MÈLISSES ORGANIC FARM
Ever since Mèlisses opened, we have wished to create a place aligned with nature. From our green roofs to the natural Andros stone used for building, and lavish patches of herbs, flowers and trees wherever you look. The idea was simple - to create a tranquil unspoilt oasis surrounded by only sea and air.
We feel tremendously privileged that Mèlisses’ location offers plenty of outdoor space to our guests, but also that our kitchen is seasonally self-sufficient, with daily harvests from our own vegetable garden during the busy months.
From zucchini flowers to tomatoes, beetroots, carrots and even unique varieties of fruits and vegetables from the island, we are spoilt for choice!
With all the fresh produce used daily for our delicious breakfasts prepared from scratch, we also accumulate a fair amount of organic waste. And so we looked near and far for a solution… Until one morning we woke to find a couple of hens having their morning walk near our pool!
A few minutes later we became the ‘owners’ of two brown hens and the idea of our little farm was instantly born!
Within a week we had acquired more hens and even built a luxurious sea-front hen-house overlooking the Aegean Sea. We thought they may like some friends, and arranged for a couple of ducks to join them. They were probably used to higher standards, as they flew away the minute we released them in their new home.
Saddened by the lost ducks, we were shortly soothed by the arrival of a baby goat named Tzatziki, who quickly became a very crucial attraction of the house.
As our animals grew and thrived on their organic food waste feed, the first egg appeared! Since then, it has always been a bit of an emotional experience to wake up and find a new, freshly laid egg.
One after the other, the house quickly became totally egg-sufficient for all homemade goodies flying out of the kitchen every day.
Our little farm also created a new activity for all the kids in the house who eagerly helped with feeding every morning. Suddenly these animals brought a new wave of joy to Mèlisses, and it made us truly happy to see how little is sometimes enough to brighten one’s day.
After receiving images from friends and neighbours of our good old ducklings happily swimming in the beaches nearby, we decided not to give up and to try again at hosting a small family of ducklings. This time very young ones that hopefully will stay with us forever after getting a little more acquainted with their new home.
They seem to love it here so fingers crossed!
Our little farm is not so little anymore, with twelve hens and a rooster, four ducks and a goat, not counting our many kittens and our little mascotte Artù, the poodle.
We would like to expand even more in the coming years, and also start producing honey! So much to do, and so much to share!
We already can’t wait to welcome you back in 2021 and share with you all our amazing developments!
Until then, take care and stay safe x
Words by Allegra Pomilio and Veronika Krizova
Photos by Allegra Pomilio, Veronika Krizova and Oliver Haslegrave