City Farm In Yambol Now On

We are lucky we live in the City of Yambol and have a village retreat, but anyone who has a home here knows that growing crops is a full time job from April onwards in Bulgaria. It is a sense of frustration that I can't be on the farm everyday tended to the crops, this was one of the biggest reasons for me coming to Bulgaria. Galia knows this and some wheels of motion were workng to get around this problem behind my back.

City Farm In Yambol Now OnIt was an excited Galia in her sick bed today who finds it very hard to keep secrets and couldn't wait to tell me this one. The good life got better in the space of 10 seconds of the news being told. I tease you no longer as the news is we now we have the option of farming and growing crops in Yambol and not just on the village farm. Let me explain.

Although off sick from work at the moment Galia works as a floor manager in a boiler manufacturing company which happens to be owned by her elder brother. The factory is situated in an industrial part of the Yambol and has grounds alongside the big new factory of which part is set aside for farming. This is managed by some of the workers who get food as a reward for maintaining the farm.

Let me just put more detail of the situation as it stood up unitl today. All our farming is done in the Skalitsa village farmhouse some 35 kilometres away from Yambol and all through last year to now it had just been weekend farming. This was very difficult, near impossible to keep up with the extreme heat in the summer. Watering needs to be done at least every two days and in really hot weather every day, this wasn't possible last year. We managed to get some crops out of it, but it was a poor year with the system of weekends only. The retreat to relax after a hard week of work was seeing us work 100 mile an hour to catch up with the work that should be done each day, we ended up more tired on Monday morning than if we hasdnt' had the weekend retreat. Added to this the cost of fuel to and from the farmhouse just didn't make it an economic venture.

City Farm In Yambol Now OnThis year I had intended to stay there four days a week, but that would be on my own, Galia would have to pay taxi fares to work and back and still there would be a 70 kilometre round trip that had to be made once a week. Besides that there was the fact I wouldn't see much of Galia.

So with this news, the answer to growing crops without expensive overheads and logistic problems seemed to be answered. What we would like is to start our livestock up again? I am at the factory every morning and evening dropping off and picking up Galia from work, so a little extra time there tending before my work starts would be totally practical. On paper it would work very well.

So, you can now see why I am excited, but at the same time apprehensive about leaving the farmhouse and letting it go to seed if this was taken up. I can see us being in Yambol full time if this does take place, not what I want, but work here in Yambol forces the issue. We just can't financially afford the fuel each week and not get crops to supplement our low income. Everyone is happy for us to be in Yambol and can't understand why I have such a great love for village life that has nothing to offer other than isolation. Every Bulgarian around me says it's not practical - They are dead right, it isn't practical seeing as there is now the opportunity to farm in the City. I count myself extremely lucky to be with such a kind and caring community and my yearning for village life I feel is a very small sacrifice to pay for this.

There is another bonus, perhaps now we have the chance to relax at weekends during the warmer weather rather than rushing around trying to play catch-up on the farm. This would also end the weekly disappointment and frustration that happened last year where we regularly found our neglected crops failing because they have been left for 5 days without water.

Right now there are just onion, garlic and the vines that are growing there, these don't need regular watering so they will be okay and the rest of the more senstive crop now are planned for the City farm. How lucky are we?

The bottom line is we can't afford to be sentimental here and reminded me of what someone mentioned to me the other day about living in Bulgaria, "Life in Bulgaria is not about living it's about surviving." This is very true and this is what we have to do to achieve that right now.

17 comments:

  1. We cannot wait too to be in our farm in the Philippines.

    See this post to know about it a bit --> http://www.mommawannabe.com/2008/11/mommawannabes-last-post/

    It's so wonderful to be in such an environment - it's really going back to basics but we love it.

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  2. Hello Jade,

    I hv enjoyed reading ur articles abt life in my hometown (SG):-)

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  3. Hi Martin,

    I dont hv much luck growing veggies from seeds. According to some wise neighbours, the soil here is ony conducive for flower bulbs - that we hv by the loads :-)

    I'm curious how u would store up ur surplus garlic n onions ? Those that I bought from the supermart tends to spoil after 2-3 weeks. They come in big packagings n consumers end up throwing away what they couldnt consumed in time - abt 700kg per household each year according to statistics *u r shaking ur head I'm sure !*

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  4. @ Dutchie - Thanks! Nice to hear that.

    About your problem with garlic and onion - I have the same problem. It's a pity you cannot buy in supermarkets only what you need.

    I am curious to know also if Martin's tip for this.

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  5. Hi Dutchie and Jade:

    I have no problm with storing both onions and garlic here. the onions we put in netted bags and the garlic we plat, both are stored hung and laid on a tale respectively in a dark outbuilding room from Oct/Nov onwards. They keep very well right up until April when the weather warms up and they are ready to plant out again - That is after we have been feeding on them throughout the time in storage.
    This is the beauty of having a cold season here amd the cold is the secret to storage. Whack you garlic and onions in the fridge vegetable rack and they'll keep much longer unless they are sprouting already.
    The other way is to buy in bulk,peel and cut them up then freeze them. We don't bother with that here though. In fact the only thing they freeze here is the home is meat.
    I may start a full year of growing produce in Bulgaria as it happens on this blog. It will start from 1st April, which is the official start of the growing season here.
    Again thanks for your comments

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  6. Martin, great news that you will be gardening in town now , that should keep you plenty busy. Just hope that with everything coming together in town, that the ole farm place don't get forgotten and visits get to far apart , you know nothing like a little country air to clear the head and give the body a rest from time to time . and don't get to busy you may need to head over to the healing rocks again . by the way great post and BA BA sounds just like I can remember my grandmother, also glad Galia is doing good too, laughter and the good news about the garden spot probably helped her spirts perk up a little too . Malcolm

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  7. Great news on the garden front and more time at the weekend to enjoy Galia's company. I know you are disappointed about missing out on village life but couldn't you rent out the farmhouse for a little extra income. More income and safe in the knowledge that the place won't go to pot.

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  8. You have lots of land and the ability to live off it. Sound pretty good to me.


    peace,
    mike
    livelife365

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  9. Mal and Cie: Yer I can't believe how lucky we are - Galia a little better the last few days - Cheers!

    Martyn: Our farmhouse has been up for rent for over a year now and we've taken a few guests on, but people prefer coastal resorts and Skiing here in the main. The money does help though. I even got a website dedicated to the farm. http://skalitsafarmhouse.weebly.com/ A little ad going out here I'm afraid.

    Mike: Yes, pretty and good = pretty good!

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  10. Martin - Good luck with your farming in town. I'm glad to hear that you will be able to spend time with Galia AND get by at the same time. I wish Metodi and I had a place to grow some goodies this spring. I was thinking of getting some big pots for the deck in the back... Too bad I have way too much school debt to pay off or I'd attempt a farm living in Bulgaria. I know it would be spiritually rewarding and a happy healthy life. ;)

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  11. I think farming would be fun. I'm about to start a garden at my school, but I don't think we'll be able to sustain any students on it.

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  12. One part of me is thankful I do not have to toil the earth, so to speak... yet another part of me longs to break free of the maya (Illusion) of life as the Western/American world sees it and lives it... I don't envy the labour, but I do envy the literal groundedness you experience by working with the earth.

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  13. Didnt know that you enjoy farming, gardening MArtin!
    Received your mail but problems with email account, now solved, soon answer
    Kindest
    hans

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  14. Martin sounds like "the good life" I am an avid gardener and in the UK enjoyed growing a range of crops. Home grown is the best.

    I like the concept of setting land aside at the factory-quite green.

    I must admit I would be reluctant to give up the country retreat-village boy at heart!

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  15. The secret is to work daily, but slowly.

    Energy jogging daily is about to be converted into energy plouged into working the land.

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  16. Hi Martin,
    Sounds like you will have the best set-up with having the farm there in Yambol! Congrats and good luck with your farming! :0)

    How is Galia coming along? Please give her my best wishes as she recovers!

    Have a great day!
    Sher :0)

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  17. Hi Sher:
    Good to see you're back safely, hope your trip was good and not stressful.

    Yer, can't wait to get started on the farm, I've got all my tools from the village waiting for a dry spell and 20 kg of seed potatoes in the boot of the Lada for starters.
    Galia is due for her first walk outside tomorrow. She is slowly picking up now. Thanks for your thoughts Sher.

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