40 years old Organic Farm with Natural Green Fertilization in Gastouni, Ilia. With a deep ecological awareness, the owners of the Kotakis Farm cultivate citrus trees, vineyards, and olive groves using natural green fertilization methods.
Organic Quality Products — Environmentally Friendly Cultivation
High-quality organic products, produced with environmentally friendly methods and completely free from chemical fertilizers and pesticides, are grown at Kotakis Farm, located in the wider Gastouni region of Ilia.
With a deep ecological awareness, the owners of the farm cultivate 150 acres (approximately 37 hectares) of land, which includes:
- 51 acres of oranges (Navalina and Valencia varieties)
- 47 acres of mandarins (Clementines, Mineola, and Fortuna)
- 5 acres of lemons
- 4 acres of kiwis
- 26 acres of vineyards
- 10 acres of olive trees
- 7 acres of rotational crops such as alfalfa, various vegetables, and corn
The estates belong to the Kotakis family and are cultivated by Kyriakos Kotakis, his wife Ioanna, and their two children, Dimitra and Christos.
Kyriakos Kotakis, an agronomist with extensive experience in cultivation and one of the earliest organic farmers in the region of Ilia, has practiced organic farming for more than ten years. As Mr. Kotakis explains, the family’s fields have been cultivated organically since 80s-90s, with their main goal being the production of high-quality products without the use of pesticides or any chemical interventions.
Fertilization of the citrus groves is achieved by spreading organic compost across the fields at the beginning of autumn, followed by mixed sowing of vetch and oats after the first autumn rains.
In mid-spring, the vetch and oat plants are cut with a mower, forming a layer of natural green fertilization for the trees. This intercropping system significantly reduces the growth of unwanted weeds while providing excellent soil nutrition. The “green manure” produced by the plants, combined with the nutrients from the compost, completely eliminates the need for additional fertilizers.
This combination stimulates and multiplies soil microorganisms, creating a living, healthy, and fertile soil ecosystem. The farm’s owners are certified organic producers and are regularly inspected by the DIO Certification Organization (ΔΗΩ) for compliance with organic farming standards.