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New Cycles and recycling
August 22nd 2008
Recycling isn't just about rubbish, it's about ideas! In Greece the tourist season will end in September and restaurants will close. People will be checking their olive trees for swelling fruit and fervently hoping for moderate rain but no storms before November picking begins.In Methoni,as in many country areas throughout the world, most people still look for wood to burn in their stoves as well as an olive crop; and olive oil lamps, using old or inferior quality oil are a great alternative to candles, though not so widely used now as electricity is mostly available.
But what about town dwellers? Rising fuel prices and the pressure to go green are making us all rethink, and at UK Trigono Lamda the plan is to use lessons learnt in Greece. Solar power is an obvious option, but there are easier things to do:
One is to use as much natural daylight as possible by installing a skylight; another is to remove a large immersion heater in favour of instant water heating as need arises. Hot water wasn't "on tap" in the early 20th Century.
If it sounds grim, it needn't be. I'm starting with Dimplex in my quest for economic heating and instant hot water provision. Meanwhile, with an already installed shower with mains water feed, and a cold fill washing machine, (Canadian, New Zealand and European friends have been using cold wash for years), it's simple to boil a kettle for small amounts of water. But how much will I actually save?
Greek lessons on living without utilities
The Upper land Road
August 19th 2008
As well as the work to complete clearance of the Lamda olive grove, a new road was
made around the perimeter of the Upper land above the Lemon Grove this year. This will enable easier
access for work to clear the centre of the rocky land. The itention is not to
bulldoze the land flat but to make easier access to view the wildlife there.
More about work in progress
Exchange Rates Impact
August 7th 2008
Today's exchange rate is €1 = £0.7888. So the Euro has held up well against the pound throughout the year. London last weekend was the busiset I've seen it in many years but reports from Methoni are of fewer tourists and a drop in those looking for property. This does not necessarily mean that prices will fall though. The supply of land is limited and that of land with a view even more so as prime land has already been developed.The issue at Trigono Lamda is how to fund less from the UK and make the land more self- sustaining. This year's land clearance, along with cooler weather than last year, may help to achieve a better olive crop but drastic action may be required with the Lemon Grove, either to sell for development or to clear the dead trees and rent for annual crops. In both cases, water will be the main issue More about Crops
2008 land Clearance project at Lamda Olive Grove
August 1st 2008
Major work to clear the overgrown wild area at lamda Olive grove was completed in Spring 2008 Clearance Project at Lamda Grove
Change Management - lessons from Greek bereavement rituals
July 31st 2008
Change is endemic in our modern world and it is good to learn to cope early. We mourn our lost dreams as well as lost people, and nature's seasons continually remind us that change is normal. Change Management and Greek mourning traditions
2008 work at the Groves
March to July 2008
The March visit to Greece was very productive, with an opportunity to set work through to July. Vehicle access has now been made to the Upper land, quite a challenge on this rocky terrain. The "road" runs round the perimiter of the Upper land providing a barrier against fire as well as much easier access for future clearing. As always, the aim is to minimise the disruption to wildlife and yet ensure that work can be undertaken safely.Below the Upper Land, at the Lemon Grove, things are less rosy after another severe cold spell that has once again blackened the trees. A claim has been made for government compensation since many trees will have to be replaced. The drive onto the grove has been extended to provide better vehicle access and allow easier clearance, but it is sad to see the grove now - it takes a long time to establish new trees and is is not economically viable.
New road access to the Triangle has still not been provided and this will cause difficulty in September when it will be time to clear again. Moreover, promised work has not been carried out to maintain the plants there. This is heartbreaking since it takes little effort, there is a fair wage for the labour involved and when work is not carried out to schedule there is increased risk of fire, and tougher plants strart to crowd out the more delicate ones.
Much brighter news at the Lamda Olive Grove where, following several years of gradual clearing or borders, we were finally able to tackle the wild area bordering the river. Overgrown with brambles and bamboo, this area has been inpenitrable for many years, meaning that olive trees were gradually deprived of light and air and succombed to weeds. Following clearance, a number of self seeded silver birches are now properly freed from undergrowth - the bonus of the clearance exercise.
Meanwhile, in the UK, a new aspect to Trigono Lamda, has arisen. The discovery of a small flat, part Victorian and part white extension with a flat roof gives the opportunity to bring ideas from Greek design to the UK, while still mainaining the original Victoriam parts of the building.
Those who travel broaden their minds and interests and I think invariably become more eclectic in choice of style. In the UK We may bot have the warmth of the sun very often - while Greece gets far too hot - But it's nice to take from each culture and blend into a harmonious living space.
Time to Travel!
Feb 10th 2008
An increasing number of people are landing on Trigonogroves website via Google, Yahoo and other searches for travel advice. We can't hope to keep up to date with travel information but are happy to provide useful links. One such is Fodor's Guide. You'll find others on our Travel Page.
New page developing:
Greek Design A little bit of Greece in Northern Europe?
What now for Property Prices?
Jan 17th 2008 UK property prices are falling or at least not rising! It depends on the area of course. The Euro has been around €1.00 = £0.75 (see the currency link for today's rate.) up from around 0.66 in years past. This means that anyone moving from the UK to Greece now, may suffer by getting less for their UK property - or finding it harder to sell, yet paying more for their Greek property - the pounds will not buy as much as they did a year ago.
Methoni, Pylos and Foinikounta prices are very unlikely to fall - visitors are attracted from all over the world and fall in love with the place - and many return again and again - and may buy if they can. Looking at property websites - prices on the Peloponnese just seem to go up and up.
Good news for selling Trigono Lemon Grove then? Maybe - as land becomes scarcer it looks more inviting as it is close to the sea compared with inland villages. But maybe not - the incentive to move abroad is often the need to fund retirement from capital released by a house sale. We shall see!
The Environment Debate
29th Dec 2007
With its motto - "Protect and Share" and it's aim to preserve some of the wildlife and traditional ways of working on the Peloponnese in Greece, Trigono-Lamda is naturally concerned with environmental issues. But the decision to start the website last year and the present need to sell some of the land raises many of the conflicts faced by all of us in our everyday attempts to live environmentally-friendly lives. On this new page for 2008, lets look at the good and the bad, the zany and the sensible, and, above all, the practicality and moral issues we face as individuals.
More on Environment Issues
Property For Sale
Lemon Grove for Sale
Lemon grove, with small summer house, for sale. €300,000. 12,000 sq metres.
Upper Land for Sale
Situated above the Lemon Grove. 4,000 sq metres meadow land with view of valley. €100,000.Groves pages for more details. PleaseContact Us if interested.
Buying and selling property in Greece is not difficult if there is a single owner (in this case one owner - English with Greek contacts). The Lemon Grove and Upper Land have official deeds with topographical maps already exist.