//05: Making a path where there is none
+++On pioneering+++
In coming to living with the land, in many ways, we started at the basics. In the case of “Co-living by the forest”, we were lucky to be able to come onto a piece of land with ancestral history, and from there, we renovated the buildings and slowly made them usable again; clearing the old, installing warm water and rebuilding structures, reawakening the well on the property, reviving the field. In this case, we already felt drawn to the land, as it seemed like a continuation of the family story for us to work with it. But there are also many other ways. In the case of “Homestead Mokovec”, the vision started differently. But hear it directly from the inhabitants of the farm...
How did Homestead Mokovec come into existence? It's a story going a long way back. When I was a teenager, about 14 years old, I decided I would like to create spaces in nature, where people can really be who they are. The reason for that was that I was experiencing mental distress at the time and institutional help did not really help me. But different experiences of being in nature with simple-hearted people helped me get stronger and find depth inside myself. It was then that I clearly saw that our system was missing something and set out to try to create these necessary opportunities in nature. Later, at the age of 21, I had a serious car accident that stopped me and showed me the importance of simple moments in life, as well as how we are in too much of a hurry in modern times. After the traffic accident, I spent a lot of time at a house in the mountains and saw that living in nature and co-creating with others gives me meaning. There I started creating pedagogical adventure camps for young people, which I then continued in various places in nature and on farms. I have seen that such camps can change the course of life of many individuals.
My partner lived in the capital, but at some point he saw that the fast city life was not for him. A set of difficult events in his life encouraged him to move to the Veles Farm more than ten years ago, where he was a volunteer for several years. There he also focused strongly on natural construction, which is closer to him than classical construction (his original profession). We both lived on other farms and communities before finding Homestead Mokovec 3 years ago and starting to create here.
What is the vision you followed when creating this space? Our vision is to create a warm home, not only for ourselves but also for others. A space where one can move away from everyday life. Our goal is to be a creative polygon in various areas of sustainable, creative and simple living – such as co-living and community work, natural building, permacultural gardening, permaculture landscaping and its elements, herbalism, and more. We also want to take care of people and discover how living with nature and creativity can support holistic well-being. With our group activities and other experiences we share that knowledge and inspiration. That is why we are also passionate about non-formal education and experiential pedagogy for all generations. We explore how we can co-create and live with nature in a simple and joyful way.
How do you work with nature? I think we really take time to observe and see how things interact with us. That goes for landscaping the land, but also with the garden. It is good to take a lot of time to observe the space first – how the sun and water are throughout the seasons, where natural paths are formed, where you spend more and less time, etc. That is why have observed and still observe the elements of nature, the landscape, and ourselves, as humans on the land.
Through observing and listening to the nature and the place, we slowly determined the main future elements of the homestead and their connections. A community kitchen and central outdoor area (for fire and a playground), toilets, showers, a plant-based cleaning device for water, the location of a large yurt as future educational space, locations of other yurts for living, a hayloft as an outbuilding as well as social space, a workshop, tents for extra guests and an areas for planting extra trees. It took us 3 years to come to understanding and creating all of this!
The diverse two hectares of landscape in our space give us a lot of inspiration and opportunities. We try to ensure that the elements support each other the most and that they serve us and the vision of the space. We want them to breathe so that there is enough space between them, as well as between the planted trees and plants. It really creates a special atmosphere of private corners in harmony with natural elements.
In the garden, the story is similar. I like to go there several days of the week to listen to what it is saying. Trying out things and seeing what »they tell you back«. And then try again. It's exciting – you can learn about gardening for 50 years this way! For example, these days I go often to the garden to see what the deer did last night :) And then I give my feedback. Sometimes I cover some things we like to eat, and some plants I leave to them. It's a message for them, you know? »You can eat this, but please don't eat this.« And for now it looks like we have an agreement.
What does a day at Homestead Mokovec look like? It's very different by the season. In Winter, we are alone, but in Spring, Summer and Autumn we often have volenteers. Winter is very relaxed. Nature rests and we echo that a bit as well. We have a list of things that need to be done, sorted by priority, but then you decide yourself how you feel that day and what you want to do. The summer season has to be much more organized, since we are more people. We normally gather at breakfast, have a quick check-in and go to work (we agree on our Monday community meetings what things we will do during the week and who will facilitate them). We have lunch together and work more afterwards. And in the later afternoon, you can do what you feel – some work, some relax, some play, etc. In the evenings we might be together, be it for a camp fire, playing some games, or something else. Or we might spend it alone – what matters is what you feel drawn to on that day.
What are your favorite memories from the journey of establishing your space? I think the group camps in nature. I remember the first work camp where I was a participant, but also some later pedagogical camps for youth that we created. The most magical about this is how people connect heart to heart and how nature whispers to the silence in us. How such a connected group can give support, power and inspiration to each other for many years in future. Without nature that is not possible in the same way. Nature helps us allow ourselves to be who we are. We can go away from the group if we want, or immerse ourselves. We can walk barefoot, engage with the elements, but also find how we feel most at ease.
What would you recommend to someone who is thinking of founding their own homestead? Know that things might take its time and that is good. Don't forget to play, have fun, enjoy the silence of nature – even if there is a lot to be done. After all, you moved to nature to have peace and happiness.
+++ Assignment 05 +++ What is the vision you hold? – Think about the plans you have for your life. Which ambitions, hopes, dreams lie within you? How do you think they can manifest? – What do you need, in terms of clarity, resources, energy...? Who can help you? What will your next step towards your dream be? – How can you get just a little closer to the vision over the next month? And over the next year?
+++ A new way to steward the land+++
If you ask any member of “Co-living by the forest” what their personal understanding of paradise is, chances are that at least one or two will refer to the “forest garden” on the space. What is that, you might wonder? A concept from permaculture, it describes a space that is designed in such a way that the space is mostly self-contained, so that it grows and sustains itself on its own, using various layers of the land to interact with each other and be supportive in their own ecosystem. Coincidentally, it is also the place on the grounds where you can find the most wild berries, seemingly endless lush patches of mint, and even an inviting hammock by the riverside. No wonder it brings visions of paradise to mind. Very well, you might say, but what makes a “forest garden” a “forest garden”?
+++ Buckwheat: An underappreciated grain? +++
Lately, buckwheat is becoming more and more popular again. One reason for that might be that it is known for many health benefits, also due to its lack of gluten. Buckwheat bread has seen a revival, oftentimes along with sourdough. In making bread, one can mix buckwheat flour with other flours, such as wheat, spelt or corn, or use just plain buckwheat flour (which is appropriate for gluten intolerance). When using plain buckwheat, however, specific ingredients should be added for the dough to stick together, as gluten is not present. Psyllium husk is oftentimes a popular choice here. A word to the wise: While many culinary joys call for active experimentation, buckwheat bread is exempt to that. As it lacks gluten, it needs to be prepared exactly according to the recipe, in order to avoid it from not sticking together properly.
+++ Fermenting and conserving food +++
An art of enhancing and celebrating the goodness of natural foods, fermentation has been around since we have. From preserving the nutritional content of goods, to creating new flavors and scents, fermentation makes foods come alive in new ways. In some way or another, we have all enjoyed fermented foods, whether we realize it or not. In the form of ground coffee beans making delicious morning brew, crisp green tea leaves responsible for a relaxing aroma, or a swig of cold beer – but also cheese, some sausages, sauerkraut, and other common staples have been subject to the magic of fermentation. So what about this magic?
+++ Alternative forms of living | An interview +++
An incubator for ideas of encountering, stewarding the land and personal development, the space hosting the majority of events throughout this project is “Co-living by the Forest”. But what does it mean, co-living? This is only one of the many questions that come up regularly for visitors of the space. Here, one of the founders of the space shares some thoughts on the most common questions.
