Life in Krania, Aspropotamos, means above all a sense of calm, first and foremost, peace of mind, Sofia explains. It is a daily life close to nature, where there is always something to do: a small repair around the house, work in the yard and garden, gathering herbs and mushrooms, and processing the land’s produce according to the season.
Her journey towards village life did not happen overnight. The need for change gradually took shape over time.
“After many years working in the hospitality industry, I eventually grew weary of the intensity of city life.”
First came seasonal work in the village, followed by a growing love for the place and its people, and today, her involvement in the creation of the Aspropotamos Development Organisation Social Cooperative Enterprise – Araou Albu, an initiative born out of love for the area, aimed at harnessing its knowledge, history, natural environment, and culture for the benefit of the local community.
The initiative begins in Mesochori, Krania, as a space for collaborative work, community organising, and everyday services. It will also house the area’s only grocery shop, which will operate alongside a traditional café and serve as a meeting point for residents and visitors. At The High Mountains, we are taking part in this effort with great enthusiasm, working together with the Doliana Forest Cooperative and ten more people with roots in the area to create an integrated social infrastructure for the community. At the same time, the organisation will serve as a base for experiences, educational programmes, and activities centred on nature, local production, forestry, fishing, mushrooms, wild plants, and Vlach culture.
Through Sofia’s experience, we see that repopulation can be a gradual process of relocation. It comes with challenges, especially when essential services and infrastructure are currently lacking. Yet these difficulties also offer valuable lessons in planning ahead, embracing simplicity, and recognising the value of being content with less.
Village life requires time, adjustment, and openness. The fulfilment that comes from a daily life closer to self-sufficiency, nature, and community can open the way to new opportunities and a more sustainable future for mountain communities.
After all, in her own words, “the fulfilment you gain from living close to self-sufficiency is incomparable.”