for workshops including yoga, music, and children’s activities and to promote the Greenflow project.

This winter we are concentrating on a tree planting project. We have been given about 150 ancient variety peach and cherry trees and we aim to propagate new olive trees to plant our olive groves.

Unfortunately, on the night of the 25th September 2017 the island was hit by a severe storm that brought down trees and caused major flooding and landslides. The flood washed away 100 meters of our new fencing, 500 meters of irrigation pipeline, part of our valley and filled the river that runs through the land with rocks and mud.

We have had much moral and some financial support from the locals on the island for the project's work in the wider community and were officially thanked by the vice mayor for our work cleaning the rivers in our valley and the relief work we did during and after the flood.

However, we are in desperate need of immediate funding. Our monthly running costs are 1,000 euros. This will enable us to feed our animals, expand animal rescue and continue giving life changing experiences to our Workaway volunteers (without whom none of this would have been possible).

we need additional funding to:
-repair the flood damaged fencing
-rolls of fence wire and posts to protect new areas
-building materials
-install new irrigation pipelines 
-a cultivator
-a chainsaw
-miscellaneous tools
-help with day to day living costs until we become self-sufficient

With your help we will be able to continue our work and grow to the point of full self-sufficiency and sustainability and expand our ideas to the rest of the island by teaching through example before it’s too late.

This project is our life and dream, we have given our hearts and souls not just to the project but to this beautiful Island and its community.

For offline donations that will also be included in total raised please donate to this account .
please state if you wish donations to include your name

Name: Hatem Gramy
IBAN: GB68MYMB23058020306534
BIC: MYMBGB2L