On the occasion of Tohum Centre's ECOCLUB Membership renewal, for which we were delighted, we take a closer look on what makes Tohum a unique place. Facing the touristy island of Rhodes, Tohum is located at Fethiye, ancient Telmessos, a crossroad of civilisations, Hittites, Lycians, Medes, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, Ottomans have all left their mark in this beautiful corner of the Mediterranean. The center itself fuses eastern wisdom with western modern sustainable practice. It is a 'seed" of sustainable living, an international eco-village community-in-progress, combining traditional lifestyles, organic farming, renewable energy, environmentally conscious tourism and the practice of the Healing Arts in the magnificent surroundings of Southern Turkey. The site is a perfect Mediterranean retreat, a nature preserve with a rich flora of aromatic herbs scattered around acres of protected pine forest. Playful paths descend to the refreshing waters of the turquoise sea, where one can swim or take a boat ride to secluded coves. Visitors can embark on nature hikes, scuba diving, paragliding and trips to beaches where loggerhead turtles lay their eggs and to other nature preserves in the area. The Center is located in 400 acres of pine forest under protection where logging and building codes are very strict. The nearby village offers plenty of opportunities to experience daily life in a traditional culture. At Tohum you can celebrate Harvest in the land of Artemis, the Goddess of Fertility, participate in the harvest of sesame and other crops, and the preparation of traditional foods, be nourished with delicious foods made with organic ingredients from Tohum's and local family's gardens, visit a mountain village where Tohum is setting up a women's carpet cooperative and organic farming projects for its natural foods business in the US. You will be contributing to Tohum's efforts to promote and preserve traditional lifestyles and food processing customs of selected Anatolian villages. With Tohum as a base, you can visit the many interesting ancient sites like Cadianda, Pinara, Tlos, Xanthos, Letoon and Patara. Another monument, one to millennia of multicultural coexistence in this area, is Kayakoy, (a.k.a. Karmylassos), now a protected area, a ghost town of 3,000 buildings, deserted by its Greek residents, in 1923 on the sad day that Turkey and Greece exchanged 3 million people. Your hosts can take you on a hike on that ancient path form Fethiye all the way to Kayakoy. At TOHUM Center, the benefits of modern conveniences are blended with the charm and timeless beauty of nine local village dwellings. As a guest you will stay in two-bedroom and single units built by local environmentalist architects using materials from nature, such as stone, mud and straw. Your rooms will be bright and comfortable, your bedding made of heirloom pure cotton materials. All rooms have bathrooms and showers with hot water supplied by Solar Energy. Tohum promotes traditional farming and food processing methods which are presented to guests. This approach also helps the local villagers to build awareness and maintain their ways instead of discarding them for modern ones. Village men and women are employed at the Center and will happily demonstrate their traditional foods and breads to you. Some families also add to their household income by providing Tohum products such as sage bundles which Tohum then sells in the USA under the "Tohum Natural Foods" brand. The menus are drawn from Turkey's rich culinary traditions and centuries-old village food preparation methods, enhanced by contemporary international whole foods cuisine. You are welcome to participate in the preparation of flat breads, stuffed wine leaves or other vegetables, bulgur pilafs or the traditional yogurt drink ayran, or hosaf, a delicious and nourishing beverage made of dried fruits. Wood-fire is used often as a source of energy.

Finally, another reason why for ECOCLUB, Tohum is special is this partnership which we believe has a symbolic meaning: Tohum Centre is in Turkey, ECOCLUB S.A. is based in Greece. Last week, the Greek & Turkish Foreign Ministers made a joint mission to Israel and Palestine, to show that in the 21st century people should be able to talk and listen. Likewise genuine ecotourism can help bring real peace within one's self, peace with one's friends and neighbours. People do not need dogmas, they need each other.

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