By Martin Clark
Buzz words in these days of climate change, melting polar ice caps and products with ‘built-in redundancy’ are ‘the circular economy’, which promotes products made from waste, and the ‘reduction of carbon emissions’. Both ideas are part of the European Green Deal – a commitment to future generations.
The European Commission has come up with a set of proposals to make the EU’s policies on climate, energy, transport and taxation, fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.
Up the mountains of Larnaca District, the Green Village project started in 2010 with 9 countries; in Cyprus, Kato Drys Community Council led the way. Now 15 years later Green Village has many more stakeholders. One of these is the Old Olive Mill (Mola Culture Factory) in Pano Lefkara.
A team of artists, students, recent graduates, rural advisors and ‘movers and shakers’ meet there to brainstorm ideas for environmental projects. The circular economy and the European Green Deal are constantly considered. Products include footpaths, trails, digitised tourism offers and especially art. The team strives to recycle and re-use materials and use less energy. Also considered are responsible travel, growing local food and foraging food from nature.
The art is the most visible output and it adorns the streets and households of Lefkara and Kato Drys…. Here are some examples….
REPAIRED, RECYCLED & REVITALISED CERAMIC POTS & VASES
In line with Cypriot tradition, going back to the Minoans, Peter Bird, resident artist in the Old Olive Mill, has developed a very remarkable ‘fine line painting’ style, which he teaches to visiting students from all over Europe. The painting draws on ‘Lefkara Lace’(‘Lefkaritika’) and is applied to old plastic tabletops, broken pots (which we repair) and vases that are outdated and basically 1970’s ‘kitsch’; Peter’s work gives them new life and has a very low carbon footprint. Old bottles and plates, saucers, yogurt cartons, even light bulbs, get a make-over.
CURVED WASTE PLASTIC BOARDS FOR OUTDOOR ART.
The team were fortunate to be given around 30 ‘bleachers’, the curved heavy plastic barriers from a redundant skateboard park in Larnaca. Because they are waterproof and don’t swell and shrink in Cyprus’s hot climate, they are fantastic for outdoor art. Peter, Sanka, Eden and Hashini are in the team and have painted ‘Lefkara Lace’ inspired patterns, icons of saints, pictures of local churches and made mosaic from snipped up beer and soft drink cans.
All this creative activity is intended to showcase re-cycling and encourage a less wasteful way of living.
Martin Clark is a professional forester and land manager and the director of Grampus Heritage & Training, the UK’s most successful EU wide vocational training organisation, with decades of experience
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