Encouraged by high yields and high levels of biodiversity that we have been recording in our
home gardens we have extended our research to look at how we can provide nutritious affordable food whilst enhancing biodiversity in polyculture market gardens. We are delighted to be offering a unique opportunity to take part in this study. Would you like to join us?
What are we doing ?
We are undertaking a multi year study of market gardening growing herbs, vegetables and perennial fruit and nut polycultures. The study aims to compare our polyculture plots with conventional organic plots, record levels of biodiversity in the gardens and look at set up and running costs (in terms of finances and time) and outputs in terms of produce and income.
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| Diversity of high quality biologically produced food from our polyculture 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 |
What will you be doing?
You'll be working closely as a team producing food from the market garden for yourself, local markets, and a food co-operative 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.
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Our Polyculture Market Garden - photo by Huma
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Spring 2017 we will also begin development of a new experimental garden growing perennial polycultures providing fruits, nuts, vegetables, biomass, timber and wildlife habitat. We'll install a gravity fed irrigation system, wildlife/irrigation ponds, living fences of native species, several habitat features for current species on site, and 6 trial beds that will house 4 perennial polycultures, designed to be highly productive and wildlife enhancing.
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| Perennial Polycuture Trial Garden |
Click here for the Garden location (labelled as East Side Trial Garden
on our Project map)
We are planning to record all aspects of the project including observed levels of invertebrate diversity, weather data and soil analysis. We’ll be looking closely at inputs i.e set up/running costs, fertility/water requirements and time, and outputs i.e produce, income, soil fertility and invertebrate diversity.
The aim of the trials is to test the ecological and economical viability of growing these polycultures in market gardens and farms in order to meet the following needs/wants:
- production of high quality, high value food
- cash crops from secondary/ tertiary polyculture partner species
- improvement of soil fertility
- provision of biomass for use as mulch
- timber supply for use as vegetable supports and larger round wood material for farm infrastructure
- enhanced levels of biodiversity
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Some of the resident wildlife from our permaculture market garden.
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Why should you take part ?
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.
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 covering 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 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 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 |
How to take part?
The study will run from April 1st - September 30th. Ideally you will be able to commit to the project for the full duration of time. We are also willing to accept applications for shorter periods of time if you feel passionate about joining the project but cannot dedicate 6 months.
The contribution for joining the study for the full 6 month period ( April 1st - September 30th) is €650. This includes rent and bills for the whole period and admission to all courses and events held during those dates.
If you would like to participate for less than the full 6 months the fee is €150 per month, including rent and bills.
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, the fee for the duration of your stay should be paid in full to secure your place. Payment can be made via PayPal (processing fees apply ) or bank transfer in £,€ or BGN.
Accommodation
Our self catering volunteer house is basic but comfortable in a beautiful location at the edge of Shipka and around 15 - 20 minutes walk away from the project site. The house has Wi-Fi internet, a shared kitchen and bathrooms and a garden.
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| The Volunteer House - a view from the east |
Fruits and vegetables produced from the gardens are available to you from June onwards, and quality products such as eggs, milk, cheese, honey and meat can be purchased from local producers. The cost of living is relatively low here and estimates of living costs based on the experience of previous participants is between €90 - €120 per month.
There is plenty to do around Shipka and our location is perfect for exploring. The wild coasts of the Black and Adriatic Sea are just a few hours away, extensive trails deep into the Balkan mountains start from your doorstep. Istanbul, Bucharest and Thessaloniki are a bus ride away and there are great day trips includng Koprinka Lake, Kalofer waterfalls, Buzludja and Etara living Museum to name but a few.
Why are we undertaking this study ?
Industrial agricultural practices often result in destruction of habitat for many organisms. We believe this is unnecessary, and want to provide healthier models of agriculture that can provide nutritious affordable food while at the same time promoting biodiversity and general ecosystem health.
Industrial methods are heavily researched and funded, and there is a general belief among many farmers that this is the only practical way of operating. Following 12 years of cultivating polyculture gardens we are seeing that small scale biologically cultivated polyculture gardens are a realistic and practical way of providing food for humans whilst preserving biodiversity in the environment. Furthermore we believe this type of agriculture can help create thriving local economies that strengthen community and enhance the amenity value of an area.
Little data exists showing the productive capacity of polyculture systems and the economic viability of them. There is a big need to fill this gap and provide solid data and concise coherent models that can be replicated easily and provide real solutions to the environmental damage caused by industrial agriculture. This project intends to go some of the way in filling this gap.
Here's what previous year's participants said!
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| Last years polyculture study team |
"Taking part in the Polyculture Study was a life-changing and inspiring time for me. I learned loads about permaculture, about Bulgaria and to reconnect with the simple things in life. On top of that Paul, Sophie and their kids are awesome people! I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more about permaculture, experiencing rural life or just thinking of a change of career and lifestyle!" - Ute Villavicencio
"I took part in the 2016 Polyculture Market Garden Study with the Balkan Ecology Project. I started without much knowledge of gardening at all, but the hands-on work at the study sites, alongside the weekly theory lessons, helped me build an understanding of permaculture principles. By putting these into practice, I learnt how to create a productive polyculture market garden, and how to apply sustainable, eco-friendly design to a plot of land.
I also had time to complete an online Introduction to Permaculture course, travel to other Bulgarian towns on weekends, walk in the mountains and work in the home garden. Paul, Sophie and the boys are wonderfully warm, supportive and knowledgeable hosts, the study team were fantastic and Shipka is a very special place. I highly recommend getting involved! " - Marika Wanklyn
" 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. 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
Upcoming Forest Garden Courses
If you would like to create a forest garden and gain some practical hands-on experience come and join us for our Desing and Build a Forest Garden Course. We'll be covering site surveying, landscape design software, installing access, beds, irrigation channels, planting tree, shrub, herb and ground layers, and wildlife ponds. All in 3 days! And plenty of follow up material to take away with you to digest slowly.
Registration for our course is now open with a 15% discount on accommodation and food fees when you register as a group (2 or more). You can also take advantage of early booking discounts if you book 3 months before the course starts.
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Please Consider Supporting Our Efforts
Our project grows with our desire to provide better quality information. Our overheads and demands on our time also grow along with our development and this presents a challenge for us to maintain the project and activities. We do not receive any government, institutional or NGO funding for our project and rely on revenue from sales of our courses, plants, consultancy, and design work along with the support of our amazing volunteers to develop and manage the gardens and are very grateful for this. So please consider joining us for a
course or event, purchasing products and services from
our online store or plants from
our bio nursery, participating in our
online educational platforms and support the project while we support you. Feeling super generous today? You can also support us directly with a one-time donation or become a sponsor of our project providing monthly support. With your support, we will continue to improve on producing quality information and data for the community, building a world-class demonstration landscape and progress on our mission to develop and promote practices that can produce food and other resources for humans while enhancing biodiversity.
We also accept donations via bank transfer in USD - EURO - GBP - AUD - NZD - (please email for account details) and via peer to peer distributed ledger - BTC - ETH
If you are not in a financial position to purchase our products and services or donate please comment, like and share our work. This helps us to spread our work further afield and is much appreciated.
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Would you like to be involved in the project next season? 1-6 month placements on our polyculture study are now open.
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If you appreciate the work we are doing you can show your support in several ways.
- Comment, like and share our content on social media.
