Pomegranates Pilot Farm

WHO

Charis Basiliou

KEY DATA

Land size: 4,6 ha
Annual Rainfall: 650mm
Soil: Clay
Existing cultivation: Pomegranates, olives

LOCATION

Sparta, Greece

DATE OF CONVERTION

4-6th of December 2021

Pomegranates Pilot Farm

Sparta, Greece

The Farm - The People - The Area

Charis is a young farmer who finished his agricultural diploma last year and is now taking back the family lands that were abandoned for the last decade. Intensive conventional farming in the area are posing environmental challenges to the region and are not encouraging young people to farm. Motivated young people like him need our support and can be an inspiring and hope giving example to a lot of young people. Further his social environment in Greece and abroad are embracing his initiative and efforts and can thus help upscale his efforts. His plan to make his farm open for visits from international volunteers but also local schools, to help humans reconnect with nature while showing how to produce food in abundance in a regenerative way will further increase the reach of this pilot farm.

Key concept

The pomegranate and olive cultivation of this farm was converted into a complex agroforestry system by adding other crop producing plants and support species to the tree lines, complementing the existing trees. Additionally, organic biomass producing species have been added in between the tree lines. The soil fertility and water infiltration was initially supported through subsoiling and continuously with the application of self-produced biofertilizer and seeding of green manure like legume species, grasses and taproot plants.

The transition in Detail

BEFORE THE CONVERSION

The chosen plot before the conversion. Tree lines in monoculture.

AFTER THE CONVERSION

Existing pomegranate tree lines (red lines 6-11) and olive tree lines (blue lines 1-5) become diversified.

Olive tree lines (lines 1-5)

For crop

Lemon beebrush
Plum
Walnut
Peach
Pecan

For organic matter production

Poplar
Catalpa
Eucalyptus
Acacia Mimosa
Lippia repens

Between the tree lines

For organic matter production

Pampas grass
Miscanthus
Green manure (depending on season)

Pomegranate tree lines (lines 6-11)

For crop

Mulberry
Aronia
Black/white/red currant
Goji
Fig
Blackberries

For Timber

Pawlonia
Eucalyptus
Poplar

For organic matter production

Eleagnus
Poplar
Acacia Mimosa
Eucalyptus
Pawlonia

Side view of the olive tree lines

Trees and shrubs of different layers are added to each existing tree line.

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