In August, we had guest-visitors from the town of Russe – children and their teachers from the daycare centre Shtura Kashtura. For us, this was a new acquaintance, full of enthusiasm and emotions. We organized for them a working day in our gardens where together we gathered hay and mulched vegetable beds. We also visited the nearby forest where we explored the herbs and made herbal pictures. We held a cooking workshop as well, where we made a soda pita bread.

During the visit of the group from Russe, we also held our regular summer training course on sustainable agriculture/gardening. Trainees and children together were working in the garden, learning from each other and having fun in their free time. The course was of practical nature and addressed topics, such as composting, mulching, the use of water resources, designing the space in your own garden, etc. We had met some of the participants before, as they were participants in some of our previous courses. Seeing them again in Nadarevo, made us feel happy and have us motivation to continue to provide interesting and innovative training events.

In August we also held an online session on building with natural materials – with Peter Mogensen. Peter joined us live from Brenderup Folkhigh School, Denmark. He told the participants about his experience as a teacher and a practitioner in the field of sustainable building. Peter Mogensen and Apostol Apostolov familiarized the participants with the forthcoming workshop on restoration and building with natural materials, which will take place on the grounds of Botanica Life Foundation in the village of Nadarevo in the period 21-27 September 2022. For yet another time, Peter Mogensen will be leading a building workshop with us, but this time the task will be to undertake a transformation of an old barn into a studio for arts and crafts.

As a whole, August was a month, full of meetings and new friendships for Botanica Life’s team with interesting and motivated people. In a way, our events became a symbolic generation bridge – bringing together people of very different ages.