Author: Antonia

I'm taking this year before university to try things out. Still searching and on my way to learning more and more about myself and the world around me. Sending out lots of love!

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Anna’s European Adventure: Learning, Connecting, and Growing

Post author By Antonia
Post date July 1, 2024
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Anna’s European Adventure: Learning, Connecting, and Growing

Anna's transformative European journey through permaculture projects—from Italy to Sweden—stories about profound connections, surprising insights, and captivating stories of sustainability in action.

Since March, Anna has been traveling through Europe, immersing herself in permaculture and ecological projects across Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Germany, Sweden and Denmark. In recent weeks, her journey has been filled with learning experiences, idea exchanges with other NGOs, and heart warming reunions with former Boodaville volunteers. She has finally returned to Barcelona, and we welcomed her back with open arms. Here are some highlights from her enriching travels.

In Greece, Anna explored the Sporos Regeneration project with ex-volunteer Maria, meeting Konstantinos and setting up a new vermi-compost system. Maria also hosted Anna in Lesbos, where she showcased her research on bees at Mytilene Castle as part of the Life 4 Pollinators project. Anna visited Parea in Lesbos, a collection of NGOs working above the refugee camp to create a community space offering services like laundry, language classes, workshops, and a permaculture garden run by Sporos.

In Bucharest, Anna visited the Green Mogo Centrul, hosted by Felicia and her family. The Greenitiative NGO runs educational courses and boasts a self-built house and a green-roofed classroom. Felicia’s dedication as an activist and educator left a lasting impression

The youth exchange in Romania was a wonderful opportunity to meet the @asociatiaAIDE family – Adelina, Andrea, Gabriel, and Cezar. Andrea shared stories about her bees and Anna felt a deep connection with the community.

Her exploration in Denmark included spending a day at Kalø Økologisk Landbrugsskole, reconnecting with Alessandro Puravida and his teacher Guillermo Padró, who promotes regenerative practices. The visit to the Friland ecovilage was also great.

Continuing her journey in Sweden, Anna forged incredible connections. Hosted by Claudia French and her neighbour Marie-Louise, she visited the Charlottendals community, exploring their forest garden and and seeing global collaboration, including the European Ecovillage Gathering in Järna scheduled for August 2024.

Anna’s adventure has been a source of inspiration, fostering a vibrant network of ecological enthusiasts and permaculture practitioners across Europe. Now back in Barcelona, she has a wealth of stories and experiences to share. Her journey continues to inspire us all, and we are eager to implement the insights and connections she has brought back.

Stay tuned to the Boodaville Instagram for more updates and stories from Anna’s travel!

Antonia

I'm taking this year before university to try things out. Still searching and on my way to learning more and more about myself and the world around me. Sending out lots of love!

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Update and visits in Boodaville

Post author By Antonia
Post date June 4, 2024
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Update and visits in Boodaville

A friend of Jessica was visting and our volunteer Pauline also dropped by

A FRIEND’S VISIT TO BOODAVILLE

Impressions of Roosmarijn, a friend of Jessica from the Netherlands stayed in Boodaville for a few days and wants to shainstare with you her impressions: ☀️

“Back to basic
That’s what I expected when coming to boodaville, and that’s exactly what happened.
What I didn’t realise was, that the basic is the nature around you.🌿
In the time I stayed there was a big drought, so that was the main theme. Managing the forest around the house, to prepare for a potential forest fire.🔥
And using the wood we cut to prepare the land for potential rains. Stacking functions (if you don’t know what that means, ask Jessica).
There also was some rain during my stay. Even though it felt like a lot of rain to me, the water was still viewed as a scarce product. And therefore the caught rainwater was carefully managed. 💧

You didn’t know what you were going to do on a day, till the day started. Is it raining? Manage the water. Is it to warm? Do chores in and around the house (or go for a swim). Is it cloudy/not to warm? Good day for the big physical chores. 💪

So, back to basic is actually; back to the elements. 🌀
And I loved it!”

PAULINE ON A HIKE

Our volunteer Pauline went to Boodaville and used the perfect weather to go to hiking in the beautiful mountains of Caseres ! ⛰️
She also helped Jessica to clean the water tanks. A tedious task, but one that is necessary to collect water during the days of drought .💧
The two of them bravely climbed the wild trees and enjoyed lots of mulberries and cherries 🍒
And because the climate is very mild right now, they could sleep outside sheltered in the little cave, stargazing.⛺️💫

Antonia

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Social Media Report II

Here is a brief overview of what we have published on the Boodaville Instagram channel since March 2024

27/02

We published a short clip of the video of the youth exchange “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” in Sanilles 2023. (The long version can be found on YouTube)

Click here for the post.

04/03

We visited the Boodaville farm and Jessica was there to explain everything there is to know about this wonderful place. Lots of things were growing, from broccoli, tulips, buds to almond trees.

Click here for the post.

11/03

This post covered the big job of pruning the 2 hectares of vineyards Jessica was working with Benita, who’s family own the vineyard, Carles a local (ish) farmer and Angela.

Click here for the post.

12/03

That was the first time we shared about the youth exchange opportunity “Eco Changemakers” in Romania:

Click here for the post.

15/03

On this day, Frida published a wonderful personal diary, sharing her reflection on her identity as a woman in a society like ours, from a permaculture perspective.

Click here for the post.

18/03

This post was about the developments in Boodaville as spring approaches: the pruned field, living plants on the terraces and refreshing rain.

Click here for the post.

26/03

This was a short reel about our new Chickens in Boodaville and their life and tasks in the food forest: to enjoy the alfalfa and regenerate the soil microbiology !

Click here for the post.

29/03

Frida made a reel about the volunteer’s weekend in Boodaville land, stating hapily:
“It’s so nice to be able to enjoy nature as it gradually changes with the rhythm of spring in such a beautiful place as Boodaville. I’m very grateful for this weekend of fresh air, harmony and a lot of love for life”

Click here for the post.

01/04

This was another post about the pruning of 3 terraces. This time it seemed to be much harder than the previous pruning because, as these vineyards has been abandoned for two years, fennel has overgrown them.

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02/04

This post was short travel report from Anna on her trip through Europe with her children, howing how our ex-volunteer Maria showed them around the amazing Sporos Regeration permaculture project and how happy they were to meet Konstantinos!

Click here for the post.

05/04

Trevor came to visit Boodaville in spring and wrote a very nice Boodareview: “An amazing place to connect with nature and people

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08/04

This was an update on the chickens, explaining why we move the chicken house every day. This way, the chicken tractor (this is what you can call a movable chicken coop) improves soil, provides fun for the chickens and a clean and abundant house every day.

Click here for the post.

15/04

Message and impressions from Jessica who’s caring Boodaville now :
“The beauty of being alone in Boodaville is the closer connection to nature it gives”…

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16/04

In this post we shared the coclusion of the volunteering evaluation: being halfway through their volunteering experience, our volunteers could’t believe how time is just flying by. They collected what they thought went well, what can be improved, and their ideas and wishes for the rest of their time here.

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19/04

This reel was created by Antonia to show how she is sometimes trying to start the day with some yoga, hoping to make it a habbit.

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29/04

Permatrip follow it’s course:
Anna visited the inspiring Green Mogo Centrul in Bucharest, where Felicia and her family hosts educational courses and runs the amazing Greenitiative NGO.

Click here for the post.

And our two volunteers returned from their wonderful training experience in Coma-Ruga, where, during the that time, they had met up with other volunteers from all over Catalonia, sharing their experience.

Click here for the post.

01/05

This was a shared post with our ex volunteer Oumy in which she talks about her ESC_volunteer service and describes how familiar and strange it is at the same time to be in your own country but in a different region.

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03/05

Frida published a “Rainy Diary”, philosophizing about how nature is well done and after a great drought and just when we had reached the point of no return, she gives us rain.

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05/05

This was a shared post with our ex volunteer Oumy on the occasion of Permaculture Day and a poem itself:

“Boodaville is where I arrived.
Boodaville is the home where I shared.
‘Boodaville is us’ as we liked to say.”

Click here for the post.

06/05

An update from our Erasmus exchange program in Romania: Anna led the participants through an eye-opening session on permaculture, sparking fascinating discussions on sustainable living and ecological harmony. Double dose of creativity and sustainability!

Click here for the post.

Also, on this post you can learn something about the advantes of mulching:

1) Limited disturbance
2) Armour
3) Diversity
4) Living roots
5) Integrated animals

Click here for the post.

07/05

Here we shared how the youth exchange in Romania was a wonderful opportunity to meet the @asociatia_aide family – Adelina, Andrea, Gabriel and Cezar.

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09/05

Short summary of the youth exchange in Romania that Anna Gurney from Boodaville and AIDE team ran 30 young people!

The young volunteers, aged between 17 and 30 came from Spain, Romania, Armenia, Bulgaria and Greece and stayed in the town of Ocnele Mari for 1 week to take part in various activities including cleaning the area of rubbish, visiting local eco-friendly businesses and learning and reflecting about Fast Fashion.

Click here for the post.

Also on this day we had a shared post with our ex volunteer Oumy, reflecting on observation and interaction and how this leads to self regulation and accepting feedback.

Click here for the post.

13/05

Open call and flyer: Participate in a Youth Exchange “Reconnecting with nature“, Pyrenees, Spain. (29.06.2024–08.07.2024)

Click here for the post.

14/05

These were news from the documentary of ecologistas_rioalgars:
Tuesday, May 7th, a sunny day…we ventured out to explore the country roads and came across an elderly shepherd tending his sheep in the beautiful countryside. We were impressed by his joy and passion for his work, so we decided to strike up a conversation with him. With a friendly smile, he allowed us to film some scenes.

Click here for the post.

22/05

This is a reel from our ex- volunteer. She showed the connection between kombucha and sustainability in a beautiful video in which she “feeds” the SCOBY

Click here for the post.

27/05

Update from Anna’s travels: she is currently in Denmark: @djursdoula showed her the amazing Friland ecovillage.

Click here for the post.

For the very latest information, follow our Instagram channel where we will keep you up to date!

Antonia

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Kombucha meets Permaculture: A Synergy

Post author By Antonia
Post date May 19, 2024
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Kombucha meets Permaculture: A Synergy

What you may have always wanted to know about Kombuch: Its connection to permaculture, health benefits and recipe ideas

Kombucha, a fermented tea, and permaculture, a sustainable agricultural system, may seem unrelated at first glance. However, both share a deep connection through their emphasis on natural processes, sustainability, and holistic health.

Permaculture, a term coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s, is a design philosophy that aims to create sustainable and self-sufficient agricultural systems by mimicking natural ecosystems. Key principles include working with nature, recycling waste, and fostering biodiversity. Kombucha brewing aligns with these principles in several ways:

Natural Processes: Kombucha relies on natural fermentation processes, using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) to transform sweetened tea into a probiotic-rich beverage. This mirrors permaculture’s emphasis on harnessing natural cycles and processes and utilizing them to create sustainable environments.
Waste Minimization: The process of brewing it produces minimal waste. Tea leaves and sugar, the primary ingredients, are biodegradable, and the SCOBY can be reused multiple times, aligning with permaculture’s zero-waste goal that can be achieved by creating closed-loop systems
Health and Wellness: Both Kombucha and permaculture promote holistic health. Permaculture supports the cultivation of nutrient-rich foods, while Kombucha offers a probiotic beverage that supports gut health and overall well-being.
Observation and Interaction: Permaculture emphasizes observing and interacting with natural systems to learn and adapt. Similarly, brewing Kombucha requires careful observation of the fermentation process, which encourages a hands-on, adaptive approach to ensure optimal conditions for SCOBY health.

Kombucha offers numerous health benefits. It is rich in probiotics, which support gut health and enhance the immune system. The drink contains antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation, while the acids produced during fermentation aid in detoxification and liver function. Additionally, the caffeine and B vitamins in Kombucha provide a natural energy boost, and its glucosamines support joint health, potentially helping to prevent arthritis.

You can check out other articles on the blog for more information on Kombucha.

And in the picture gallery below you will find a recipe to make yourself. Have fun trying it out!

Antonia

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Youth Exchange Eco Changemaker

Post author By Antonia
Post date May 7, 2024
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Youth Exchange Eco Changemaker

Summary of the Youth Exchange Eco Changemakers at Ocnele Mari, Vâlcea County, Romania

Last week, Boodaville and Asociatia AIDE team ran a youth exchange for 30 young people!

The young volunteers, aged between 17 and 30 came from Spain, Romania, Armenia, Bulgaria and Greece and stayed in the town of Ocnele Mari for 1 week to take part in various activities including cleaning the area of rubbish, visiting local eco-friendly businesses and learning and reflecting about fast Fashion. The topic was worked on in groups, including in the form of a recycling workshop.

There was also a workshops led by Anna centred around the topic of permaculture and the group was visiting AIDE and their project with young children from the village. Looking back, one highlight was definitely the Intercultural Night where everyone was presenting their traditional food, music and dances. An incredible way to connect cultures from all over Europe!

The whole event took place in splendid surroundings – green, lively old-growth forests and little hills – where everyone had a great time!

The exchange was also a wonderful opportunity on personal level because Anna met the Adelina, Andrea, Gabriel and Cezar. She heard about Andrea’s bees, Adelina’s successes with exchanges, and Gabriel helped a lot to get the car to a local mechanic. It really felt like a chance to share, connect and to hear stories about many aspects of life in Romania.

Thank you to all of you and we hope to see you in Spain and share many more projects together!

Antonia

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Mulching

Post author By Antonia
Post date May 6, 2024
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Mulching

Why we use mulching and some impressions of Boodaville

We use branches to provide protection from wind and sun, creating partial shade without suffocating the plants beneath. This process is known as mulching. Especially in drought situations, the results are spectacular.

As you can see in the pictures above, we have mulched the area with branches. It is the same terrace, the same species, but the difference is that one is with the protection of branches and the other without. The results are quite clear. You can notice that on the left side of the picture, the grass is green and lush. On the right side, it’s the same type of grass, but it’s thin and yellow. This was the unprotected side

Here is a brief summary of the most important advantages:

1) Limited disturbance
2) Armour
3) Diversity
4) Living roots
5) Integrated animals

By using whatever resources we have, used wisely we can make a difference!

And we didn’t want to deprive you of these beautiful shots, sunrise in Boodaville at Sant Pol fiestas and a rare rainy day. 1 mm doesn’t seem a lot but in these days of drought, it makes a huge difference to the plants. And it smells amazing.

Have a green and happy week!

Antonia

I'm taking this year before university to try things out. Still searching and on my way to learning more and more about myself and the world around me. Sending out lots of love!

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The beauty of Boodaville

Jessica's thoughts and tales from Boodaville: including a fig tree, sunflower seeds and unepexted encounters with the wildife.

“I’ve been cleaning around the flexible water tank 💧. This is the only place in Boodaville where we want bare soil, as plants may damage the water tank.
Now you can walk around the tank and lots of organic material that was collected (including some great humus!) is now moved to areas in Boodaville that could use a little boost.🌱 Even the chickens help by spreading it nice and evenly.

I dug out the fig tree! Take my word that is was well hidden in prickly bushes. May it grow big and strong! I encountered a wasp sting in the proces and had several near misses. Lots of life there!” 🌴

🌺”The beauty of being alone in Boodaville is the closer connection to nature it gives… less disturbance of the wildlife. And not having a cat (nor rats and mice in abundance, which makes a very nice change!) gives space for other creatures. I’ve seen several snakes already and lots of lizards. Even colourful ones! 🐍🦎

Today I saw an otter 🦦 hunting in the river, obviously unaware of my presence and anyone who has ever seen a turtle🐢 float, with its head above the water and legs just hanging there, knows what an amazing sight it is.

I’m glad I finished pruning the vineyard ✂️, that was a big job. The chickens 🐓 are slowly tractoring their way through Boodaville and I’m catching up with some long overdue jobs as well as a lot of tidying up. It’s important as well as pleasant when the place looks nice and inviting!

The drought 🏜 is a worry, but at the moment also an observation opportunity. As we have different experiments running on different terraces, right now it’s very obvious which plants are doing the best.

The regular job I’ve worked last winter gave me a nice present; sunflower seeds. 🌻 It’s a nice way to keep in touch with beloved colleagues, sending weekly updates on how fast these beautiful plants are growing.
I’ve planted them in the wickingbeds, along with peas 🫛 and pumpkins 🎃. Later in the season when the peas are gone they can support the tomatoes.🍅

Stacking functions everywhere I go!”

Antonia

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Chickens in Boodaville

From the life of our chickens and Jessica’s pruning efforts: Stories and updates about what is currently happening in Boodaville.

The chickens are doing great and are very happy. 🐔🤩

Their house is moved every day. This chicken tractor (this is what you can call a movable chicken coop) improves soil, provides fun for the chickens and a clean and abundant house every day! 🏡

It takes Jessica 10 minutes a day to go down, move house, give water and food and collect eggs. A small work step that has a big impact. If you look closely at the pictures with the chickens, you can see the before and after in the food forest. Now they have been moved to the wicking bed terrace where they will hopefully feast on insects and grains. 🐓🪱🌿

We are also happy to announce that one mulberry tree is full of fruit! 🌳

And in this overgrown area Jessica is trying to prune the vines on her own.✂️

The bench used to have a view. 🪑 But the plants grew insanely fast and the view was gone. Now Jessica has pruned the vegetation so we’ve got a view again! And by doing this, she discovered a pine tree hidden in all this. What amazing and unsuspected surprises the life has to offer. 🌞

If you enjoyed this article, share it with your friends and family! ☀️

Antonia

I'm taking this year before university to try things out. Still searching and on my way to learning more and more about myself and the world around me. Sending out lots of love!

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Trevor’s visit to Boodaville

Post author By Antonia
Post date April 2, 2024
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Trevor’s visit to Boodaville

Trevor's Boodareview about his stay at the finca and the magic provided by chickens and eggs

What an amazing place to connect with nature and people! 🌞

Living in the city, it was great to have the opportunity to escape and disconnect. Boodaville provided the perfect location. In the secluded valley you rarely see evidence of other humans, other than those you’re staying with.🌳
The whole area is beautiful and provides opportunities to explore, as we did by swimming in the river. I wish I had been there longer to get to know other locations, but will leave that for next time.🏊‍♂️

Jessica was the perfect host, helping me feel at home and educating me on all aspects of the Boodaville life. She has a wealth of knowledge about plants, animals and regenerative agriculture. She is always happy to share and does so in a very engaging manner. 🫶

The highlight for me was meeting the chickens and helping look after them. They rewarded me with some delicious fresh eggs that I took home with me.🐓🥚

Antonia

I'm taking this year before university to try things out. Still searching and on my way to learning more and more about myself and the world around me. Sending out lots of love!

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Madrid impressions

Volunteers diary, Haikus about Madrid

Frida and I have been to Madrid the past few days and have spent an energetic and intensive time in the capital of Spain. Going somewhere else is always fascinating because you change your point of view, observe from a distance, and sometimes realize how much you already have at home. I want to share some of my thoughts in the form of Haiku, a Japanese short form of poetry, and I hope you like them.

Read them aloud and follow the words. 🌊

Neon streets ignite,

Amidst Spanish feasts and art,

Madrid breathes alive.

New bonds, French whispers,

Exploring diverse corners,

Cultures intertwine.

World converges here,

New chance with every sunrise,

Urban maze unfolds.

In city’s embrace,

Dreams dance with each footstep’s trace,

Future’s whispered grace.

Antonia

I'm taking this year before university to try things out. Still searching and on my way to learning more and more about myself and the world around me. Sending out lots of love!

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