3rd - 25th of October 2026

October is one of our favourite months. The bridge between summer and autumn makes it a perfect month to make art inspired by the fruits of the summer heat. Your host Leah Heming will introduce you to local foraged plants used for art, craft, food and medicine and teach you how to process, store and use them.

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FORAGE & HARVEST

October is a fabulous month to visit Thassos. The tourists have left, the sun is still shining and the harvesting begins. First the grapes for the wine & tsiporou making, then the nuts and medicinal seeds, the wild strawberry fruit, pomegranates and finally the whole island gets working on the olive harvest. October is a fantastic month for hiking and discovering the ancient donkey trails that linked all the mountain villages.

HIGHLIGHTS

🌿 Weekly guided art hikes and forages with Leah Heming
🌿Learn how to process and store the foraged goods
🌿 Weekly group creative brainstorm & check in
🌿 Eat the fresh, foraged, local foods
🌿 Art in the outdoors
🌿 Stay in a traditional Greek house in a local community
🌿 Quiet working space and setting
🌿 Tailor made creative residency to fit your needs
🌿 Unforgettable experience
🌿 Nature, nature and more nature

FORAGE & HARVEST ART RESIDENCY IS PERFECT FOR

🍇 creatives who want to learn more about harvesting & processing
🍇 creatives who want to push their creative practice
🍇 creatives who love hiking
🍇 creatives who are looking for inspiration from nature
🍇 creatives who want to join into the local communal island life
🍇 writers
🍇 artists
🍇 musicians
🍇 scientists / researchers
🍇 botanists
🍇 poets
🍇 PHD students
🍇 storytellers
🍇 photographers

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

Water & Rock's ethos is that through art we can bring awareness and sensitivity to our natural world.
We are true believers that creative communication is the driving force for change.
Therefore if your work is inspired by nature and you are motivated to get stuck into to your project or develop your ideas, then we want to hear from you!

The residency is for you if...
 🌿 You are inspired by nature
🌿 You want to make change through your art
🌿 You have a project that needs nurturing & attention
🌿 You want to live in community
🌿 You want to immerse yourself in local culture
🌿 You want an adventure

AN AVERAGE WEEK AT THE FORAGE & HIKE ART RESIDENCY

MONDAY:               ☀️AM: drive down to the local village market in Prinos where you will find beautiful fresh, seasonal vegetables from local small scale farmers.
                                                         Stock up for the week from the market, local fishmongers, butchers and supermarket, then finish the morning with a Greek coffee in the                                                                   café with the local community.
                                        🌜PM: Head back to house,  get creative or head out for a walk around the village or into the beautiful gorge

TUESDAY:               ☀️AM: Creative morning or // mountain hike or trail run with your host Leah (optional)
                                       🌜 PM: Creative afternoon

WEDNESDAY:       ☀️AM: Creative morning or// Excursion morning... choose from a selection excursions (hiking, plein air, archaeological visits, beach...)
                                         🌜PM: Creative afternoon or// Excursion afternoon... choose from a selection excursions (hiking, plein air, archaeological visits, beach...)

THURSDAY:            ☀️AM: Creative morning or //mountain hike or trail run with your host Leah (optional)
                                       🌜 PM: Creative afternoon

FRIDAY:                     ☀️+🌜AM+PM: Hike, make art in historical sites and villages and forage day with Leah Heming
                                         
SATURDAY:             ☀️AM: Creative morning or// mountain hike or trail run with your host Leah (optional)
                                         🌜PM: Process the foraged food

SUNDAY:                  ☀️AM: Morning hike guided by your host Leah or the local Environmental Movement of Thassos
                                         🌜PM: Reward yourself after a big hike with a traditional Sunday Long Lunch in a local taverna with friends and family.

YOUR HOST LEAH

Leah is an illustrator, art director & concept designer for TV and animation.
She is also a qualified nature guide who particularly loves ethnobotany. Additionally, Leah co-ran a successful art gallery for 10 years and once worked as a 'Jeep Safari tour guide' on the island taking people to beautiful mountains locations.

Leah has been living on the island of Thassos for 5 years and is passionate about the island's nature. She is a hiker and a trail runner, so she will be happy to take you out on long hikes into the mountains and talk endlessly about ecology.

Leah will be living next door to you, cooking with you in the evenings, working alongside you in the studio and taking you out on excursions.  

Leah's Instagram
www.leah-heming.com

OCTOBER
WEATHER

October is your host Leah's favourite period of the year. The weather is beautiful, the light is stunning and on a sunny day the swimming is delightful. 
The first two weeks are usually still warm, with the second two weeks getting a bit cooler. A fire might be needed in the evenings once in a while. Days will be warm, with a light jumper on the cooler days. Rain is possible.

Bring light and mid season hiking clothes, good hiking shoes, swim wear and a sun hat.

WHAT TO EXPECT

🌿 Weekly shopping at the local market & village
🌿 Excursions & foraging around the island  (hiking, sketching, archaeology,                   beach, plein air...)
🌿 Weekly group creative brainstorm & check in
🌿 Desk in your room
🌿 Communal desk space
🌿 Many outdoor terraces with stunning views
🌿 A quiet place to concentrate
🌿 Community & other creatives to share ideas with
🌿 Peace and quiet
🌿 A local guide (Leah your host)
🌿 Delicious Greek delicacies
🌿 The island all to yourself!

🌿 Immersion into the local community
🌿 Friendly cats
🌿 Communal evening cooking
🌿 Magical gorge with ancient trees and Roman terraces
 🌿Social evenings with friends and neighbours
🌿 Stunning turquoise sea water
🌿 Yoga mats and blocks
🌿 Fully equipped shared kitchen
🌿 Private bedroom
 🌿 Shared bathroom
🌿 Excellent wi-fi

FEES FOR THE 2026 FORAGE & HIKING ART RESIDENCY

RATES FOR 22 nights
€ 1250 per person *
(+ €700 for double occupancy)

3 ROOMS

🌿 Metamorphosis room: On the ground floor, next to the bathroom & the studio. With its original stone work, this double room is very cosy, like sleeping in cocoon!
🌿 Fern spirit room: Upstairs room with a view, original features and a small wood burner, this room can be made up as a single or double room.
🌿 Krana room: Upstairs, a smaller but double room with fantastic views and a lovely feeling with its original wattle and daub walls.

* 50% deposit required - see full Terms & Conditions here

WHAT IS INCLUDED

✚ 1 weekly forage, hiking & art day with Leah Heming
✚ Processing harvested food lessons (lacto fermentation, drying, pickling, jams)
✚ Weekly group creative brainstorm & check in
✚ End of residency group presentation & drinks
✚ regular early morning hikes or trail runs
✚ Accommodation
✚ Pick up / drop off at the port upon arrival / leaving
✚ regularly cleaned bedsheets + towels
✚ Basic food condiments (salt, olive oil, etc)

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

⊖ Extra excursions (optional) *
⊖ Personal laundry (€3 per load)
⊖ Travel insurance
⊖ Travel to and from the residency (except from the ferry port)
⊖ Entrance fees to the museum
⊖ Personal groceries and taverna outings
⊖ art materials

* Click here for list and pricing of extra optional excursions
Any more questions... visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or drop us an email!

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