Title – Name
Karaiskos’ Farm
Scope / Sector / Industry
Agrotourism Business
Country / Region
Greece, Portaria, Pelion
Why is it good practice?
Karaiskos Farm, located in Portaria, Pelion, is the first certified agrotourism business by the Ministry of Tourism in Thessaly. It stands as a good practice of rural tourism enterprise as it brings visitors closer to nature, tradition, and the gastronomy of Pelion through experiential activities.
How is it applied?
The idea for the creation of Karaiskos Farm began with the establishment of an organic vegetable garden that supplied the needs of the Karaiskos family businesses. The purpose of the vegetable garden was to showcase the products of the Pelion region and reduce the environmental footprint of the family’s businesses by producing raw materials from the garden itself or by sourcing products from local producers. The project evolved, and the vegetable garden was transformed into an agrotourism farm that offers experiential experiences to its visitors.
Karaiskos Farm:
- Was created out of the need to reduce the environmental footprint by producing their own raw materials.
- Aimed to highlight the local products of the region and the local gastronomy.
- Was built based on what the land itself offered (over 100 fruit trees that thrive in the area and more than 200 aromatic plants and herbs were planted, local seeds were used in the vegetable garden, and stone and chestnut wood were utilized with respect to local architecture for the buildings).
- Hosts domestic animals (e.g., goats, donkeys, sheep, ponies, chickens, etc.), bringing visitors closer to rural life.
- Relied on cultivation using traditional techniques and seasonal practices.
- Offers cooking classes that use the vegetable garden’s produce and local products of Pelion, with cooking based on traditional techniques.
Where is it applied?
The services of Karaiskos Farm are available to everyone, especially families with children.
When did it applied?
Karaiskos Farm began operations in 2010.
Results
The Karaiskos family’s need to contribute to the promotion of local Pelion gastronomy led to the design and creation of the following services and activities at the Farm:
- Farm Cantine: Offers meals with vegetables from the Farm’s garden based on the “farm to table” philosophy.
- Farm House: Currently offers one guest room.
- Farm Lounge: Provides a large hall for hosting events and corporate meetings, while the entire Farm is available for outdoor activities and events throughout the year.
- Vegetable Garden: Seasonal vegetables and fruits are cultivated.
- Cooking Lessons: Local gastronomy classes with traditional techniques are conducted.
- Activities: Activities for young and old, such as climbing, archery, pony rides, and visits to the Farm’s animals (deer, ponies, mini goats, donkeys, rabbits, dogs, cats, chickens, geese, turkeys) are offered.
- Farm Shopping: Offers the opportunity to buy local products at a central location in Portaria, Pelion, created by the Farm’s owners.
As part of promoting local production, Karaiskos Farm organizes the Pelion Gastronomy Festival every September, a large gastronomic celebration at the farm, with exhibition and sale booths of local products, tastings, talks, demonstrations, etc. The festival is organized in collaboration with Magniton Kivotos, the entity of the Holy Metropolis of Demetrias, aiming to preserve the cultural heritage of the area and highlight the gastronomic culture and identity of Pelion.
The festival began in 2019 with 10 local producers and several workshops and gastronomic demonstrations. In 2022, more than 30 producers participated, and the gastronomic workshops included other activities such as hiking on trails and pottery workshops. Visitor attendance exceeded 6000 visitors.
Other Information
Future goals of Karaiskos Farm include further enhancing the agrotourism experience at the farm with more accommodation options, without altering the natural environment.
Additionally, plans are in place to create facilities for children and educational programs that will allow hosting educational institutions to impart knowledge about the primary sector.
Furthermore, regarding the Pelion Gastronomy Festival, the goal is to create small festival hubs in different areas of Pelion, celebrating Pelion gastronomy simultaneously, spreading the festival’s impact throughout the region. Karaiskos Farm participates in European programs as a good example of an agrotourism business.: https://www.karaiskosfarm.gr/?l=en
