Israel and You Spaces and Places in Israel
Neot Smadar (נְאוֹת סְמָדַר) is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located in the Aravah. In 2019 it had a population of 227.
ד”ר אבישי טייכר
Neot Smadar 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 Smadar is as an organic community featuring architecturally unique buildings with passive cooling towers.
Neot Semadar, an ecological collective community, is more than just a kibbutz with “The Taj Mahal of the Middle East”.
Photo: זלדה 10
Neot Smadar Art Center
The Art Center was designed and constructed by the people of Neot Semadar in a process that provided a real life experience of creativity and cooperation. For 15 years, this building was the main project in Neot Semadar, and the entire Kibbutz participated.
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.
The Art Center towers above its surroundings. This unique building houses diverse workshops such as: jewelry, pottery, stained glass, paper, weaving and woodwork.
Visits to the Art Center and winery on the self-guided walking tour:
Sunday-thirsday: 10:0-14:30
Friday: 10:00-13:00 Tel: 054-9798957
PMATAS
Neot Smadar Economy
The economy is based on agriculture, with 500 dunams of organically cultivated vineyards, deciduous trees, olives, date plantations and an herb garden. Olive oil is produced in a cold press.
JanManu
Organic Projects
The kibbutz operates a boutique organic winery and produces a variety of cheeses from fresh goat milk.
The desert climate and a cold winter allow for the 50 hectares of orchards (including apricot, peach, pear, apple, nectarine, plums and more) to flourish. Olive groves, vineyards, and date plantations are carefully cultivated in this arid environment as well.
ד”ר אבישי טיכר
Pundak Neot Smadar
Its roadside restaurant, Pundak Neot Smadar, offers vegetarian food and sells the kibbutz’s organic products. The Pundak is open on Shabbat and therefore is not Kosher.
All the packaged organic products (except for the wines) sold by the Pundak are kosher and under the supervision of the Rabanut in Eilat. The wine is not kosher.
