The Garden
Interacting with plants fills our hearts. It expands our consciousness and transcends time.
How it came to be
We were both lucky to have experienced a close connection with pristine environments as children and we also treasure experiences of living in a pre-industrialized way of being. We were also lucky to not view land as an object that is only a means of financial development and wealth. Rather than treating land as an image to please, an object to exploit or a means to show off, Aurama garden is the result of my deep desire to learn and benefit from the healing power of plants, to experiment and understand small-scale ecosystem balances, to remember and preserve the beauty of living as part of nature and to bring plants and nature at the core of my activities and relationships.
So in year 2000 a hectare of land was bought at an altitude of 430m-437m, south of the small town of Rethimnon on the island of Crete; it is a rocky outcrop, quite heavily grazed up until 2012, with amazing views to the sea and the White Mountains. Much of the area all around reminds of rocky landscapes depicted in Minoan art and the open horizon gives a soothing sense of freedom, so no surprise it captured my heart. In year 2010 works started for the construction of a tarmac road to gain access to the 2nd terrace, where a house was built, as well as for the opening of access-paths to the higher levels. Since 2012 we have been living and working on this small piece of rocky land investing our knowledge, modest economic means and tons of time and energy, to create a balanced and harmonious place to live in and where together with our fruit and vegetable garden and medicinal herbs, a variety of wild medicinal plants can grow happily and offer us their healing power.
Location
The garden is situated at the foothills of the NW slopes of mount Vrysinas in central-northern Crete (Rethimnon prefecture), in close proximity to the central axis linking the north to the south in Rethimnon prefecture since ancient times. Not far from the local town of Rethimno and the northern coast (about 7-10km), it is in a quiet provincial road leading to Paradeisos settlement the mountain and its pasturelands. A dirt road, which is an E4 (road of natural beauty) leads through the mountain to the top, where just like a crown a small church sits, dedicated to the Holly Spirit. It continues the ancient tradition of worshiping the mountain peaks; the top of mount Vrysinas has hosted traces of human presence since the late Neolithic (4000-3200BC). In the early Middle Bronze Age it used to be the area’s Minoan Peak Sanctuary as we have relevant activity from MMI (2100-1900 BC). Most of the material found belongs to MM III (1700-1500BC), but activity goes down to LM IIIB and C (1300-1100BC) [R Vrys].
The garden’s ecology
Climate and Weather. Cretan climate is in general temperate Mediterranean with mild rainy winters and hot, dry summers. There is a gradient of rainfall from NW to SE (being the driest). The last years have been getting noticeably warmer, with strong south winds becoming stronger and now blowing even during the winter. Thankfully, the mountain helps us receive a good deal of rain during short periods from late autumn to late spring, but most plants would need quite a bit more.
In short, the weather is mostly wonderful, but there are many days with dramatic phenomena, be it strong winds, relentless heat or winter storms. The greatest challenge is the increasing South winds and decreasing rainfall together with the negative repercussions of ecosystem imbalance on Crete due to human activity. The intensification of agriculture and animal breeding as well as the touristic explosion are the main drivers behind biodiversity loss in the Cretan landscape – and indeed, everywhere.
Topography. The garden unfolds over a rocky outcrop that forms various levels. The rock is mainly limestone with pockets of gypsum, and several cavities allow humidity-loving plants to withstand the hot summers. The soil varies, especially since we had to bring some from elsewhere, from green clay to white limestone and red sediment.
Flaura. This small piece of land we’ve come to live in was home to only one tree when we first came, a small Oak tree (Quercus pubescens), which decided to sprout within a rock crack several decades ago. The land had been quite heavily grazed as all the area around is pastureland. Thus, all indigenous plants have evolved to withstand grazing, which is typical of Crete – grazing has been a human activity since prehistoric times, after all. Herbs, woody, thorny bushes and annuals are the main plants we found, and we have planted and seeded many other plant species. Our efforts to establish plants that prefer wetter and calmer weather conditions have often been accompanied with failure, however, we now live together with deciduous and evergreen perennial plants from gymnosperms to fruit-baring trees, with ferns, algae and flowers, biennials, annuals or perennials.
Fauna. This place was named Paradeisos (Paradise) for the beautiful views and landscape, but it is definitely a paradise for insects, whose increase and variability matches that of the plants. The land may also be visited by, heirs, local martens and hedgehogs and is home to a variety of reptiles and birds. Our cats and dogs sometimes decide who stays and for how long…
Our partnership with the land
The study of plants within a small-scale ecosystem has been a valuable endeavour. Even though we brought in some experience and a lot of theoretical and book knowledge, it is observing and living with the plants that can really illuminate ecosystem dynamics. In other words, regardless of the level of theoretical knowledge, it is the experience itself that makes landscape management choices meaningful. We have learnt that by observing plant behaviour, synergistic or antagonistic relationships, biodynamics and ecosystem resilience, we can support biodiversity and ecosystem balance.
Except for the plants that we have found in situ and those that come to stay via seed, we have also brought in our community both local and foreign plants, all of them witnesses and leading actors in the story of the construction of an herbal, healing garden. All plants are of medicinal value, but a tiny minority tends to be very expansive and threatening to other species, therefore it needs to be controlled. A good way to do this is by facilitating synergistic relationships and managing germination.
We do of course plant seasonal vegetable gardens, but wild plants or plants we’ve planted and now grow wild also form part of our nutrition. It goes without saying that everything is organic and we feel as much hosts, as guests on this beautiful, small piece of land.
Aurama herbal garden
Plants are our teachers and healers
An herbal garden provides natural medicine to heal body, mind and spirit. It is healing to our senses and emotions. It frees us from mind traps. It fulfils the need to feel part of nature, where life thrives, even if next to an urban environment.
Aurama herbal garden is also an experiment of how small scale ecosystems are created and respond to modern pressures. It is an example of a different approach to gardens and cultivation – not just pleasing to the eyes and focusing on monoculture where we kill everything but a few species, but where we learn to facilitate the growth and co-existence of plants that are important for our health and well-being in multiple ways.
We will definitely not be here for ever, but the plants we plant will hopefully live for much longer. One does not need to be an herbalist to grow some plants that can contribute to one’s well-being. Planting is in itself an amazing experience, especially when we think of the plants’ future that extends well beyond ours, and guarantee a future for the planet earth – our mother planet.
So, focusing on medicinal plants and biodiversity and applying permaculture techniques, we grow and allow the natural growth of plants we chose, and which decide to stay. Coping with harsh conditions they become stronger, giving us a better synthesis of chemical constituents and thus, therapeutic potential. They are prime sources for my herbal products and remedies and they transform a small piece of rocky, arid and degraded land into a rich and lively community of many living organisms, which to me, is healing in itself.
All in all, we try to sustain a rich and lively ecosystem where to live in and enjoy its therapeutic value in terms of food, medicine and energy balance. We produce herbal products from medicinal plants that growing in the best possible natural conditions and treated appropriately, are full of active constituents and representative of the plants’ healing capacity.