Meet the Team
Meet the faces behind our journey to cultivate sustainable and regenerative systems. Discover their unique backgrounds, passions, and contributions to our mission of a sustainable future.
Permanent members – The Pigadians
Meet Jules
Jules is the founder and dreamer of Dio Pigadia. Coming from a background in academia, studying sociology and political philosophy, he came from the library not the land. Sitting at a desk with a computer he felt the need for the outdoors and left the office for the sea, teaching sailing lessons and repairing boats in France. Working in shipyards he learnt essential manual skills that would prove valuable in his future at the farm. He eventually set sail solo across the world exploring different places and new cultures. Feeling a responsibility and duty to the earth and guided by a desire to grow his roots, he dreamt up Dio Pigadia. The project focuses on an alternate way of living, and co-creating a better future together. The volunteers started to come by themselves, guided by a similar philosophy in the face of the ecological crisis. Dio Pigadia is a community-based ever-growing project. Education, ecology and living together are the key pillars we experience and share. If you can’t find Jules, he’ll be rummaging in the tip for up-cycled materials or conversing with the donkey — Vouno.
Role: Manager, Social media, Volunteer coordination
Stay: October 2018 — Present
Favourite activity on the farm: Dreaming about the future of the farm
Why did you come here? A mix of destiny, luck and love.
Favourite quote: “The tragic reality is that very few sustainable systems are designed by those who hold power, and the reason for this is obvious and simple: to let people arrange their own food, energy and shelter is to lose economic and political power over them. We should cease to look for power structures, hierarchical systems or governments to help us and devise ways to help ourselves.”- Bill Mollison
Meet Argyro
Originally from Crete, Greece, Argyro studied theory and history of art in Athens. After living in the city for a few years, she started volunteering in different eco projects around Europe before deciding to come to Dio Pigadia. Being a vinyasa and hatha yoga teacher, Argyro offers yoga workshops for the volunteers on the farm twice a week. Furthermore, she takes care of the gardens and the rental cottages. She loves photography and sailing. You will most likely find her with the farm dogs; Skoni and Skordo or cooking and baking outstanding food.
Role: Garden maintenance, taking care of cottages, bread making
Stay: February 2024 — Present
Favourite activity on the farm: Teaching yoga and taking care of the dogs.
Why did you come here? I wanted to live as part of a community close to nature.
Favourite quote: I don´t like quotes 😉
Meet Vaso
Coming from the urban jungle of Kallithea, Greece, Vaso wanted change her lifestyle to be closer to nature and be apart of communal living. She strongly believes that the fast-paced modern living is not conducive to environmental or physical health. A desire to depart from that lifestyle brought her to Dio Pigadia. With her Master degree in Global Environmental change, Vaso wants to live harmoniously with nature and takes every step towards sustainable living. She loves any kind of movement and practices pole dancing whenever she gets the chance. Her love of animals draws her to the horse and donkey pen, taking them out for a walk every day. If you can’t find Vaso she’ll be chasing after her cheeky dog — Darma.
Role: Administration, Nectar Rentals reservations, welcoming guests and volunteers
Stay: November 2023 — Present
Favourite activity on the farm: Feeding and feedling with my dear compost worms.
Why did you come here? It’s always been my dream to be close to nature and connected to the land living a communal lifestyle.
Favourite quote: “Be the good you want to see in the world.”
Meet Petro
Petros and his daughter Ariadni have come from the alternative islands of Ikaria and Lesvos. Petros has had many lives before, from fisherman to gardener, sailor to horse whisperer. So he naturally cares for animals and plants, but also humans! In practical terms, he’s the go-to person for everything that keeps the farm running smoothly. From managing catering and purchasing materials to organizing volunteer transport, Petros handles it all. And when it comes to the magic of numbers, he’s the one who weaves the spell behind the farm’s accounting.
Role: Farm running and maintenance, Garden Carer, Accounting.
Stay: August 2024 – Present
Favourite activity on the farm: Whispering to the ears of the donkey and horse.
Why did you come here? It was my dream and was meant to be.
Favorite quote:
Decision making
Dio Pigadia is a self-organized and co-creative project! This means that all the decisions are made through assemblies in which all involved persons who will be affected by the decision take part. We have 2 main weekly assemblies the Feedback meeting and the Organizational meeting.
Get to know the amazing individuals and their stories who volunteered throughout Greece.
Read the Story of Didi and Nini being at Yamochori.
Read the Story of James and his stay at the Greek Orthodox Monastery.
Read the Story of Camille being at Kathy´s Island Retreat.
Read the Story of Manos staying at a permaculture farm in Vrisi.
Read the Story of Sarah and Anders being at Candili Natural organic farm.
