WATER:
The existing water drills from the 1990s were in bad shape and abandoned for several years when Frank bought the plot in 2022. Thanks to the support of international experts, the water system was designed and implemented. The drilling holes were cleaned, new pipes were placed in the drilling holes and new energy efficient submerse pumps were installed. A 45.000 litre water tank was created out of an old and damaged water reserve on the farm, about 1,5 km away from the pumps. The connection between pumps, water tank and the touristic sections was laid with pipes suitable for drinking water. The tank was painted with a special coating for drinking water purposes, The water that is used for drinking purposes is going through Reverse Osmosis filters and there are sand filters in addition where machines are installed.
Since Spring 2024, the water is running stable and since summer 2024, it is driven 100 per cent by solar energy. The underground irrigation was cut three times whilst the excavation works on the yurt section and the damages were unfortunately not reported. This caused a lot of extra work in manual irrigation in 2024 but by summer 2025 we hope that the irrigation system for the plants will be operative again. The Investments on the water supply reached about 140.000 Euro (the Solar energy not included – also for the reactivation of the irrigation we do not have an estimation for the costs so far)
Since Spring 2024, the water is running stable and since summer 2024, it is driven 100 per cent by solar energy. The underground irrigation was cut three times whilst the excavation works on the yurt section and the damages were unfortunately not reported. This caused a lot of extra work in manual irrigation in 2024 but by summer 2025 we hope that the irrigation system for the plants will be operative again. The Investments on the water supply reached about 140.000 Euro (the Solar energy not included – also for the reactivation of the irrigation we do not have an estimation for the costs so far)
ELECTRICITY
Taking into account growth in the residents of the ecovillage, the capacity of the solar energy system was calculated to 80 KW. These are spread to 68 KW for the tourism and resident section and 12 KW for the pumps and fruit processing section. To keep the electricity stable, 55 KW batteries have been purchased.
At present 40 KW are operational with 35 KW batteries. About 4 km cables have been placed to the ground to connect all touristic, pumping and production sections with electricity.
The hot water and heating are currently not using electricity but thermos-solar and wood firing solutions. In case of winter periods where several days the sun will not shine, we do have a 30 KVA and a 7.5 KVA generator to produce the basic energy in such emergency situations. It should not come to such a point where the generators may be needed for more than a day. To build the electricity for the farm and ecovillage, an investment of more than 150.000 Euro was necessary so far.
At present 40 KW are operational with 35 KW batteries. About 4 km cables have been placed to the ground to connect all touristic, pumping and production sections with electricity.
The hot water and heating are currently not using electricity but thermos-solar and wood firing solutions. In case of winter periods where several days the sun will not shine, we do have a 30 KVA and a 7.5 KVA generator to produce the basic energy in such emergency situations. It should not come to such a point where the generators may be needed for more than a day. To build the electricity for the farm and ecovillage, an investment of more than 150.000 Euro was necessary so far.
HEATING
The Agri-Tourism Section, the social, cultural, artistic and training events shall be operative during the whole year. This demands a heating system, as well as for the residents living on the ground the full year. For the heating of these sections a combined system is foreseen that uses thermos-solar, photovoltaic and wood firing as the key input elements. To keep the water hot, insulated tanks will be placed underground and a pump circulation will distribute the hot water to the floors of the constructions. Such a system seems not to be in use in Greece or at least not in the region as we could not find an expert who is able to calculate and install this system. The delay in the building permits for the Agri-tourism section is another reason for the delay in the development of the heating system. Bz 2025, we hopefully will be able to finalise the conception and to install the system with international support to realise this. We do calculate about 30.000 Euro financial gap here.
ECOTOURISM
The Ecotourism Project is running since Spring 2022 and by end of 2024, the project shall be complete on Phase I and the Ecotourism will become operational in Spring 2025. For this, five yurts and three train wagons were build and prepared. The yurt village was first erected in summer 2022 and washed away by a flood in September 2022. It took more than one year to repair and rebuild the yurts. End 2023, the yurts were built again and tested for the winter. Since April 2024, the yurts are in the practical testing phase and since summer 2024, the section is complete supplied by solar energy and thermo solar heating devices.
To complete the Ecotourism project, a toilet section, a kitchen and a dining area as well as a sauna and a spa need to be completed. In this section, additional investments of about 25.000 Euro needed.
From April 2025, it is foreseen to open the Eco-Tourism sector for (inter)national guests. The Eco-Tourism section was the highest financial consumption so far. Each of the 5 yurts consumed more than 35.000 Euro (Energy and Water investments not calculated). The constructions for the toilets, kitchen, sauna and spa consumed another 65.000 Euro and these sections are not fully complete yet. In total, 240.000 Euro was invested to the ecotourism section so far and at least another 25.000 Euro will be demanded before the tourism return can start.
To complete the Ecotourism project, a toilet section, a kitchen and a dining area as well as a sauna and a spa need to be completed. In this section, additional investments of about 25.000 Euro needed.
From April 2025, it is foreseen to open the Eco-Tourism sector for (inter)national guests. The Eco-Tourism section was the highest financial consumption so far. Each of the 5 yurts consumed more than 35.000 Euro (Energy and Water investments not calculated). The constructions for the toilets, kitchen, sauna and spa consumed another 65.000 Euro and these sections are not fully complete yet. In total, 240.000 Euro was invested to the ecotourism section so far and at least another 25.000 Euro will be demanded before the tourism return can start.
AGROTOURISM / CULTURE / ART & MUSIC
For more than 2.5 years the Hortus was waiting for the building permit to create a complex of four wood houses, a music studio and a stage. This extreme delay in the administrations and the competences of the “experts” did provide a fatal harm to the development process and the financial conditions of the Hortus and its founder. The first of the four wood buildings is in building progress and may be completed before the end of 2024. From the first calculation in 2022, a budget of 150.000 Euro was scheduled but due to the delays, the changes in laws and the increase of building material costs, the current calculation raised to 260.000 Euro, which provides a gap of 110.000 Euro in the budget in order to complete this section. This section is of high importance especially related to multiplication activities, music events, cultural events, trainings etc. The Hortus can achieve income with this section, to gain the financial resources for the costs that are demanded to purchase the goods that cannot be produced by the ecovillage. But to come to this point, this section needs to become operational.
THE ORGANIC HORTUS
The location of Hortus Cyrenaicus was described as High Productive Agriculture Land. We were happy to find existing fruit trees that were abandoned for more than six years, but we had little organic production of Cherries, Apples, Peaches and Nectarines for our living and processing some natural fruits, jams, juices etc. There are several experiments in the production of the fruits and quite satisfying first products. The variety of products is scheduled to be expanded in the coming years by other fruits, vegetables and fish. We would like to start having our own bees and some livestock like sheep chicken, donkeys…
Unfortunately, we were informed after a soil test that the so called “High Productive Agriculture Land” as this all the Hortus Plots are entitled is quite dead soil. This was a bit shocking, so we started in 2024 to repair and maintain the soil. Fortunately, more than 70 Volunteers from 22 countries in the world were so kind to help us in the undertaking of plant and soil protection and reanimation between February and October 2024. In the current situation, we are planning a period of 3 to 5 years that may be needed to reactivate some of the soil and to be able to achieve a decent harvest for the residents and of course to repair the soil for the future generation.
Unfortunately, we were informed after a soil test that the so called “High Productive Agriculture Land” as this all the Hortus Plots are entitled is quite dead soil. This was a bit shocking, so we started in 2024 to repair and maintain the soil. Fortunately, more than 70 Volunteers from 22 countries in the world were so kind to help us in the undertaking of plant and soil protection and reanimation between February and October 2024. In the current situation, we are planning a period of 3 to 5 years that may be needed to reactivate some of the soil and to be able to achieve a decent harvest for the residents and of course to repair the soil for the future generation.
DEMONSTRATION TRAINING & DISSEMINATION
All these challenges that were put on our shoulders will not stop us from achieving our goal to build a place where people can live from own resources and where people can come to see what we are doing and take a rest from their challenging lives. We will try any opportunity to realise this "Arch Noah".
With all the current achievements and the specific present and future projects, Hortus Cyrenaicus is foreseen to open its gates to schools, individuals and specific interest groups. The organic farming conception, the permaculture garden, the food forest are some projects that could be of extreme use for the young generation but also for the existing farmers, in order to introduce different alternative approaches. There is a small production of goods ready for testing the organic products of Hortus. These are for residents, visitors and guests.
The value of Hortus Cyrenaicus as a centre for presentations, meetings, discussions, cultural, social, music and art events is of high importance. This shall become a place where people can live from what they grow, not worried of how to pay the rent, water and energy and having high quality organic basic food available. There is a potential to demonstrate the opportunities of organic farming, which is in line with the EU plan for 25% of all agriculture to be organic farming.
With all the current achievements and the specific present and future projects, Hortus Cyrenaicus is foreseen to open its gates to schools, individuals and specific interest groups. The organic farming conception, the permaculture garden, the food forest are some projects that could be of extreme use for the young generation but also for the existing farmers, in order to introduce different alternative approaches. There is a small production of goods ready for testing the organic products of Hortus. These are for residents, visitors and guests.
The value of Hortus Cyrenaicus as a centre for presentations, meetings, discussions, cultural, social, music and art events is of high importance. This shall become a place where people can live from what they grow, not worried of how to pay the rent, water and energy and having high quality organic basic food available. There is a potential to demonstrate the opportunities of organic farming, which is in line with the EU plan for 25% of all agriculture to be organic farming.
Volunteer Support
Since February 2024, we are working with Worldpackers and Workaway Platforms and received more than 70 volunteers to support us in 2024. They came from 22 countries to the Hortus Cyrenaicus. We are very thankful to this support and proudly present present some pictures here of our experience with volunteers.
