1859 – the Kitchen Garden of Simonos Petras

dscn7127-largeOne of the intriguing things on Mount Athos is the healthy food the monks eat. Many books has been published about this subject, for a good recipe look here. But where do the cooks of the monasteries get their ingredients from?

In Simonos Petras it is obvious: one of the first things you do when you visit the monastery is have a look from the magnificant balconies. And when you look down you wil see this:dscn7110-large SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESThe Kitchen Garden: vegetable transports by cable! Down below you see the large kitchen gardens, with glass houses, breeding grounds and fruit and olive trees.dscn7128-largeThis is where the iron cable ends, in the middle of the vegetable garden. Whenever I visit Athos I bring some vegetable seeds from Holland and tulips from Amsterdam, and last year I wanted to present my gift to the gardener of Simonos Petras, but unfortunately he was not in his garden. But a friendly Greek young man, who helped the gardener took the gift and he promised that he would hand it over the gardener-monk.dscn7125-large The kitchen garden: left from the setting sun is the gardeners house.SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESThe wooden stairs in the garden – photo Jitze Bakker

dscn7124-largeKiwi’s growing in the garden.dscn7129-largeSeed beds: lettuce and other vegetables.dscn7130-largeThe gardeners housedscn7131-largeGreen beens and African marigolds.dscn7126-largeVines in the garden of Simonos Petras. And by the way, I almost forgot to tell: this is one of the most beautiful spots on Earth. The beauty is so intense, for me it is not possible to find the right words.

Wim Voogd, 4/11/2016

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1 Response to 1859 – the Kitchen Garden of Simonos Petras

  1. gerard koolschijn says:

    Very nice, this fresh perspective. And, by the way, mr. Wim Voogd, moving words about the beauty.

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