Live like a Local

Around midday to afternoon, it’s time for one of our daily routines: milking our goats. It is a simple, authentic task that keeps us connected to our animals. We invite you to join us, try your hand at traditional milking, and see exactly where our fresh, wholesome milk comes from

Our garden is where we spend a lot of our time, and it’s where your meals start. Depending on the season, we’re out there weeding, pruning, and picking whatever is ready. Come join us; you’ll learn what’s ripe, what’s in season, and how it feels to bring ingredients straight from the soil to the kitchen table.

Around midday, it’s time to look after our animals. It’s our favorite part of the day, where we feed them, check on their needs, and make sure everyone is happy and healthy. We’ll head to the coop together to collect the fresh, warm eggs. It’s a simple, quiet habit that keeps us grounded—and we’d love for you to be part of it. 

In November, our lives revolve around the olives. It’s a busy, tiring, yet incredibly fulfilling time. We’ll head to the groves together to bring in the harvest and follow the olives to the mill. You’ll be there when the first fresh oil comes out—a moment of pure magic that we treasure every single year.

September is when the vineyard demands all our attention. We’re out there from early on, picking the grapes that will eventually become our wine and the traditional sweets we keep in our pantry. It’s hard, messy work, but it’s the heart of our year, and we welcome you to roll up your sleeves and join the process.

When the winter rains start, we keep an eye on the forest floor. We love walking the paths around our home, searching for wild Cretan mushrooms. We’ll show you how we distinguish the ones we can cook from the ones we leave behind in nature. It’s a local skill passed down to us, and it’s how we bring the true, wild flavor of Gerani to our table.

Manousakia are our winter secret. They bloom for such a short time, and hunting for them in the countryside is a bit of a local game. We’ll take a walk through our favorite spots, hoping to catch them in bloom. It’s a quiet, beautiful way to spend a winter morning, and finding them feels like winning a little treasure from the land.

When the winter fields turn bright orange and yellow, it’s time for our citrus harvest. We invite you to walk through the trees with us and pick your own fresh oranges, mandarins, and lemons straight from the branches. Afterward, you can use these fresh fruits to prepare your own breakfast, squeezing a natural, vibrant juice to enjoy out on the balcony while embracing the crisp, cool winter air.

The hills around Gerani are filled with aromatic treasures, and we love taking a quiet walk together through the surrounding paths to forage for them. We will gather fresh, wild herbs that you can use immediately during your stay—either to brew a comforting morning tea or to add a fresh, local touch to your home-cooked meals in the villa.