Connecting people living in urban cities and the ones in agricultural areas

Jun 20, 2023Farm to Fork, Greece, Inspiring initiative

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Asiliki Miliadi; Nikos Zaharis and Dilay Celebi Gonidis within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the food security research line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

PERKA, Greece

Bringing the community closer to nature

The urban & peri-urban crop Group PERKA is a great example of an initiative that cultivates seasonal vegetables according to the principles of organic, biodynamic and natural cultivation, with traditional methods and with means that do not affect or cause damage to the ecosystem, co-farmers and residents.  

The initiative was created in early 2011 by citizens aiming to cultivate vegetables, seasonal fruits, flowers and herbs in a field in or near the city of Thessaloniki. With the support of the Local Cultural Association, the group began farming in a small section of the 689-acre area of the former Karatasos camp. The cultivation is non-profit, covers part of the needs of the members of the group, supports vulnerable social groups and is based on the principles of organic, biodynamic or natural cultivation using traditional seeds and plants, while at the same time enjoying the benefits of engagement and contact with the earth. The food produced is clean, safe and beneficial for the human body, while at the same time, there is respect for the flora and fauna developed there in recent years. Currently, PERKA is the most numerous volunteer action in the former camp, as in two years four additional groups of PERKA started operating. 

Implementing environmental actions

This action is cooperating with the municipality of Pavlos Melas, and mayor Diamantis Papadopoulos. The general direction of the municipality, according to Mr Papadopoulos, is to help the growers. However, there is a plan in progress so that in the Municipal District of Nea Efkarpia, which belongs to the municipality of Pavlos Melas, a large area of 6.000 acres with “utilitarian green” will yield Forest Products. Since 2016, it participates as a founding member and collaborating body in the local thematic Environmental Network approved by the Ministry of Education “School Open to Society – Active Citizen in the Municipality of Pavlos Melas” implementing environmental actions in collaboration with the school community.