We'll be running the Regenerative Landscape Design Course instead of this course for 2017
|
|
What's the course about? During this course you'll discover how to design and create landscapes that produce a bounty of nutritious food while enhancing biodiversity.
You'll experience a range of activities balancing theory with hands on practical activity, design exercises and hikes into the beautiful foothills of the Central Balkan mountain range. Click here to view the schedule. The course is perfect for anyone embarking upon a new project or wanting to get started in ecological design. What we cover during the course can easily be applied to existing projects so whether you are new to growing or a seasoned veteran, we are sure you will enjoy this unique approach. The core of our approach is to design from a thoughtful, intellectual perspective, thereby minimizing maintenance and reducing redundancy, allowing time to focus on the most enjoyable parts of growing edible ecosystems. Throughout the course you'll be learning how to design and build, and we encourage our guests to bring their own plans or future projects into the course. |
Why Take this Course ?
- Our course is tailored to equip you with the theoretical base, practical skills, and inspiration to start building your own project, whether that be a town garden, rural retreat, community project, market garden or small holding.
- You'll be learning from our decade of experience, at a site that provides living, working examples of what is covered during the course.
- Our unique location is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and recharge in the tranquility of rural Bulgaria. It's a slow paced relaxed environment, and although the course is very active the atmosphere cannot help but be absorbed.
- All profits from this course will be used for the purchasing of land with high ecological value currently under threat from industrial agricultural development.. Once under our stewardship, the land is managed with respect for its inherent value and vital ecosystem services. Your payment, as well as being a sound investment in your development, will be contributing to the protection and management of these important habitats
- Last but not least - great food , great experience and great company!
|
|
|
Course Fees, Accommodation and Food Course Fees
The fee for this course is €220* + accommodation and food A 50% deposit of course fees and food and accommodation fees are required to secure a place on the course. Payment can be made via Paypal, bank transfer or TransferWise a new online platform that eliminates hidden charges for international bank transfers. The remaining fee is payable by cash (BGN) on arrival. . Places are limited to 15 so please register early to avoid disappointment. *Everyone is welcome, and we try to accommodate all budgets. We are prepared to offer a reasonable reduction of the fees for those who need it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accommodation and food We provide a range of options for you to choose from in two friendly establishments 5 minutes away from our place. Accommodation and food options A ,B or C are not subject to sliding scale fees. Accommodation and food prices for 7 nights and 3 meals a day. Option A - €180 (shared room in Hotel Perenika) Option B - €225 (private room at Shipka IT) Option C - €380 - For couples, price includes meals for two people and a private room for two at ShipkaIT) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meals Breakfast will be provided to you from your hotel or guest room. Lunch and dinner will be provided by our team and will include our own produce when possible. Drinks and snacks will be available during tea breaks. We take pride in both the production and preparation of our food . A diversity of healthy nutritious home cooked food is guaranteed. If you have special dietary restrictions, please let us know. |
Where will you be? The course is hosted in the town of Shipka on the foothills of the Central Balkan Mountains in the Rose Valley, Bulgaria. The area boasts high levels of biodiversity, beautiful countryside and historical sites of global, cultural and scientific significance. Sessions will be split between a lecture hall, in the field and at our site, a 9 year old residential property with an established, highly productive forest garden composed of over 400 species of plants. The site is a good example of small scale intensive ecological design and includes examples of rainwater harvesting, grey water reed beds, wildlife ponds, multiple composting facilities and small scale plant nursery. We practice various methods of biological vegetable production including guild planting and crop rotation, and rear pigs, chickens and rabbits from this property.
If traveling from abroad perhaps you would like to extend your stay in the region? There is plenty to do including hiking, biking, paragliding, various wildlife tours and archaeological excursions, or you could just soak up the timeless vibes of rural Bulgaria. If you would like to get more hands on experience, there are opportunities to stay on and help out in the market garden. Lead Facilitator  Paul Alfrey
Paul Alfrey - Paul has been building and teaching edible ecosystems for the last decade. He works on numerous projects as consultant and designer, runs a plant nursery specializing in forest garden plants and has worked as a freelance Arborist for 20 years in the UK. |
