Liopetri, in red soil.

In the eastern part of the region, the land changes color. Around Liopetri and the wider region known as Kokkinoxoria, the soil turns deep red. It is rich, dense, and full of minerals. A type of earth that has shaped the identity of the area for generations.

This red soil is known for its composition, high in iron and other natural elements like phosphorus and calcium. It holds moisture well, yet drains just enough, creating the right balance for cultivation. Because of this, some of the most well-known agricultural products of the region come from here, especially potatoes, grown with a texture and taste that carry something of the land itself.

This is where I met Giorgos Theodorou, 64 years old. His family has always been connected to farming. His father and grandfather worked the same land, and from a young age he followed them into the fields. He learned by being there, watching the work happen around him.

"Our whole family were farmers. I grew up inside it."

He officially started in 1987, when his father retired. But in reality, his relationship with the land began much earlier.

"When I was eleven, I remember taking the tractor from the village to the fields on my own. I had a piece of bread and some water, nothing more."

Even during his school years, his days did not end in the classroom.

"I would go to school, and as soon as I finished, I went straight to the fields to help my parents. Until I was eighteen, this was my life."

Later, he stepped away from farming and worked in construction. But the distance did not last.

"Farming was always in my head. It was calling me back, like an old love."

The work follows the rhythm of the seasons. One of the most critical periods is the potato harvest, the moment when the potatoes are lifted from the earth. Harvesting potatoes is not simply collecting them. It requires timing, attention, and care.

"We wake up at five in the morning. You have to lift them at the right time. They cannot stay too long under the sun."

Using machinery or by hand, the potatoes are carefully unearthed. A process farmers often call lifting or digging up the crop. Once out of the soil, they must be quickly gathered and stored in a cool, dry place, protected from sunlight and moisture.

"This is the most satisfying time. You see all your effort coming together."

For Giorgos, the relationship with his crops is personal.

"My potatoes are like my kids. You have to take care of them with love. You water them, you protect them from disease, you watch them all the time."

Unlike children, the plants do not speak.

"A child will cry and you understand something is wrong. With potatoes, you have to understand without them telling you."

Farming, especially in open fields, always carries risk. Weather remains the most unpredictable factor.

"The hardest part is the cold. If the temperature drops below zero, the plants can be destroyed."

Over the years, he has found ways to respond.

"When it gets very cold, I keep watering them. You have to stay alert all the time."

Standing in his fields, he sees more than the present. He sees everything that came before.

"When I look at this land, I see the past. My grandparents, my parents, my siblings, all of them passed through here. This place is full of my best memories."