Learn beekeeping, natural farming and experience village life in Byala Reka, Bulgaria

Details

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  Description

  Born in Bulgaria, I grew up in London from a young age. Around 10 years ago I decided to revisit my roots in the village where my ancestors are from.
  
  I am obsessed with nature and natural ways of managing my garden. Two of my inspirations are Sepp Holzer, and Masanobu Fukuoka.
  
  The food we grow and produce is for our own consumption. We sometimes give it away as gifts to close friends and family who also try to help out from time to time. We preserve what we can't consume for the winter.
  
  I've been a beekeeper for over 13 years now. I currently manage 4 beehives in my garden. I love teaching people about the natural methods I practice.
  
  I am still in the process of setting up the garden. During the autumn there is a lot of preparation in the garden and some planting.
  
  I am unable to do a lot of things I would love to in the garden, with the bees and around the house because of an accident last year which has limited my mobility.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Van life

  

  Technology

  

  Sustainability

  

  Self development

  

  Pets

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Events & social

  

  Farming

  

  Culture

  

  Writing

  

  Plant care

  

  Photography

  

  Music

  

  Hitchhiking

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling

  

  Camping
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Life is about balance, and I hope you will find it here. In exchange for your help I am more than happy to arrange trips to different cultural sites, museums, attractions. Bulgaria is home to some beautiful places and those filled with incredible energy.
  
  A lot of places keep traditions alive, and in Bulgaria there are many beautiful traditions embodied in art work and food. We can taste traditional speciality dishes, some are local, some from rhodopi mountains. My parents live in the same village and they also help me out a lot. We can also enjoy activities such as fishing and foraging.
  
  I love to meet people from various cultures, and understand our cultural differences. There is a lot that brings us together.

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  Help

  I need help with the garden, creating paths, sowing seeds, pruning trees, canning vegetables, making jam, making litenitsa, preserving the food that will be eaten through the winter.
  
  I also need help with spreading straw around the garden, drying herbs, making home made pasta, compote, all the things that the elders did to prepare for the winter.
  
  I have an out building that needs clearing, I need some hands on help with clearing collapsed roof, moving eroded adobe and hopefully restoring it before it completely falls apart.
  
  I will be helping where I can and will be teaching all that I know. You will not be disappointed, that's a promise. If you are keen to learn how to do all this stuff then you will definitely leave happy and confident.
  
  You will have a real chance to develop skills such as carpentry, gardening, preserving food, growing food, beekeeping, raising animals like rabbits and chickens, various building skills such as rendering, bricklaying.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Bulgarian: Fluent
  English: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  I'm no expert but I can certainly help you to learn Bulgarian if it's something you're interested in.
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  Accommodation

  We have renovated the house a great deal and there is a room which you'll be staying in with a new mattress, and plenty of space for clothes and belongings.
  
  You pretty much get the whole floor to yourself as I am on the top floor of the house. There is a bathroom downstairs which we recently finished with a shower and a toilet. It is very spacious and it is right next to your room.
  
  I also have a washing machine and drier in my laundry room.
  
  The kitchen is in the process of being built. The flooring is finished, electrics installed, just the kitchen units need to go in. I do have a working stove and space for cooking. It's a bit basic but once the countertops go in, the fridge, freezer, stove, oven, all of it will go there and it will be very comfortable.
  
  I have a thing about food - eat to your heart's desire. There's always food and ingredients to cook. I can cook, you can cook, my mum loves to cook and bring food. There's farmers market twice a week if we want anything we don't have, or a supermarket if needed. Almost all of the food we eat comes from the garden and it's all organic. We also try to source from other farmers that are organic and we strive for best quality food.

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  What else ...

  You can explore the area with the doggies.
  
  You can sit and relax in the serene soundscape that is in the garden.
  
  If you love painting, you can paint, draw. You could paint a mural if you want.
  
  I'm pretty free and easy going, I want you to feel appreciated as much as I feel appreciation for your efforts and help.
  
  I guess the only house rule I have is no smoking inside the house, but everywhere else is fine if you're a smoker.
  
  I have a bicycle you can use if you don't have one
  
  I have a guitar you can play.
  
  I have fast fibre internet.
  
  Ask and you shall receive. Honestly ask me anything and I'll look for reasons to say yes and to help you whether it's with travelling or places to go.
  
  There's a bus stop with frequent busses and the train station isn't far away. Plovdiv is an hour away and it's full of life. I can guide you to some awesome places and you have to visit the old town if you're going there

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  I have high speed fibre internet. We use a local ISP who is my friend, so if you need high speeds up to 10Gbps, I can arrange for a boost.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There are no restrictions in parking on the roadside outside my house and we can run power and water to your camper if you need.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  I'm happy to host dogs but as long as they are not aggressive. Please let me know if you plan on bringing an animal so I can make the necessary arrangements.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  Butter

  Butter is our rabbit. She's very beautiful and used to humans. She's a great mother. I had her since she was young and she's a couple of years old now. Shell let you stroke her but only for a second

  Mats

  Mats mats is her full name, like most cats in Bulgaria. Cuddling is her game. You can squish her stroke her, she moves affection. Very vocal, you can meow at each other and she will have a conversation with you

  

  Kitty (3 months)

  Kitty is a kitten, Tommy's sister. She is a little less polite than Tommy, but she's a gem and loves to keep you company. She'll sit on you when you're not looking but she moves away when you try stroke her. Very interesting personality

  

  Tommy (3 months)

  Tommy is a kitten. He loves cuddles. He's very soft and loves affection. You can cuddle him and he'll probably come to you for cuddles

  

  Johnny

  Johnny was a steady dog. We think he read released from a dog shelter because he has a hole in his ear where a tag used to be. Very sensitive doggy. He reads people will and it's an absolute gem. Not aggressive, but he might bark at you if you're aggressive to dogs, which I hope you are not. Johnny is very loyal and he keeps everyone safe. Absolutely loves being stroked and receiving love, that's how we bonded. I met him at the bus stop and he's been with me every since, a couple of years now. We think he's old. Her loves affection so much, I smile just thinking about it.

  

  Zarko

  Zarko came to us when Mira was in heat and we took him in. Very energetic and smiley. Looves a stroke. If he sees you stroking other doggies, he'll come and shove his head in your hands so you stroke him. He has a very soft head.

  

  Pappy (2 years)

  Pappy is Mira's son. Energetic, very affectionate. Loves to run. Has a lot of mum's traits but he's a unique character. You have to be gentle with him, he might be scared of you at first but once he gets to know you he won't leave you alone. Loves being stroked. Was a bit more boisterous when he was a puppy but he's calmed a lot more.

  

  Mira (8 years)

  Mira is an absolute angel, she had been with us since she was 30 days old. She's now coming up to 9 years old.
  Always smiling, always wagging we tail at everything and everyone and always by my side. Looks deep into your soul. Loves treats. She's a princess. Will eat off a fork but not off the ground. Loves attention

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