The Trigono Groves and properties have been purchased as opportunity arose over a ten year period from 1999. There was no intention to produce this mixed portfolio; it has arisen through circumstance, happy coincidence or perhaps, better described as pragmatism.
Lamda and Delta
Lamda olive Grove comprises 70 mature olive trees, some over 100 years old.
66 trees bear small olives which produce high quality olive oil and 4 trees bear large, black, kalamata Olives
which are known throughout the world. The five strema plot has a hand-dug well, now dry, which is all that remains of what used
to be a smallholding with a mud house, vineyard, fig and walnut trees as well as the olive
grove. Sadly, no photos of the mud house, only verbal testiments.
The most recent addition to the Trigono Groves, purchased in Deccember 2008,
Delta is adjacent to the Lamda Olive Grove. It has been carefully and professionally tended in the past and
is adjacent to a farm road, providing access to both it and the Lamda grove. Both groves originally belonged to the same family.
Delta has an attractive,
sunny aspect and the small, well spaced, trees give a good crop, with plenty
of space between for wild flowers to grow. The soil is heavy and can be wet in winter.
Trigono - The Triangle
The Trigono was the first piece of land purchased, in June 1999. It is the garden of Trigono groves, and was used
as a (caravan) home in early 2000, being close to the main road, which was quieter in 1999
than now. Although much smaller (700 sq metres) than the other groves, it hosts a variety of herbs and flowers as
well as 10 mature olive trees. Flat and low-lying, it could be productive for seasonal vegetable crops but while water
is scarce, and labour costs need to be kept low, is being gradually landscaped with hardy bamboo which grows naturally,
and yukkas which thrive without help.
The Lemon Grove and Ithaki
Bordered at the top by an unmade farm road and at the bottom by a stream,
the Lemon Grove, covering 10,000 sq metres is flat and fertile. Due to severe frosts and inability
to maintain crops, two thirds of the trees have been uprooted and, once renovation is complete, there will be a smaller grove,
with remaining land given over to wild flowers and mixed trees and shrubs. On a 2 strema terrace above the grove is
a small farm building which has been renovated for use as a summer house
Ithaki. in 2000. The building has been occupied for short periods: tanked water was used and,
Electricity can be supplied by generator but in the summer months it is easy to use calor gas for cooking and light.
Petra
Above the lemon grove is
Petra Petralofos means stony hill. It was
formerly known simply as the "upper land" - 4,100 sq metres of stony ground designated as meadow land and previously
used as pasture for goats.
4 Strema is the minimum land size for building in rural areas and Petra has a view of the sea at Lambes bay so would be pleasant as a building plot. The nearby village of Foiniki, has grown and housing development is creeping down the hillside opposite the lemon grove. Building is also spreding inward from the bay and>electricity will eventually follow - it is only cost and time that has prevented this so far. I then imagine a small house could be built, nestling into the south-facing side of Petra. The lemon grove and Petra were originally a single plot and the small road through was made between 1945 and 1969, presumably to give better access to surrounding properties.
Trigono-UK
Trigono-UK is an expression of Greece in the UK.
It is human nature to attempt to meet the basic requirements
for human life as best as we can within our own territory, and having done this some people
go beyond their own comfort zone. Most take something of their own life with them. The
differences between cultures are not always as great as may seem at first sight for if
one builds their house with bricks, another with stone and a third with wood, it is usually
just that those are the materials most readily available. We can create the ambiance of our
choice within the situation we are faced with.