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The Gaia Foundation Malta

On a recent trip to Malta we finally managed to visit the Gaia Foundation and meet some of the inspirational people who are part of this exciting environmental project set up in 1994. They are a non profit and non Governmental organisation and belongs to the Global Ecovillage Network, is a member of the Worldwatch Institute and part of the world wide Gaia Movement. The Foundation is based in the Elysium coastal site which is located in the Gwajn Tuffieha area of the Maltese islands and also very close to the very popular Golden bay which makes up part of this beautiful coastline.
While visiting the Foundation we visited the nearby olive groves, where there are olive trees of Carolea, Frantoio, Cipressino, Leccino and some lesser know varieties of Maltese olive. We hope to be able to arrange tastings in both London and Norwich later in the year of this very rare and special extra virgin olive oil.

Durante il nostro ultimo viaggio a Malta siamo finalmente riusciti a visitare la Gaia Fundation ed incontrare alcune delle persone che hanno ispirato e che portano avanti questo innovativo progetto ambientale dal 1994. Si tratta si un organizzazione no profit e non governativa ma che fa parte del Global Ecovillage Network, è membro del Worldwatch Institue ed è parte del Gaia Movement internazionale. La fondazione ha sede nella zona costiera di Elysium che si trova nell'are di Gwajn Tuffieha sull'isola di Malta e molto vicino alla zona turistica della Baia d'Oro.
Durante la nostra visita alla fondazione abbiamo acquistato un po del loro olio di oliva biologico chiamati Il Caravaggio la cui caratteristica è una pressatura a freddo subito dopo la raccolta ed è una miscela di Carolea, Frantoio, Cipressino, Leccino ed altre meno conosciute varietà tipiche dell'isola. Ci auguriamo di riuscire ad organizzare per loro una degustazione entro fine 2013 sia a Londra che a Norwich.




The mission of the Gaia Foundation is to carry out hands on project implementation in the fields of environment and integrated coastal zone management. An essential part of its work includes the development of models for a sustainable society, with these models incorporate a holistic approach to living, reflecting nature and mother earth itself, from which the Foundation derives its name.
They are working on several major projects, Project Olympus concentrates on coastal area conservation, Project Apollo a visitors centre promoting the Gaia vision, Project Persephone promoting sustainable agriculture, Project Athene promoting olive growth and agro forestry, Project Elysium concentrating on the ecological restoration of habitats and Project Hermes which promotes awareness and information to the public and interested bodies.

La missione della Fondazione Gaia è di portare avanti un progetto di miglioramento nell'integrazione tra gestione integrata delle zone costiere e eco sostenibilità e rispetto ambientale. Una parte essenziale del lavoro include la sviluppo di modelli per una società sostenibile da incorporare ad un approccio di tipo olistico nello stile di vita, rispecchiando i principi della stessa madre terra da cui poi l'associazione prende il nome.
Al momento l'associazione lavora a molti progetti come Progetto Olimpo per la preservazione delle zone costiere, Progetto Apollo per la creazione di un centro per la condivisione della filosofia di Gaia, Progetto Persefone per la promozione dell'agricoltura sostenibile, Progetto Atena che promuove l'agro silvicoltura con particolare attenzione agli ulivi, Progetto Eliseo focalizzato sulla ricostruzione ecologica degli habitat locali e Progetto Ermes che promuove l'associazione al pubblico ed altre associazioni interessate.



Another of the projects that the Foundation are working on is the replanting of many of the indigenous trees of Malta and has embarked upon a national campaign to promote the cultivation of olive, almond and pomegranate groves throughout the Maltese islands. There is also an olive tree adoption programme where a tree can be adopted for 14 euros and their vision is to see up to 250,000 new olive and almond trees planted on the island of Malta and Gozo.
The Gaia website is very informative and has extensive information about their activities, including links to partners and the three documentaries on coastal management that they have produced.
It is hoped that Olivaverde through the Festival del Gusto project will be able to take part in future events in Malta which focus on our own particular speciality of olive oil production and marketing.

Un altro dei progetti a cui la Fondazione sta lavorando si concentra su il ripiantare molte delle varietà autoctone di alberi ed è stata lanciata una campagna nazionale per la promozione della coltivazione di ulivi, mandorli e melograni in tutta l'isola. In concomitanza è stato lanciato un programma di adozione di ulivi dove un albero può essere adottato per 14 euro con la speranza di arrivare ad impiantare 250.000 alberi in totale tra Malta e Gozo.
Il sito della Fondazione Gaia è molto ben fatto e contiene dettagliate informazioni sulle loro attività, inclusi link   delle associazioni partner e tuta la documentazione da loro elaborata fino ad ora riguardo al management delle coste dell'isola.
Entro l'anno Olivaverde tramite il progetto del Festival del Gusto sarà in grado di prendere parte ad eventi a Malta con focus sulla nostra particolare missione di promozione di olio d'oliva d'eccellenza.





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