They came for two days and stayed for five; the kind of extension we don't just welcome, but celebrate!
Last week, a fellow permaculture family visited our homestead in the heart of Croatia. What started as a short stopover turned into a beautiful five-day cultural and creative exchange. We shared not only food and space, but values, questions, stories, and laughter.
Aleksandra and I knew eachother only from online meetings, doing our Permaculture Diploma in the same period. Now we also connected well In Real Life.
We dove deep into our shared passion for healthy, natural living. Together, we co-designed personal self-care routines using local herbs, simple tools, and a rhythm that respects both body and land. The morning after our design session we got up extra early to swim in the river!
It was a refreshing reminder that wellness doesn’t need to be complicated; just intentional.
Meanwhile, Boris connected beautifully with our daughter, helping her prepare for a school project about hand drawn comic creation. With patience and playfulness, he brought structure to her imagination. A true act of community parenting.
In the kitchen, things really got melting... cultures, that is. With ingredients and stories from Russia, Latvia, Denmark, the Netherlands and Croatia, our meals became edible mosaics. There were pickles, kefir and borsht, forest teas and fusion stews, and always the sound of children’s laughter in the background.
Speaking of the kids: not a screen in sight. Just real games and wild ideas.
It was one of those visits that gently shakes your rhythm in all the right ways. We saw ourselves through new eyes, re-appreciated our land and routines, and remembered why we do what we do: to live in a way that welcomes connection, nurtures creativity, and keeps the kettle on for unexpected joy.
Come for two days, stay for five… or longer. Camping in nature and we're growing a village! The garden and our hearts are open.
- Barbara Scheltus