Week 32- The Balkan Ecology Interview
Co-founder the Balkan Ecology Project, Paul Alfrey and Sophie Roberts
When did you first hear about Permaculture and why were you interested?
I read Permaculture Home Garden by Linda Woodrow. After that I tried chicken tractor, raised beds garden.
Where did you take your PDC course and when?
I read the permaculture book.I took course in 2012 in Sofia. Also heard about permaculture from my neighbor Tanya. After that we invited our friends to Bulgaria. Basically, we were trying a project about the permaculture and they came and helped.
What was your biggest takeaway from the course - what made the biggest impact at the time?
My biggest takeaway was mixed people, networking, and fun. It was two week intensive course.
What did you gain or learn on the course that you didn’t expect?
I gain practical part of plants, ecosystem approach.
What is your personal definition of Permaculture?
A brand that attracts people attention. A way of getting look of things: Regenerative agriculture, biodynamic, permaculture, holistic management. Basically these are same with permaculture.
How has Permaculture changed your life?
Butterfly effect people 15 years coming and going. Permaculture inspired project . Building gardens, sharing information, doing courses mission. Produce food while enhancing biodiversity.
What was your first design or what did you do after the PDC?
My first design was annual polyculture and working with different plants.
What part of the theory was the most useful to put into practice?
Observing during four seasons: it is really important & helpful
Start small & simple before extending
After the course, how much extra studying or learning did you do on this topic?
Agroforestry, Earthcare manual- Patrick Whitefield, Forest Gardening- Martin Crawford, Plant Ecology, Royal Horticulture books, Integrate PEst MAnagement, Propagation, Soil Science, Earthworks- Brad Lancaster.
What mistakes did you learn from?
Put plants too close together. Not taking enough time to put the levels right while making a pond. Water is the most important thing. Irrigate, simple, reliable as it can be.
Can you think of a time or a person that you had a positive impact on in relation to Permaculture?
Martin Crawford has had a positive impact on me. Gardens and nursery information more seriously met him. His books, agroforestry research journal website. First three years I made a home garden and then decided to make a polyculture project that interacted with studying market garden main jobs. Really great.
What are the main challenges for you when designing or when implementing your designs?
Lack of fun! Research and nursery. We did not have enough money to put a fence. Fence and water save time when you start. Focus firstly those two things. It would be much easier. Implementing design also has challenges.
How do you manage to irrigate your landscape?
Access to river valley. Gravity fed water system, into ponds, swales in between pathwalks.
If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice, what would it be?
Every mistake is valuable. Get full responsibility. Put your energy into it. Ignore it.
What are the long term goals and or visions of your project?
To create a very beautiful garden to see, make a management schedule. Get better. Producing food while enhancing biodiversity.
Co-founder the Balkan Ecology Project, Paul Alfrey and Sophie Roberts
When did you first hear about Permaculture and why were you interested?
I read Permaculture Home Garden by Linda Woodrow. After that I tried chicken tractor, raised beds garden.
Where did you take your PDC course and when?
I read the permaculture book.I took course in 2012 in Sofia. Also heard about permaculture from my neighbor Tanya. After that we invited our friends to Bulgaria. Basically, we were trying a project about the permaculture and they came and helped.
What was your biggest takeaway from the course - what made the biggest impact at the time?
My biggest takeaway was mixed people, networking, and fun. It was two week intensive course.
What did you gain or learn on the course that you didn’t expect?
I gain practical part of plants, ecosystem approach.
What is your personal definition of Permaculture?
A brand that attracts people attention. A way of getting look of things: Regenerative agriculture, biodynamic, permaculture, holistic management. Basically these are same with permaculture.
How has Permaculture changed your life?
Butterfly effect people 15 years coming and going. Permaculture inspired project . Building gardens, sharing information, doing courses mission. Produce food while enhancing biodiversity.
What was your first design or what did you do after the PDC?
My first design was annual polyculture and working with different plants.
What part of the theory was the most useful to put into practice?
Observing during four seasons: it is really important & helpful
Start small & simple before extending
After the course, how much extra studying or learning did you do on this topic?
Agroforestry, Earthcare manual- Patrick Whitefield, Forest Gardening- Martin Crawford, Plant Ecology, Royal Horticulture books, Integrate PEst MAnagement, Propagation, Soil Science, Earthworks- Brad Lancaster.
What mistakes did you learn from?
Put plants too close together. Not taking enough time to put the levels right while making a pond. Water is the most important thing. Irrigate, simple, reliable as it can be.
Can you think of a time or a person that you had a positive impact on in relation to Permaculture?
Martin Crawford has had a positive impact on me. Gardens and nursery information more seriously met him. His books, agroforestry research journal website. First three years I made a home garden and then decided to make a polyculture project that interacted with studying market garden main jobs. Really great.
What are the main challenges for you when designing or when implementing your designs?
Lack of fun! Research and nursery. We did not have enough money to put a fence. Fence and water save time when you start. Focus firstly those two things. It would be much easier. Implementing design also has challenges.
How do you manage to irrigate your landscape?
Access to river valley. Gravity fed water system, into ponds, swales in between pathwalks.
If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice, what would it be?
Every mistake is valuable. Get full responsibility. Put your energy into it. Ignore it.
What are the long term goals and or visions of your project?
To create a very beautiful garden to see, make a management schedule. Get better. Producing food while enhancing biodiversity.
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