The Bent Branch

Permaculture Garden

How to find The Bent Branch permaculture garden

TRAVEL FROM KAMARIOTISSA

There is a bus (the route that goes to THERMA). You can also get a taxi. If you get a taxi, ask for 'Spiti Arvanitis' (or you can hitchhike, which will take a while. You can also ask around on the ferry, to see if anyone is driving out towards Therma). You want to get out at Kato Karioutes, the bus stop is at the bottom of the hill, next to the Asprovolta Taverna.

DIRECTIONS IN KATO KARIOUTES

Take the Kato Karioutes road that winds up the hill starting at the Asprovolta Rooms, and after the first curve in the road, (this curve starts right after you pass the MYSTES guesthouse), you will find a dirt side road on the LEFT, and immediately up the hill from this, a gateway with gateposts decorated with round pebbles.

The road that leads to Samothraki Permaculture is on the RIGHT, about 5 metres further up the hill. Go down this dirt road about 15 metres, and you will see a dirt road on your LEFT, with a gate, heading straight up to the mountain, with another gate a bit further up. This road is the driveway leading to the homestead.

CLOTHING NEEDED

A. ALL YEAR AROUND

TROUSERS

Jeans or some other tough long trousers are necessary, as the island has vicious thorn bushes. There are also snakes that bite and some spiders with nasty bites, and ticks, so when out in the wilderness, keeping your legs covered is a good idea. You can always spot a local who works in the fields, as they are covered with a long shirt and long trousers, no matter how hot it is.

BOOTS

Boots are needed all year around. I wear mine most days. I also have sandals, and these are useful around the house, or for walking down to the beach.

RAIN GEAR

You will need to be prepared for torrential rain. In summer this is unusual, the rest of the year it can rain (and snow) heavily.

CLOTHING YOU WILL NEED BY MONTH:

AUGUST: You can go naked if you want to on the beach and up in the river. Otherwise, good factor 50 sunblock, good sunglasses, shorts, and a t shirt. Any laundry you do will be dry in minutes and ready to wear so you don't need many clothes. Mosquito repellent (I make my own here, which you can use. It is oil based). A good hat.

SEPTEMBER: Nights begin to get colder. You might want a sweater, and long trousers at night. Still warm enough to wander around nude on the beach and rivers, and swim in the sea. Clouds start to move lower down the mountain, and there can be thick mists. The winds start to blow. After the first rains later in the month the sea begins to cool down. (The river is the same temperature all year, as it is fed by an icy cold spring)

OCTOBER: It can get very cold, and warm up again rapidly. Nudity still comfortable some days outdoors at the beach and in the river. Clouds can descend from the mountain to ground level, and make everything seem damp and like you are living inside a wet cloud. It is like being in the Misty Mountains, if you are a Hobbit fan. You will need thermal underwear by October, and a warm hat and gloves on some days. The wind gets more violent from time to time, and the wind chill factor can make it seem even colder. There are still many beautiful warm days, and the sea stays warm until the first heavy rainfall cools things down.

NOVEMBER. Winter is here, and the days are getting short. It rains. The first snow appears on the mountain, and at night cold air rolls down from the peaks. It can occasionally snow already by this date, and you need lots of warm layers of clothes, and an extra duvet. The air is cool and crisp at night, but when the sun shines it is still delightfully warm in the sun. There are still long warm spells when the south wind blows in. The days are getting markedly short. Here in Karioutes the sun goes behind the mountain early. My solar system reduces its power output markedly.

DECEMBER: Cold. The days are very short, the sun rises above the mountain around 9.30am and disappears at 2.30pm. I go to bed very early, shortly after it gets dark, and wake up very early, hibernating like a bear. I love the cold winter mornings. I use a warm hat, lots of thermals, gloves and wrap up super warm with layers. There can still be warm spells when the south wind blows, and the temperature can swing between minus 10 Celsius and plus 15 Celsius. I have seen snow 1 metre deep, melted by the south wind and the day after seen butterflies in the garden. The weather here in winter is unpredictable and extreme. The wind can be violent. The snow can be deep.

JANUARY: Same as above

FEBRUARY: Same as above

MARCH: Beginning to warm up, with some lovely days. Tshirt weather is mixed with cold. Apricity - it is warm in the sun, and cold in the shade. Nights are still cold.

APRIL: Even warmer. You need a mix of summer and winter clothes, as the weather has a mind of its own. It can still rain a lot.

MAY: Beautiful days. Mostly warm, can be very wet some years, but this year (2021) May felt like mid summer, and it hardly rained at all.

JUNE: Summer is here, same as August, with cooler nights. It can still rain and be cloudy.

JULY: Summer is here, same as August, with cooler nights.