FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

     The aim is for the Kerkenes Eco-Center and Şahmuratlı Village to be a showcase for environmentally friendly, energy sensitive and self-sufficient development, promoting the use of renewable energy for a low-carbon economy and a sustainable future. It is however necessary to secure additional funding so as to pursue given goals and overcome various bureaucratic hurdles that will make the income generating activities economically viable in the medium and long term. The proposal will follow the overall goals of the Kerkenes Eco-Center Project and general objectives for rural development and improvement of living standards in the Village of Şahmuratlı. These are:
     1. Promotion of renewable energy, energy efficient designs and income-generating activities.
     2. Promotion of permaculture and organic gardens through resource management such as drip irrigation and composting.

The 2013 Program of Activities

Workshops are scheduled to start in May. Towards the end of the summer it is anticipated that local products, including those from the village organic gardens, will be purchased by SAHDER to be dried and cooked on the solar cookers to be conserved in air-tight jars, stored and marketed throughout the autumn and winter. The peak time for solar drying and cooking will be in August and September but activities are expected to continue in October in the solar building. Promotional events will be organised in Kerkenes and Ankara during the summer and autumn. New recipes will be added to the Kerkenes Cookbook. The performance of the large solar drier with the new compartmentation will be monitored during the summer months so as to find out the most efficient way of using it as well as the products for which it is most suited. Güner Mutaf who has also designed a new solar oven adapted to a parabolic solar reflector will be following up with further suggestions as various products such as the Kerkenes Krakers, Kerkenes Cakes and others will be cooked and/or dried in the new cooker.

Proposal for the new drying racks and trays.

One important addition to the existing facilities will be the design and production of drying trays to be used in racks as well as in open spaces. It has proved very difficult to keep flies away from the drying products, even when trays are within closed racks or dryers. It is thought that small trays with netting and completely fly-proof will ensure that flies cannot enter into contact with the products. This new item will have the advantage of being portable and could be used by any villagers within their own home compound where traditionally they dry village garden products.
It is also noted that, if successful, such trays could be commercialised and sold to other villages thus perhaps becoming in itself an income generating activity as well as benefiting a much larger circle of villagers.