The 3rd Patmos Ecology Festival has concluded successfully.
We planted 300 trees and shrubs. These included oaks, cypresses, carob trees, chaste trees, wild pears, kermes oaks, acacias, mastic trees, and stone pines.
We sowed about 70 kilograms of soil-improving seed. The mix included wild broad beans, wild peas, vetch, lupin, alfalfa, creeping clover, berseem clover, and oats.
We saw that the trees from the two previous years had rooted well and continued to grow. Plants from earlier seed-ball sowing had also produced their own seed, which germinated after the rain.
For the first time in these three years, we could envision the change on Koumas hill.
Students from the Patmos schools joined us on the hill. We discussed why and how this work takes place. We made seed balls, sowed within the old municipal olive grove, and planted oregano, rosemary, lavender, and savory.
Sunday's weather kept us away from the planned activities. However, the rain gave the trees and seeds exactly what they needed.
This year reminded us again that a few committed people can start a major change.
We thank the Municipality of Patmos for its full support. We thank Jacqueline, who asked friends and relatives to donate to Community of Trees instead of sending wreaths for her beloved Grigoris. We thank the Patmos schools for their response to our invitation.
We thank Pernera Vegan for its second-hand market, which raised funds for the project. We thank Billis Rent a Bike / Car for the van used during the work. We thank natural farmer Nikos Tsompanoglou, owner of the Axiokersa natural organic farm on Mount Pateras in Megara, for his annual work and guidance.
We thank Kasba and the Aegean Film Festival for their two annual fundraising events. We thank Patmos Times and All About Patmos for their coverage. We thank the Patmos sports association Stadion for its planting support and advice on festival sports events.
We thank every person who gave time on common ground for a common good.
Planting trees and sowing diverse natural seed is an active form of peace. Helping a forest return is the opposite of war. We therefore thank the source of peace and life.
Seed bombs instead of bombs.
We completed part of our duty to the planet and to life. We worked together for one full week.
Now we leave the trees to the rain, and the rain to the trees.
The Community of Trees team
