Almost a month since the long-term European Solidarity Corps project Green Summit started. Five volunteers (Amanda, Andrea, Brice, Deni and Stefi) joined Aleko, Stasi, baby Kosara and Elena for the winter in Staro Stefanovo, living in a beautiful typical old Bulgarian house.
Many activities and projects have been keeping us busy, amongst them: putting together a green house, refurbishing an old pechka, processing apples, helping out local producers and much more.
Since pictures speak louder than words let us show you what life has been like for our little rural community in the architectural reserve of Staro Stefanovo.
Community – We are 8 people and a baby living under one roof. The house is filled with laughter, music and interesting conversations and the dinner table is a central spot for everyone to come together and very often have a good laugh.
Pechka – Our magnificent pechka has been the center of attention and a word that is said at least 50 times a day. Shine bright like a pechka.
Apples – Picking, peeling, cutting, cooking and putting apples in jars was an important focus for the first two weeks of the project.
Walnuts – Brice, or as we call him, walnut man, has been collecting walnuts every chance he gets. Then storing, cleaning and drying them.
Bulgarian lessons – Our weekly Bulgarian lessons led by the two Bulgarian volunteers (Stefi and Deni) have been a great opportunity for the rest of the volunteers to learn more about the country they are living in, and for the Bulgarian volunteers to rediscover their own culture.
Greenhouse – Little by little the green house has been taking shape, with the efforts of all the volunteers. First we leveled the floor, then we assembled the metal structure and covered it with the tarp, then it flew away with the wind…, but we learn our lessons quickly and we don’t give up. We are currently building the raised beds, and then we will be planting salad seedlings in the ground.
Stone path – This little path from the gate to the place where we store the wood was made with the hands of three volunteers, selecting the stones, placing them and digging under them to stabilize them day and night.
Thursday at Valya’s – We spent a whole day helping Valya, a local producer in Stefanovo and friend of the Green Association, around her property. We chopped wood, made liutenitsa, processed apples and had lunch and dinner with her.
Trip to Veliko Tarnovo – Weekends are made for relaxing, personal time and exploring. On a lovely sunny afternoon Amanda, Andrea and Deni went to Veliko Tarnovo and explored the old town and the fortress of the city.
One month has gone by and there is so much more to do, to learn, to explore, to share. These are only a few of the activities we’ve been up to and we will be sharing more over the next few months.
*Some honorable mentions: spoon carving, kombucha making, a whole lot of good cooking, tomato pickling, sauerkraut, etc.
Have a very green weekend,
Green Summit Greenies
