ECOCLUB Blogs™

University of Missouri and Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries Study Abroad in Greece: The Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle 10-Day Accredited Program May 20 – June 1, 2013 A comprehensive experiential learning program designed to provide an overview of the culture, nature and cuisine of Crete. This program is designed for teachers, students and professional researchers of nutrition, cuisine, sustainable living, tourism, and agricultural practices. Explore Crete's cultural and natural treasures with resident specialists. Experiences include private guided tours of archaeological sites, organic farms, natural parks/botanical hikes, food markets, olive oil factories, wineries, as well as demonstrations by artisan food producers, and food preparation classes. Presentations are exclusive to our small group of 20 attendees. This course will be held in several regions of Crete and in Athens on the final day of the program. Learning opportunities will be provided by Chef-Author Nikki Rose, Founder of Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries and her network of over 30 residents-teachers, and MU Nutrition and Exercise Physiology faculty, Candance Gabel, MS, RD, LD. Space is limited. Program Details:    http://extension.missouri.edu/hes/studyabroad/Greece/   Contact Nikki Rose Nikki Rose Founder & Director, Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries Eco-Agritourism Network Educational programs celebrating Crete’s cultural and natural heritage An award-winning program for best practices in...

Food for Thought Symposia: Cretan food and wine event December 10, 6:30 pm, Baltimore, MD The Inn At The Black Olive, The Institute for Integrative Health and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, introduce the Food for Thought Symposia: A return to the ancient Greek ritual of gathering to partake in good food, fine wine, and communal discourse which, when shared together, provide sustenance for intellectual and cultural growth. Internationally known advocate of Cretan food and lifestyle, Nikki Rose, will be autographing her book Crete: The Roots of the Mediterranean Diet. http://www.examiner.com/article/food-for-thought-symposia-cretan-food-and-wine-event

From 15-18 September, 2012, I accompanied a group of tour operators from Ecuador, the UK and the US who visited Colombia’s Pacific coast in the Chocó region. We had been invited to assess the work of a Colombian NGO, Mano Cambiada (http://nuquipacifico.com). The project is based in the town of Nuquí, which can reached only by air from Medellín (1¼ hours) or Quibdó (about 20 minutes; Quibdó is 8-9 hours by bus from Medellín), or by boat from Buenaventura (18-20 hours). The population of the Chocó region is largely Afro-Colombian.   The following is a summary of a presentation to our group by Mano Cambiada and BioRedd+ (www.bioredd.org, the Colombian agency working with Mano Cambiada to implement a grant from USAID) on 17 September 2012.   Mano Cambiada has been operating for six years. Its primary aim is to make the people of Chocó proud of what they have and of their culture. For a long time the people on the coast have lived “in paradise” (it is a beautiful part of the country, with tropical forest and mangroves on the shores of the Pacific), but most of the time those people have been complaining about their poor lot. Mano Cambiada...

In September 2012, I visited Colombia on a research trip for the South American Handbook (Footprint Travel Guides, www.footprinttravelguides.com). In Bogotá I met two members of More Local, an operator which is a member of ECOCLUB.com: Juan Camilo Peña, Director for The Americas of Large Minority (www.largeminority.com), and Nicolás Gómez of More Local (www.morelocal.co), which is part of the Large Minority group.   Large Minority started in Sri Lanka with Lanka Challenge (www.lankachallenge.com). It also has a similar challenge in Cambodia (www.cambochallenge.com). In 2011 More Local was launched in Colombia to highlight authentic, real culture and responsible travel, with year round experiences, in the Amazon, the Coffee Region and around Bogotá.   See www.morelocal.co/why-us/meaningful-travel for the basic principles behind More Local’s experiences. In addition to the projects mentioned on that page, they also contribute to reforestation projects in Antioquia.   Their guides speak German, English and Spanish. French is also spoken. Individuals can join tours or can be catered for on their own.   A couple of general points that Juan and Nicolás made: Colombia is a new market with a lot of potential. There is still some fear surrounding Colombia as a destination, so the first priority is to help...