1, Where are you now?
I am right now in Slovenia, in a small
village called Lipa in the Slovenian Karst, not far from the Adriatic Sea. I
arrived 2 weeks ago to this farm which was founded by three friends from
Ljubljana 1 year ago. They do permaculture farming, and grow their own vegetable garden here. One of their friends
educated them about how to set it up. Meanwhile they organize open air
festivals, summits on the farm. It is a very dry summer in Slovenia now, so I
can only help out in the tasks around the house now where they need some help.
Before that I spent one month in
West-Hungary in Döröske on a family farm.
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| Photo All Rights Reserved by Eva Jocsak |
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| Photo All Rights Reserved by Eva Jocsak |
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| Photo All Rights Reserved by Eva Jocsak |
-the guys above are the hosts of Eva in Slovenia.
2, How did you manage to step out from your previous lifestyle?
First I rented my flat, packed my
belongings and I moved to a backpack. I can ensure anyone who thinks that
he/she has too many belongings what he/she is clinging to: you are right! We
just simply owe too much lumber, objects and still two days are enough to clean
up your whole life: to wash the windows, to do the basic cleaning– women will
understand the capital letters coming- and to pack the CLOTHES. After moving
out I spent two weeks at the place of a good friend of mine, I attended a sewing-course,
said goodbye to friends and family. I left some bureaucratic tasks for the last
moments, but I had enough time to finish those too.
Then I took the train and bus to Döröske
and arrived at the Sábli-farm. J I know, it might
seem too simple that this all was enough to end my previous life, but I really
estimated the time well and could finish everything what I planned to finish. I
never leave more time for anything than needed and do everything at the time
when it feels right to do it. I think this is the secret of these smooth
changes.
3, You wrote on your blog about the aquaponics-method you learned about lately (http://evagoesorganic.blogspot.hu/2012/06/i-heart-akvaponia.html). Could you tell me in couple of sentences what is this method about?
Basically you set up a small
„home-ecosystem” running itself which has many advantages. First of all: you
can produce with this method fresh vegetables and fish during winter and
summer, in our climate they use glasshouses for it. You can produce fresh,
healthy food in that scale which is desired. The costs are minimal, most of the
processes are natural. You only need human intervention and electricity for
changing the water, feeding the fishes and putting the seeds of the vegetables
to the ground. The usage of chemicals is forbidden, because it would ruin the
natural balance.
Peter Gönczi who is a Hungarian expert
in this field suggested that they could allow to schools to use these
aquaponics-systems to teach about natural ecosystems, nature and sustainability
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5o0fmN-bxI)
4, How strict is your daily routine nowadays?
I have a really loose daily routine
nowadays. My body absolutely found back to its natural rhythm. I wake up early
in the morning (around 7). Then wee discuss with the guys the plan for the day.
Before this I have already fed the chicken and ducks. They are quite happy when
they see me coming with the food in my hand, and we are happy to get the eggs
from them. They have a nice, relaxed life here too: running around in the
garden, jumping from bush to bush...
After feeding the chicken I water the
garden which takes 1,5-2 hours. After the breakfast everyone does his own
thing, I start to prepare lunch and/or we decorate the festival location, build
new stages, clean up the road etc.
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| Evi at Döröske-Photo Copyright Juli Sábli |
At my previous place at Juli we woke up
early and worked from 6:30 or 7 until 9-10-11 depending on how strong the sun
was shining. We were gardening, pulling weeds in the garden, watering,
preparing some food. We usually spent our free time together, did something
creative, went swimming, biking, sang at the bonfire, went to buy some milk,
checked out the wine yards of the local people and so on. The village life is
not boring at all, there is always something to do! For the bad weather it is
good to have some indoor hobbies to hit the time though.
5, What are the new things you learned so far?
I remembered some old forgotten basics
like what to feed the chickens with, or that you should not water the plants
when there is too much sun, because they get burnt. I learned about composting,
some things about perennial gardening, mulching, the local herbs and mushrooms,
preservation, and other kitchen ticks.
I tried to pick farms which are
themselves at the beginners stage and are still experimenting themselves about
how to grow the vegetables and care about the „easy to care about”-sort of
animals. Later I would like to learn about
livestock, horses, bees, cheese-making and this sort of more complicated
processes.
6, What is your next destination?
I will make a short break in
volunteering now, because an other adventure is calling me. I will travel to
Spain to finish the El Camino, because I had to leave it unfinished the last
time because of a surgery. I would like to get on the Primitive Route to
Santiago de Compostela, and from there to Finistere to the so called „end of
the world“ where the ocean starts. After this I will come back to Slovenia,
because my former hosts and their girlfriends are organizing an exciting event.
It is called Nature Event, because it is an event for nature-lovers with art
(land art), yoga, sewing, improvisational theater and other interesting
workshops. There will be also bonfires and nice music, so I really want to join
it. After that I might go to Italy, but lets see how it works out at the end.
7, Based on your experience so far do you recommend for your readers to start a journey like yours with a pet?
Absolutely! So far wherever we went they
wanted to keep Perec my dog (I am jealous that they did not even think about
keeping me...:)). Of course I am not going to leave him there, but I think my
life at the moment is just perfect for him. At first it is not so easy for a
city dog to get used to this freedom, but he got used to this new way of
living. He is guarding the houses, getting used to the new people around, is
playing with everyone, there is always someone around him. It is easy to travel
with him and there was only one farm where he was rejected from, because there
was already 3 dogs at the farm. The most common questions what they ask are: Is
he chasing chicken? Where is he sleeping? How much is he eating? Usually
easygoing folks like animals, so I had positive experiences so far.
8, What are the conclusions of your trip so far?
If you are thinking about any change, or
adventure and these thoughts keep on going on in your brain and hearth, you
should listen to the crazy voices and follow them! Simple solutions are the
best ones, this is what I have learned lately. People are capable for
everything they want: you can learn in two days to play the flute, travel many
hundreds of kilometers. It is not always money or the solutions what we would
reach for naturally which really work. You should learn to lower your
expectations and not see yourself as the most important person in the world.
You should go to the nature, exercise, get to know new people, eat well and
live happy!
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| Eva relaxed and beautiful at Döröske-Copyright Juli Sábli |
9, Was there any feeling/something what
you became aware of missing because of starting this adventure now?
I start to discover it slowly what I
really long for. I would like to produce many kind of vegetables and fruits for
myself, my family and give the surplus to the neighbors and to my friends. Keep
animals for the milk and their meat, use herbs and make natural cosmetics. Use
my creativity through building something, making my environment nicer, making
music, dancing, discovering the nature, getting to know the surroundings where
I live, discover the nice places and the people living there.
I would like to unite my new dreams with my previous
life. I will let this thought, or feeling grow in me until it becomes a whole
concept.
Deliberation, instinctive actions, constant change,
connection to myself and the people around, to the essence of the living and
non-living beings around me. Real, true attention towards everything. Being
fierce to create, desire, knowledge, open-mindedness.
It is nice that I came to a point that I can already give
name to all these things!
(If you missed the first interview and my review on it
check it out at :
in Hungarian
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