Posts
Yesterday I joined a press trip to the village of Karanlık to hear the organisers of this year's Vine Harvest Festival give an appraisal of the festival's impact. This was only the third time the event has happened in Mumcular: the first was a great success, the second a damp squib, but the third has been declared a winner. Visitor and exhibitor numbers were up by 30% and a greater variety of produce was on show. I was away in Greece but hear that I missed new businesses making tomato jam and bitter gourd remedies as well as a multitude of cheeses, carpets, kilims, olive oils and wine. I was sad not to see Travelling Joy's fig tart demonstration (click on the link for the recipe) and I also missed lectures on olive oil production and cheese making. A procession through Bodrum on the Friday before the festival was credited for the increase in visitors, although I noticed posters and flyers up a couple of months before - unusual here where advertising is a very last minute affair.
Karaova-Der, the association responsible, under the leadership of Ali Öztürk, is keen to present their pastoral area as an antidote to the citification of the Bodrum peninsula. If agricultural and rural activities can be revived and made profitable, the next generation of villagers may not be bused out to work in mass tourism, but stay local and find employment in Eco tourism or countyside boutique hotels.
This is of course music to my ears. When we built our house and moved to Karaova 25 years ago, most of our friends thought we were mad. It's nice to know that others are happy to sing Karaova's praises, even if it has taken a quarter of a century.
Local is best, and it is heartening that this is happening in Turkey and especially in your area. Here people are having to be more enterprising too, and I have noticed that it is happening significantly among the young which is good.
ReplyDeleteIT is certainly a step in the right direction
DeleteSome decisions take time to mature in the barrel!
ReplyDeleteYou philosopher you!
DeleteWhat wonderful news! I was so thrilled to participate in this year's event. It was a real treat, but bummed I didn't get to meet you. Hopefully next year! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I really think the ideas are there, but maybe they just need some good encouragement to make them happen. Farm to table, food tours, wine tasting tours are so popular elsewhere in Europe. I really think the Karaova region has a chance as well! :)
Your participation certainly helped. I hope you can make it next year.
DeleteJust come from a village in the mountains of Aydin. The place is dying but is so beautiful in its decay - stone houses built without mortar, a wonderful view down on to the plain, nice people (those that are left) - it is so sad.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad, but at least it hasn't been knocked down and replaced with concrete.
Delete