Encouraged by high yields and levels of biodiversity that we have been recording in our home gardens , in 2015 we extended our research to look at how we can provide nutritious affordable food whilst enhancing biodiversity in a polyculture market garden. We are delighted to be offering a unique and dynamic learning opportunity for five people to come and take part in the study in 2019. Would you like to join us?
What are we doing ?
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| Diversity of high quality biologically produced food from our gardens |
The approach we take to market gardening goes way beyond "organic". We design biological systems that rely on the native ecology to function as opposed to external manufactured inputs, and as a result our gardens service not only our needs but the needs of other organisms too.
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| Permaculture/Polyculture Market Garden @Balkan Ecology Project |
The main questions we are asking during this study are:
- How can we provide nutritious affordable food whilst enhancing biodiversity?
- How productive can polycultures be?
- How much time does it take to establish and manage such a garden?
- What income can be expected from running such a garden?
- How bio-diverse can our food producing systems be and how can we measure this?
We are also recording biodiversity levels in the garden focusing specifically on model groups of invertebrates. Among these groups are snails, spiders ,insects - bugs, flies, moths and butterflies.
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| Some of the resident wildlife from our permaculture market garden. |
Why are we undertaking this study ?
The demand for local, biologically cultivated food appears to be on the increase, as is a general desire to promote and preserve biodiversity. As far as we understand, small scale biologically cultivated polyculture gardens seem a practical, accessible and realistic way of providing food for humans whilst preserving and promoting biological diversity in the environment. With what appears to us to be a high demand and low supply situation, we ask why are there not more of these enterprises around? To explore the issue in more depth we are undertaking a multi-year study looking at the economics of running such a garden, and how productive it can be in terms of yields, income and biodiversity.
This is an excellent opportunity if you are considering starting a garden and/or are interested in ways to provide affordable healthy food whilst increasing biodiversity.
Study Goals
- To develop functional market garden models that are both productive for humans and wildlife
- To provide a unique and comprehensive learning experience to the participants of the study
- To take detailed records of our activity and provide a valuable reference for others
- To provide a template for further research
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| Our Polyculture Market Garden - photo by Huma |
Why should you take part ?
As a participant of this study -
- You will gain valuable insight into what it takes to actually run a market garden. As well as the practical skills you will develop, we'll dedicate time each week to cover essential theory, including site design and implementation, plant propagation, polyculture management, basic botany, record keeping, harvesting, irrigation, marketing and advertising, and budgeting/financial planning.
- Enrollment to the 6 month program entitles you to participate in courses and training events that take place during the program.
- You will be contributing to an area of research where little information exists i.e the productivity of polycultures and associated biodiversity dynamics.
- This study will be published online and freely available to all for future reference and you will be credited accordingly.
- You can participate in the exciting new development of a perennial polyculture trial garden on a different plot of land
- You will be spending time in a truly unique area of the world, working as part of a dynamic team of fellow enthusiasts in an inspiring environment.
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| 2015 team at work in the gardens |
Where will you be?
The project is based in the town of Shipka, Bulgaria on the foothills of the Central Balkan mountain range in the Rose Valley. It's an area of high biodiversity, beautiful countryside and historical sites of global, cultural and scientific significance. The project site is located on an abandoned piece of agricultural land on the western outskirts of the town that we call the Paulownia Garden. See Map for Paulownia Garden Location.
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| Shipka Town - home to Balkan Ecology Project |
You'll also be learning from our existing garden, a 10 year old residential property with a highly productive and well established forest garden composed of over 400 species of plants. Our central garden 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 hosts a small 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.
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| The Home Garden |
What will you be doing?
You'll be working closely as a team producing food from the market garden for yourself, local markets, and food coops and will be recording all aspects of the process including how long it takes to develop, maintain and manage, the associated costs, the fertility requirements, the returns in produce weight and income derived from the sale of the produce.
Specific activities include the following:-
- Propagating the crops
- Trialing new polycultures
- Record keeping
- Harvesting and preparing produce for market.
- Managing beneficial habitats and the forest garden.
- Designing new polycultures
How to take part?
We believe the valuable work you will bring to the project is a fair exchange for the educational experience you will receive. We are dedicated to teaching you the skills needed to build and run a great market garden. Activities will be largely determined by what needs doing at any particular time. We generally start at 09.00 and spend around 3-4 hrs a day in the gardens. Weekends are left unscheduled. There will be plenty of free time available.
Rent per month is €150 (including all bills). The house is basic but comfortable in a beautiful location a short walk away from the project site. The house has Wi-Fi internet, a shared kitchen and bathrooms and a garden. It's your responsibility to prepare meals and purchase food. Fruits and vegetables produced from the gardens are available to you from June on wards, and quality products such as eggs, milk, cheese, honey and meat can be purchased from local producers. Estimates of living costs based on the experience of previous participants is between €90 - €120 per month.
Once we have received your registration we will contact you and arrange a Skype meeting to talk through the process and answer any questions that may arise. Following this, if you decide you would like to take part, 50% of the monthly rent for the duration of your stay should be paid to secure your place. Payment can be made via Paypal (processing fees apply ) or bank transfer in £,€ or BGN and is non refundable.
Registration is now open. Register here
Here's what previous years participants said!
" Being a part of the Polyculture Study was a very special period of my life. I realized how inspiring it is to be in touch with soil and plants, and creatures inhabiting the garden I worked in, and also to be in good touch with the people I worked with"
"It made an impression on me so much so that I'm going back this year to participate from the beginning to see the know-hows of food growing in cooperation with nature." Kata Prodanov
" I am happy to have had this opportunity to support the Study and the wonderful family behind it, and to be supported by them in return." Anna Boncheva
"It's a nice journey that gives you the chance to study in depth in your free time" Plamen Petkov
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| The Polyculture Study 2015 team |
Regenerative Landscape Design - Online Interactive Course
Want to learn how to design, build and manage regenerative landscapes? Join us for our Regenerative Landscape Design - Online Interactive Course from May 1st to Sep 13th, 2023.
We're super excited about running the course and look forward to providing you with the confidence, inspiration, and opportunity to design, build and manage regenerative landscapes, gardens, and farms that produce food and other resources for humans while enhancing biodiversity.
Regenerative Landscape Design Online Course
You can find out all about the course here and right now we have a 20% discount on the full enrollment fees. Just use the promo code RLD2023 in the section of the registration form to receive your discount.
We are looking forward to providing you with this unique online learning experience - as far as we know, the very first of its kind. If you are thinking of reasons why you should do this course and whether this course is suitable for you, take a look here where we lay it all out. Looking forward to it!
We're super excited about running the course and look forward to providing you with the confidence, inspiration, and opportunity to design, build and manage regenerative landscapes, gardens, and farms that produce food and other resources for humans while enhancing biodiversity.
|
| Regenerative Landscape Design Online Course |
You can find out all about the course here and right now we have a 20% discount on the full enrollment fees. Just use the promo code RLD2023 in the section of the registration form to receive your discount.
We are looking forward to providing you with this unique online learning experience - as far as we know, the very first of its kind. If you are thinking of reasons why you should do this course and whether this course is suitable for you, take a look here where we lay it all out. Looking forward to it!
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Support Our Project
If you appreciate the work we are doing you can show your support in several ways.
- Make a purchase of plants or seeds from our Bionursery or Online Store
- Consider joining us for one of our Courses or Online Courses
- Comment, like, and share our content on social media.
- Donate directly via PayPal to balkanecologyproject@gmail.com or via FTX Pay
If you appreciate the work we are doing you can show your support in several ways.
- Make a purchase of plants or seeds from our Bionursery or Online Store
- Consider joining us for one of our Courses or Online Courses
- Comment, like, and share our content on social media.
- Donate directly via PayPal to balkanecologyproject@gmail.com or via FTX Pay
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