{"id":2079,"date":"2019-03-14T20:54:56","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T18:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kalliergo.gr\/en\/tinos-kalliergeies-tarampados-kardiani-pyrgos-marlas\/"},"modified":"2023-07-04T13:57:37","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T11:57:37","slug":"tinos-greek-island-review-tarambados-kardiani-pyrgos-marlas-gardening-cultivating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kalliergo.gr\/en\/people\/tinos-greek-island-review-tarambados-kardiani-pyrgos-marlas-gardening-cultivating\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultivating in Tinos Greek island – Tarambados – Kardiani – Pyrgos – Marlas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What does Tinos Greek island have to do with cultivations? Tinos is one of the most beautiful islands I have visited. A Greek island of endless art exhibits and a testimony to the love of its inhabitants. I don’t say “museum”, but a showroom, because “museum” refers to the past, the old, the forgotten. But Tinos is alive and glorifies the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Tinos island you will find cultivations in two places. In places where there is water. In places where it is dry, without water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The island, from end to end, is filled with terraces that create small flat places on slopes. A terrace is a flat space between two dry stone walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u039e\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03b8\u03b9\u03ac\"
Dry stone painted with lime<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dry stone walls are the way the locals chose to take advantage of the sloping slopes of the island. The dry stone walls are small “dams” that hold back the soil. They create steps on a steep slope. Each step is a terrace. The dry stone walls are the only way that the island’s slopes can be cultivated. The material of construction of the dry stones is slate stones without binder. The stones were collected by the farmers from their fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We visited Tinos at the end of May 2017. We stayed at the Anthea Hotel<\/a> next to the beach of Agios Fokas and very close to Tinos Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03be\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b4\u03bf\u03c7\u03b5\u03af\u03bf
Anthea Hotel in Chora of Tinos next to the beach of Agios Fokas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03be\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b4\u03bf\u03c7\u03b5\u03af\u03bf<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03be\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b4\u03bf\u03c7\u03b5\u03af\u03bf
The hotel is in harmony with the environment. Inside the hotel there are gardens<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tarambados<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tarambados is a village near the centre of Tinos. It is famous for the dovecotes that are located around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03ba\u03af\u03b1\"
Residence in Tarambados<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03ce\u03bd\u03b1\u03c2\"
Dovecote in Tarambados<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is distinguished by the beautiful houses and the “signposts” made of carved stones and placed at key points. The signs show the places where the visitor can go from the point where they are located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03c0\u03ad\u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03bd\u03b7
A stone sign in Tarampados bearing a map of the village<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03c0\u03ad\u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03bd\u03b7
Stone sign in Tarampados. It shows us which directions we can follow<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming out of the village and heading towards the dovecotes, we met Mr. George Rigas, carving his garden with a hoe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u0393\u03b9\u03ce\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2
Mr. George Rigas, resident and farmer in Tarambados, Tinos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His garden stood among the reeds, sheltered from the winds. A small flat place with rich dark soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u039c\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1
Artichoke garden in Tarabados<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the left of the garden was a paved path leading to the spring from which garden was watered. Alongside the path, we came across other vegetable gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03b1\u03b3\u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03ac\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2,
Artichokes, potatoes, onions, zucchini, cucumbers and artichokes in Tarampados<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the gardens, we saw artichokes, potatoes, onions, pumpkins, cucumbers being grown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u0393\u03b9\u03ce\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2
Tatiana talks enthusiastically with Mr. George Rigas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. George Rigas was very friendly with us and eager to answer any questions we had. For a while he became our informal guide. He told us about the work of the association responsible for the landscaping of Tarambados, the construction and care of the path, the unique stone signs in the village. On the occasion of a random question I asked, he told us about the many snakes, especially vipers, that the island of Tinos has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After showing us around the springs that water his garden, showing and telling us about the dovecotes, he invited us to his house for coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We willingly followed this very kind and hospitable man. Mr. Rigos is a typical example of the Tinian people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hospitable and kind, like all the Tinos residents we met. A truly positive experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So was Mr. Rigas’ wife, who despite the unexpected nature of our visit, kissed us with a local dessert and invited us for coffee. Thank you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kardiani<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The village of Kardiani is a place not recommended for a visit by some tourist guides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03a4\u03bf
Kardiani as seen from the road that passes over it<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it is a place to visit because Kardiani is beautiful. As beautiful as the famous Tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kardiani is located in the northwestern part of Tinos island and is built on a hillside. The provincial road passes over Kardiani. There are two entrances to the village. Both are roads with a steep slope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03bf\u03b9
The slopes of Kardiani are cultivated<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kardiani is built on a steep slope and a natural spring runs vertically through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On one side of the village there is the Orthodox church and on the other the Catholic church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u03bf\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03af\u03b1<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u03bf\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03af\u03b1
The alleys of Kardiani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The houses in Kardiani have doors and windows in different colours. We were impressed by the beauty and the touches of colour in unexpected places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b4\u03bf\u03c3\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03cc
The traditional caf\u00e9 “Dimitra” in Kardiani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a central spot you will find two traditional cafes. A little further on you will see the square with plane trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The locals told us that Kardiani had 70 children at school. Today it has only 1 pupil. Most residents now only visit it in the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03ba\u03ae\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9
The hanging gardens of Kardiani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03be\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03b8\u03b9\u03ad\u03c2
Dry stone walls and terraces in Kardiani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here too we found dry stone walls and terraces where olives, fruit trees, tomatoes and cucumbers are cultivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03bc\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03bd\u03b9
A vegetable patch in Kardiani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inhabitants take advantage of the water from the springs and water their gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Notice the palm leaves covering the irrigation channels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To reduce water evaporation, they place palm leaves in the irrigation channels between the plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03b3\u03bb\u03c5\u03c0\u03c4\u03cc
Sculpture of the Virgin Mary and Christ above a spring in Kardiani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pictures from Tinos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\"\u039a\u03ce\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2
St George subduing the dragon. Sculpture by Kostas Tsoklis in the courtyard of the Tsoklis museum in the village of Kampos. Unfortunately this museum was also closed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03b3\u03bb\u03c5\u03c0\u03c4\u03cc\"
Interesting sculpture in Kardiani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b9\u03c4\u03b5\u03c7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc
Artistic Park “Spirit – Art – Labor”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03b1\u03bd\u03ce\u03bd\u03c5\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2
Monument dedicated to the anonymous quarryman and to Halepas and Skalkotas outside the villages of Mamados and Marlas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03a7\u03c9\u03c1\u03b9\u03cc<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"\u039f
The square of the village of Pyrgos with the characteristic over-aged plane tree<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03a6\u03c5\u03c4\u03cc
Special plant in a clay pot<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u038c\u03bc\u03bf\u03c1\u03c6\u03b7
Beautiful house in Pyrgos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03ae
Dedicated to wine. “… The merry and turbulent divine… the orchestrator of drunkenness and tragedy…”. Outside a house in the Tower of Tinos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03bc\u03bf\u03c1\u03c6\u03ae
Above the inscription is the figure of Dionysus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03c5\u03c0\u03ad\u03c1\u03bf\u03c7\u03bf
Another wonderful sculpture in a house in the Tower of Tinos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03cc
The inscription outside this house reminds us that it was built in 1774<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03a0\u03ac\u03c0\u03b9\u03b5\u03c2
Ducks and geese near the beach of Rochari<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u03a1\u03ce\u03c7\u03b1\u03c1\u03b7, The beach of Rohari<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agriculture in Tinos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I borrowed this text written by Mr. Mantos Villas, agronomist of the Tinos Agricultural Society, concerning agriculture in Tinos. Unfortunately the date of writing is not mentioned. Source:<\/strong> http:\/\/tinos.biz\/deltio_tipou153.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The island of Tinos has always been an agricultural island. Until a few decades ago, the agricultural activities of the people of Tinos remained largely similar to those of much earlier times. For example, the ancient hesiodion plough that was used to pull the animals was still in wide use as well as many other tasks such as threshing with animals etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rapid introduction of machines (water pumps, tractors, etc.) in agriculture in the last 30-40 years seemed to give another dimension to the agricultural practice and would give a new impetus to the Tinians to work their land, which did not happen. The reason, in my opinion, is the rapid and unprecedented growth of the construction sector due to the island’s shift to tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent decades, Tinos has been built from end to end and this reconstruction required labour, which was easily found by potential farmers, because of the better income that the building trade provided. At the same time, another part of the potential farmers turned to the tourist professions or preferred to study or work in any other field than agriculture, which led most of these young people to settle outside Tinos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reconstruction in every part of the Tinian countryside had other negative effects on agriculture and livestock farming on the island, since it tied up agricultural land, used the island’s underground water for the new housing needs it created, and in many cases created a conflict of interests between farmers and settlers, usually to the detriment of the former.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, throughout the previous period, Tinos found itself without new farmers, who were presumably the ones who would introduce the new, modern concept in agricultural practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all the years before the building boom, Tinos, as the agricultural island that it was, produced a range of products that suited its soil and climate conditions. I remember a lot of grapes, a lot of barley, some legumes, mainly beans and chickpeas, vine leaves, figs, olives – oil (until 10 – 15 years ago there were 2 olive presses), lemons and of course in the meadow of Komi – Kallonis, in the gardens of the gullies all over the island and in the lowlands of Chora, all kinds of vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The livestock farming of Tinos was extensive, utilizing every kind of nomia that grew on the island, and produced part of the required fodder on the spot, especially by cultivating cereals and legumes. Many will remember two threshing bands ploughing the island in order to get in time to thresh the entire harvest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greece’s entry into the EU brought subsidies in agriculture, but also quotas in the production of some products, e.g. milk. In Tinos, subsidies have only benefited the sheep and goat sector at the expense of all other sectors of production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shift of our farmers to sheep and goats because of the subsidies led to a number of other side effects, such as the abandonment of the cultivation of fields and their conversion into pastures, the abandonment of cow farming, the problems in the cultivation of vineyards and trees, the destruction of the walls of the terraces, the disappearance of bush vegetation and, above all, the creation of semi-wild herds which have escaped the supervision of the farmers and are a scourge of the Tinian countryside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The introduction of quotas – negative subsidies, I might add – which were intended to reduce the production of certain products, also led to a gradual decline in cow farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So while in 1981 the cooperative cheese dairy was operating, which used cow’s milk and required some kind of subsidy for milk production, at the same time milk production was, I would say, persecuted by the state, which, following EEC directives aimed at reducing milk production in the EU, introduced a quota on cow’s milk. In other words, you were not allowed to produce more milk than a certain amount allocated to you. There was no question of subsidising it either, of course. At the same time, in order to finish milk production, a subsidy for beef cows was introduced, with the only eligibility criterion for subsidies being that the cow should not be sold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the above factors therefore led to a decline in Tinian agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exception to this decline over the years has been a few important events that I believe will contribute to its future restart. I refer first to the establishment and operation of the beekeeping cooperative thanks to the initiative of the enlightened and idealistic friend, the late Alexandros Sklavos. This cooperative gave a good boost to Tinian beekeeping, mainly by taking advantage of relevant programmes. Thus, it managed to achieve the modernisation of the beekeeping units with all kinds of machinery and equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to certain programmes, some small agricultural processing plants were also set up, the cheese dairy was partially modernised, and a modern slaughterhouse and oil mill were built and put into operation. A private company has also cultivated a significant area of abandoned vineyards, which have already entered their productive phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today I estimate that Tinian agriculture is at its lowest point, with few farmers and even fewer entrepreneurial farmers. The problems are many, especially the lack of human resources due to the fact that agriculture in Tinos does not yield significantly or yields much less than other sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other general or individual problems of agriculture and beekeeping on the island of Tinos, which I have identified very briefly, are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n