Kibbutz Neot Semadar Welcome to Kibbutz Neot Semadar best known for its array of organic products. Neot Semadar, an ecological collective community, is more than just a kibbutz with a weird, colorful tower in the middle of the desert. | | The kibbutz community that was started by a group of friends in 1989 is one of the last such rural collectives still run as an equalized cooperative. It is a community dedicated to “life as it really is”. | | Organic farming allows for a variety of fields and crops to be grown without the use of toxic chemicals, weaving an aesthetic and ecological tapestry, an oasis that spreads over hundreds of acres of desert land. | | The most eye-catching aspect of the kibbutz is the Arts Center known as the Taj Mahal of the Middle East. There are amazing desert views and a sensory experience of taste and smell. | | Today there are 90 adult members (families and singles), 70 children of various ages, and about 50 volunteers of all ages from Israel and from abroad. Volunteers have the opportunity to learn to milk goats, pluck organic dates or pack organic olives while learning Hebrew on an individual basis. One of the most interesting aspects of their daily life is the fact that most of them hold several very different jobs at the same time. This way, work doesn’t become boring routine. | | So what does an average day at Neot Semadar look like? By 6:00 a.m. people are trickling into the dining hall for tea or coffee in silence before heading off to work which is interrupted by breakfast at 8:00 a.m. Lunch is between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. and supper is later in the day. Once a week there is also structured self expressive dancing to live music; everybody living at the kibbutz is invited to partake in it. The members regard these dances as an important part of their mutual communication. Groups are formed so participants can sing together. Additionally, courses in the arts are offered, weaving being one example. | | Neot Semadar Typical Breakfast | | Oatmeal With Dates Breakfast in Neot Semadar is eaten in silence. Often it's a large bowl of hot oatmeal served with chopped dates - which, by the way, we included in the last Israel Pack shipment. There are so many ways to use dates, but we wanted to share our favorite way to use this product, inspired by this cozy, hearty breakfast in the desert. Recipe for oatmeal with dates (2 servings): - warm 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a small pot
- add one cup of whole or steel cut oats
- sauté oats in the pot for 1 min
- add 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup almond milk, so that oats appear soaked
- mix-in 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen berries
- add pinch of salt, teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 chopped dates
- bring mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to low
- simmer uncovered for 3-5 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally
- remove from heat and let oats cool slightly
| | | The Majhool dates also known as the "King of Dates". | | | |