Update: October 4, 2026.
Dear friends of Peliti,
It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the 27th Peliti Seed Festival on Saturday, May 8, 2027, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Peliti in Mesochori, Paranesti, Drama Greece. The distribution of traditional seeds will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The main entrance to Peliti will open at 9:30 a.m. Admission is free.
The Peliti Seed Festival is Peliti’s flagship annual event dedicated to traditional seed varieties and marks 32 years of Peliti (1995–2027). The festival is a global gathering that embraces—and is embraced by—people from all over the world, without discrimination based on skin color, gender, sexual orientation, language, etc. We focus on the common bonds that unite us as human beings.
The 27th Peliti Seed Festival (2027) is organized by Peliti, with Panagiotis Sainatoudis, the founder of Peliti, serving as the general coordinator. It is supported by women and men from all over the world who are enthusiastic about the Peliti Seed Festival.
The event is supported by:
The Municipality of Paranesti
The Paranesti KEPEA (Center for Environmental Education)
The Educational & Cultural Association of Pagoneri, Drama
The Cultural Association of Ano Vrontou “I Synantisi” (The Meeting)
MOTE (Motorcycle Federation of Greece)
Oikopolis – A Parallel City
The Mindful EBID Foundation (Germany)
The Free Community Bank Foundation (Switzerland)
Green Team Bulgaria
The Mitoludens group (Brazil)
The 27th Peliti Seed Festival, taking place on Saturday, May 8, 2027, at the Peliti Land in Mesochori, Paranesti (Drama), is dedicated to the Pomak villages. Panagiotis first visited the Pomak villages of Xanthi in March 1997, two years after the removal of the security checkpoint barrier. In August 1997, he met Zoumpre Ahmet from Diasparto, Xanthi—an encounter that shaped his way of thinking. In 2003, a visit by Peliti to Kalotycho in Xanthi paved the way for the organization’s future involvement with the village. Earlier, in October 1999, a visit to Soumak had sparked a powerful inner calling to live in the area; he settled there from December 1999 until 2002, before moving away permanently in January 2003 following a dream. Today, in honor of the Pomak villages and the Pomak people, he is presenting a traditional Pomak house at Peliti’s 27th Seed Festival.
We look forward to welcoming you so we can share traditional seeds, knowledge, and experiences, embrace one another, strengthen old bonds, build new bridges, and foster relationships based on trust.
Peliti’s Seed Festival has inspired thousands of people in Greece and abroad. It served as the inspiration for similar seed festivals in Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, North London, and elsewhere. Peliti’s Seed Festival was the first public event for the exchange of traditional seed varieties held in the country—launching in 1999 and continuing to this day. In 2013, the Peliti Seed Festival was described by the Australian Seed Savers Network (www.seedsavers.net) as “the largest traditional seed variety exchange festival in the world.”
Farmers, seed and food activists, scientists, and others from many countries across the globe—such as Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, England, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Morocco, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Australia, India, and more—have participated in the Peliti Seed Festival to date. Every year, prominent figures from the global movement for seed, land, and water freedom attend the event.
Growers participating with traditional seeds.
If you are bringing seeds or plants, please contact Panagiotis at 6946885567; if there is no answer, please send an SMS text message.
A glimpse of the future in the present.
The Peliti Seed Festival is a vision of the future that we are planting today. At the Peliti Seed Festival, everything is offered freely: the seeds, the talks, the food, the organization, the music, and so on. Everyone has access to all activities, regardless of their financial situation. We are able to achieve all this because everyone contributes what they can; through this sharing, we all benefit.
Creating in harmony with nature.
At Peliti, we have managed to accomplish things because we heeded the call of the river, the seeds, and the forest. We answered “present” when the seeds called for our help. And when we asked the seeds for help, they answered “present.”
Distribution of traditional seeds at the 27th Peliti Seed Festival.
The distribution of traditional seeds will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The main entrance to Peliti will open at 9:30 a.m. The festival is open to anyone interested, whether they have seeds to share or not. Cultivating traditional varieties and offering them freely is a deeply political act. By the term “political”…
We are referring to the solution we choose to address the agricultural, environmental, economic, and social problems facing our country—and beyond. The Peliti Seed Festival offers a glimpse into the future. Each person contributes what they have to the community, and through that contribution, everyone receives what they need. This is how we envision our future: everyone contributing to the community, with free access for all to every resource. Similarly, the festival itself is organized through voluntary contributions of labor, food, materials, seeds, plants, music, and more. All of this is offered freely at the Peliti Seed Festival.
The Peliti Seed Festival takes place after Easter—specifically, on the Saturday following Easter. In 2027, the Peliti Seed Festival will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2027.
Seeds are distributed using vouchers given out for free at the entrance; each voucher corresponds to one packet of seeds. Each visitor receives four vouchers—meaning four packets of seeds. The distribution of traditional seeds runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
As the poet C. P. Cavafy says… “Ithaca gave you the beautiful journey.
Without her, you would not have set out on the road.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca did not deceive you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience, you must have already understood what Ithacas mean.”
We are supporting the Peliti Seed House. Work on the Peliti Seed House is underway, and we need your help; please share the video with your friends. Please include Peliti in your positive thoughts and prayers.
Supporting vulnerable social groups
When attending the 27th Peliti Seed Festival, you can bring the following items to support vulnerable social groups: pasta, legumes, rice, tomato paste, olive oil, diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, baby cereal/porridge, bed linen, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies.
Give-away bazaar.
Open up your closets and storage spaces. Take out items you haven’t used in the past year. Make space in your home and your mind for new things to enter your life. During the 27th Peliti Seed Festival, a “give-and-take” bazaar will be held; you can bring items you no longer need and pick up something you do need. Any leftover items will be distributed free of charge to vulnerable social groups.
The Forest of Wishes
When you visit the 27th Peliti Seed Festival, you can seek out the Forest of Wishes on the Peliti grounds. People of all ages are welcome to visit the Forest of Wishes. We enter the Forest of Wishes in silence and with respect. Here stands the Wishing Tree. You will recognize it when you get close by the beating of your heart. Sit quietly by the Wishing Tree and ask for whatever you desire. Just be careful what you ask for; the tree has the power to help fulfill your wish, but it does not judge between good and bad. Fairies who help the plants grow also inhabit the Forest of Wishes. If you are lucky, you might encounter them. Your heart is the guide that will lead you to the Forest of Wishes.
Dads ready for anything. The time has come…
“Defend the child,
for if the child is saved
there is hope”
Lyrics: Lefteris Papadopoulos
Every year, activities for children take place at the Peliti Seed Festival. We suggest that dads take charge of looking after and engaging their children—and perhaps others too—in creative activities. This gives moms the chance to enjoy a bit more freedom and take in the program of the 26th Peliti Seed Festival. Please note that parents are responsible for their children while at the Peliti site. We recommend that both children and parents wear simple, comfortable clothing that can get dirty. Opt for shoes suitable for walking and running. The Peliti Seed Festival takes place in an outdoor setting that feels a bit like a jungle; this means there is plenty of tall grass, as well as gnats, snakes, frogs, hot sun, wind, and sometimes rain. Make sure to bring a mat for sitting on the ground and beach chairs; we recommend walking barefoot on the grass. Along with your mat, bring a beach umbrella, as it can get quite hot in May.
Pets.
We recommend leaving your pets—such as cats and dogs—at home. Peliti is visited by many stray dogs; some are large, and while they are generally good-natured and friendly, fights between animals often break out. If you cannot leave your dog at home, you must keep it leashed and muzzled for the entire time you are at the Peliti site.
Workshops: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM.
Workshop on saving our own seeds. The workshop will take place in the Peliti garden.
Zero-electricity technology.
Peliti, from the…
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