The Farm The People The Area
Christos Kontomanos joined the cob.gr organization that was initiated by his father 20 years ago, after having finished his agronomy degree, bringing in the farming operation to the project. The organization is working since 20 years on natural building techniques with many experimental buildings and DIY applications on site which attract a broad audience. Now Christos is teaching regenerative farming all over Greece, which greatly increases the impact of this pilot farm. Further with the production they sell, they reach a broad audience of conscious consumers. The area is characterized by depleted soils due to intensive cotton cultivation which also had a very negative impact on the water table.
The Transition In Detail
The almond orchard will be diversified and transformed into a successional agroforestry operation including market gardens, fruit trees and bushes, grazing poultry, as well as support species. The agroforestry products will be commercialized primarily in the local area. One of the main focus is to increase soil organic matter as to reduce water needs. We will achieve this by using compost tea, effective micro-organisms, and other amendments as to boost soils fertility. Soil health will be reflected on nutrient dense food production.
THE DESIGN IN DEPTH
Plot 1
BEFORE THE CONVERSION
An almond monoculture lacking healthy soil and water retention capacity
AFTER THE CONVERSION
An almond monoculture lacking healthy soil and water retention capacity
The almond tree lines
For crop
Nuts: Almond, Pecan, Walnut, Hazelnut
Fruits: Apricot, Juneberry, Cherry, Sour Cherry, Grapes, Plum, Pear, Elderberry
For Timber
Pawlonia main
Poplar
Black Maple
Eucalyptus
For organic matter production
Poplar
Pawlonia
Paper Mulberry or Sophora Japonica
Black Maple
Catalpa
Chalef/Eleagnus
Between the tree lines
- Market Garden lines
For crop
Diverse annual and perennial vegetables
- Biomass / Green manures lines
For organic matter production
Pampas grass
Miscanthus
Green manure (depending on season)
Plot 2
BEFORE THE CONVERSION
AFTER THE CONVERSION
From top view (hover over the image to discover more details)
The almond tree lines
For crop
Nuts: Almond, Pecan, Walnut, Hazelnut
Fruits: Apricot, Juneberry, Cherry, Sour Cherry, Grapes, Plum, Pear, Elderberry
For Timber
Pawlonia main
Poplar
Black Maple
Eucalyptus
For organic matter production
Poplar
Pawlonia
Paper Mulberry or Sophora Japonica
Black Maple
Catalpa
Chalef/Eleagnus
Between the tree lines
- Biomass / Green manures lines
For organic matter production
Pampas grass
Miscanthus
Green manure (depending on season)
