Neot Semadar

Neot Semadar
Founded	1989
Region	Arava
Affiliation	Kibbutz Movement
Coordinates	30°2′53.88″N 35°1′31.43″E / 30.0483°N 35.0253972°E / 30.0483; 35.0253972Coordinates: 30°2′53.88″N 35°1′31.43″E / 30.0483°N 35.0253972°E / 30.0483; 35.0253972
Population	184[1] (2009)
Neot Semadar
Website	www.neot-semadar.com

Neot Semadar (Hebrew: נְאוֹת סְמָדַר‎‎), formerly Shizafon (Hebrew: שִׁזָּפוֹן‎‎), is a kibbutz located in the Arava in southern Israel. it falls under the jurisdiction of Hevel Eilot Regional Council.

History

Neot Semadar is located in the southern Negev about 70 km. north of Eilat. The kibbutz was established in 1989, on the grounds of an abandoned kibbutz, Shizafon. Neot Semadar is as an organic community featuring architecturally unique buildings with passive cooling towers. The Art Center houses 14 workshops for Stained glass, ceramics, textile, wood and metals. The building is insulated with mud bricks, with "air conditioning" supplied by a desert cooling tower.

Neot Semadar has a population of 90 adults, 70 children and 50 volunteers.

Economy

Neot Semadar arts center

The economy is based on agriculture, with 500 dunams of organically cultivated vineyards, deciduous trees, olives, date plantations and an herb garden.^[2] Olive oil is produced in a cold press set up with assistance from ICA and Israel's Ministry of Industry and Trade in 2001. The high-quality oil has been conferred the highest grade by Israel's Olive Council.

The kibbutz operates a boutique organic winery and produces a variety of cheeses from fresh goat milk. Its roadside restaurant, Pundak Neot Semadar, offers vegetarian food and sells the kibbutz's organic products. The Art Center is open to visitors.

References

1. ^ "Locality File" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2009. http://www.cbs.gov.il/ishuvim/ishuv2009/bycode.xls. Retrieved 2011-02-06. 
2. ^ Rising from nothing in the desert, idealists now work amid water, orchards, gardens and fish: The New Farm

External links

• Official website (Hebrew)