The fieldtrips and tours are planned for Thursday October 5.
TOUR 1 – KOILIARIS RIVER BED [max 30 people]
09:00 Departure from the parking area, Minoa Palace Resort
09:40 Arrival at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Chania. Visit of the research project on Constructed Wetlands for sludge dewatering, funded by the Green Fund of Greece. The project is called “Management of sewage sludge using green technologies and processes in a circular economy” (https://circularsludge.gr), led by Prof. Alexandros Stefanakis (TUC) in partnership with Municipal Company for Water and Sewage Management of Chania (DEYACh) and the Inter-municipal Enterprise for Solid Waste Management (DEDISA). 16 pilot units have been installed in an integrated experimental setup to optimize the design and operational parameters of Sludge Treatment Wetlands.
10:45 Arrival at the campus of the Technical University of Crete. The group will visit a set of installed ‘water panels’; this water panel is a novel concept that produces fresh water from the air humidity, by using only natural processes and renewable energy without mechanical parts and without chemical substances. The novel panel contains an adsorbent material that captures the atmospheric water vapor. The solar radiation then extracts the water from the adsorbent, which is further condensed under the glass. The condensed water is then collected and mineralized through a simple activated carbon filter, producing this way fresh potable water. This project is a collaboration of Prof. Stefanakis’ lab with the French startup ‘Agua De Sol’ and the goal is to test and optimize the technical and operational parameters of the water panel.
12:00 Arrival at the riverbed of Koiliaris river in Apokoronas region.
The Koiliaris river basin presents severely degraded soils due to heavy agricultural impacts and is another Mediterranean soil under the imminent threat of desertification. Currently, floods represent an issue in the valley caused by heavy rainfall events that lately exceed the infiltration rate and generate significant surface runoff. The focus of the PRIMA project LENSES (LEarning and action alliances for NexuS EnvironmentS in an uncertain future), led by Prof. Nikolaos Nikolaidis (TUC), is on applying innovative methodologies and strategies such as Nature-Based Solutions to improve the ecosystem management. The project will be presented and a guided tour will be given along the riverbed and the natural springs of Stylos.
14:00 Arrival at the village of Armenoi and the traditional taverna ‘Drosostalia’. There we will enjoy local food!
16:00 Departure from the tavern
17:00 Arrival at the Minoa Palace.
TOUR 2 – EUROPEAN SUSTAINABILITY ACADEMY [max 50 people]
08:30 Departure from the parking area, Minoa Palace Resort
09:10 Arrival at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Chania. Visit of the research project on Constructed Wetlands for sludge dewatering, funded by the Green Fund of Greece. The project is called “Management of sewage sludge using green technologies and processes in a circular economy” (https://circularsludge.gr), led by Prof. Alexandros Stefanakis (TUC) in partnership with Municipal Company for Water and Sewage Management of Chania (DEYACh) and the Inter-municipal Enterprise for Solid Waste Management (DEDISA). 16 pilot units have been installed in an integrated experimental setup to optimize the design and operational parameters of Sludge Treatment Wetlands.
10:15 Arrival at the campus of the Technical University of Crete. The group will alo visit a set of installed ‘water panels’; this water panel is a novel concept that produces fresh water from the air humidity, by using only natural processes and renewable energy without mechanical parts and without chemical substances. The novel panel contains an adsorbent material that captures the atmospheric water vapor. The solar radiation then extracts the water from the adsorbent, which is further condensed under the glass. The condensed water is then collected and mineralized through a simple activated carbon filter, producing this way fresh potable water. This project is a collaboration of Prof. Stefanakis’ lab with the French startup ‘Agua De Sol’ and the goal is to test and optimize the technical and operational parameters of the water panel.
11:45 Arrival at the traditional, Cretan mountain village of Drapanos that hosts ESA (European Sustainability Academy; (https://eurosustainability.org), a net- zero carbon, off-grid natural materials venue for an immersive sustainability experience.
On the way to the village of Drapanos, you will visit the upcycling Tzompanakis Blown Glass ‘Τζομπανάκης Φυσητό Γυαλί’ hand blown glass factory to see how waste glass bottles become pieces of beautiful art.
On your arrival at the ESA facility you will be welcomed with some ‘mountain tea’ before hearing from ESA Architect, Zeta Chrissafakis, about the specialities of the building and about her other natural material building projects and recent research.
ESA Founder, Sharon Jackson, will present her study on the impact of biophilic design and ‘green buildings’ on human health and well- being, and introduce you to ‘Shinrin Yoku’ (Forest Bathing) which you will be encouraged to practice in the ESA grounds.
Following some green tea and some reflection after the Shinrin Yoku experience, you will be served a ‘Cretan Natural Treasures’ tasting experience, with explanations about the ‘wild food’ of Crete, by Sustainable Cretan Food expert Stella Diomantarakis. As a certified sommelier and Cretan wine expert, Stella will offer a Cretan organic wine tasting experience.
Your experience will end with a short walk back to the bus at the centre of the village, past the small village shop where you may want to buy some of the delicious local cheese and honey that you have tasted.
15:45 Departure from ESA
16:45 Arrival at the Minoa Palace
TOUR 3 – BOTANICAL PARK AND GARDENS OF CRETE [max 70 people]
09:30 Departure from the parking area, Minoa Palace Resort
10:00 Arrival at the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete. The place is a perfect example of ecological restoration, having been ‘born’ through the devastating fire that took place in 2003 in the area. The impact of the economic and ecological destruction on the village was tremendous. Approximately a hundred thousand “tsounati” olive trees, aged over 400 years, were annihilated, along with a high amount of local flora. The Park was born through the ashes of the destructive fire, when the founder, Petros Marinakis, decided to start restoring the destructed land and rejuvenate the destructed ecosystem. The result of this initiative was the creation of the Park, which provides an ecological journey in the heart of Cretan nature, offering an opportunity to observe and learn about fruit-bearing trees, herbs, spices, medicinal and decorative plants from all over the world, wander in the wonders of nature and witness the animals in their natural habitat.
In this field trip, visitors will take a 2-hour hike in the Gardens of the Park, observe many different plant varieties, from tropical plants to aromatic herbs and also visit the animal farm to observe its habitats. The owner will provide the visitors information about the sustainability aspects of the Gardens and the regenerative approach they apply.
After the hike, the visitors will have lunch at the restaurant, where traditional Cretan cuisine dishes will be served, cooked with local ingredients harvested from the Park itself.
14:00 Departure from the Botanical Gardens
14:45 Arrival at the campus of the Technical University of Crete. The group will visit a set of installed ‘water panels’; this water panel is a novel concept that produces fresh water from the air humidity, by using only natural processes and renewable energy without mechanical parts and without chemical substances. The novel panel contains an adsorbent material that captures the atmospheric water vapor. The solar radiation then extracts the water from the adsorbent, which is further condensed under the glass. The condensed water is then collected and mineralized through a simple activated carbon filter, producing this way fresh potable water. This project is a collaboration of Prof. Stefanakis’ lab with the French startup ‘Agua De Sol’ and the goal is to test and optimize the technical and operational parameters of the water panel.
15:40 Arrival at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Chania. Visit of the research project on Constructed Wetlands for sludge dewatering, funded by the Green Fund of Greece. The project is called “Management of sewage sludge using green technologies and processes in a circular economy” (https://circularsludge.gr), led by Prof. Alexandros Stefanakis (TUC) in partnership with Municipal Company for Water and Sewage Management of Chania (DEYACh) and the Inter-municipal Enterprise for Solid Waste Management (DEDISA). 16 pilot units have been installed in an integrated experimental setup to optimize the design and operational parameters of Sludge Treatment Wetlands.
16:15 Departure from the WWTP
17:00 Arrival at the Minoa Palace
TOUR 4 – BIOLEA TRADITIONAL OLIVE MILL [max 30 people]
09:15 Departure from the parking area, Minoa Palace Resort
10:00 Arrival at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Chania. Visit of the research project on Constructed Wetlands for sludge dewatering, funded by the Green Fund of Greece. The project is called “Management of sewage sludge using green technologies and processes in a circular economy” (https://circularsludge.gr), led by Prof. Alexandros Stefanakis (TUC) in partnership with Municipal Company for Water and Sewage Management of Chania (DEYACh) and the Inter-municipal Enterprise for Solid Waste Management (DEDISA). 16 pilot units have been installed in an integrated experimental setup to optimize the design and operational parameters of Sludge Treatment Wetlands.
11:00 Arrival at the campus of the Technical University of Crete. The group will visit a set of installed ‘water panels’; this water panel is a novel concept that produces fresh water from the air humidity, by using only natural processes and renewable energy without mechanical parts and without chemical substances. The novel panel contains an adsorbent material that captures the atmospheric water vapor. The solar radiation then extracts the water from the adsorbent, which is further condensed under the glass. The condensed water is then collected and mineralized through a simple activated carbon filter, producing this way fresh potable water. This project is a collaboration of Prof. Stefanakis’ lab with the French startup ‘Agua De Sol’ and the goal is to test and optimize the technical and operational parameters of the water panel.
12:00 Arrival at the traditional, family-owned olive mill ‘Biolea’ specializing in the artisan production of organic olive oil using millstones and presses (www.biolea.gr). The owner, Chloe Dimitriadis, will give a tour to the olive mills and the surrounding olive grove. The visitors will learn about Cretan tradition in olive oil production by seeing it for themselves during the winter production season from the mezzanine of the olive mill, which provides a bird’s eye view of the entire olive oil production process, and the sustainable practices applied in the farm. Biolea’s estate olive oils, like estate wines, is prized for its distinctive characteristics, which are influenced by natural factors such as soil, altitude, microclimate and olive variety.
Cultivation and production techniques add to the individuality of the product’s character. At Astrikas Estate, Mediterranean island microclimate, perfect elevation 300 meters above sea level, and arid and organic cultivation of the Koroneiki olive variety shape the distinct characteristics of the olive oil. The Astrikas Estate family olive groves are farmed organically without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides and have been certified organic for the past 20 years. Beyond organic cultivation, Biolea has developed sustainable ways of farming in order to help preserve the environment. Although the olive trees produce less without irrigation, arid cultivation helps conserve our island’s precious water supply and avoid the introduction of non-biodegradable PVC plastic irrigation pipes. At the same time, the owners have discontinued plowing or any heavy machinery in our fields to help prevent the increasingly concerning issue of soil erosion in Crete.
14:00 Lunch at the restaurant of the farm. You will enjoy local traditional recipes, cooked only with the products that the surrounding land provides per season. You will also relax and unwind in a peaceful environment in nature with a stunning view over the olive grove.
16:00 Departure from Biolea facilities.
16:45 Arrival at the Minoa Palace
