Goričko is beautiful and loved by its inhabitants. It has great potential for further improvement but is so forgotten from the rest of Slovenia. It is the poorest region in the country, so we would like to make Goričko democratically more equal to the rest of the country. We can do this by using land and resources in an environmentally friendly way involving both younger and older local people to join us in various planned activities, including migrants, the whole population working as one.

Goričko, North East Slovenia

Goričko is a region in North East Slovenia and is divided into 11 small municipalities. It is well known for its former farming land with rich volcanic soil, lush forests and fresh water springs but sadly has been neglected by the government, due to changes in food industry with importation from abroad. Goričko has a widely spread population with difficult access to public and commercial amenities. People, especially older people, are heavily dependent on the help from friends and families, especially with regards to transport. Goričko is the poorest region in Slovenia, with one in five people reliant on social care and in poverty . Due to lack of work, many locals are disillusioned with life and spend much of their time in local bars insted of being productive and living a fruitful life

For young locals, migrants and children to teach them how to live with the land and find their active role in the community, especially unemployed people, giving awareness of their duties and rights to become a useful member of the community.For elderly people so they can get help with their day to day life, being away from comercial amnemities.For the middle aged people, we want to help them to use the resources of the land and raise the economy, thus providing financial stability and improving their quality of life with less travel and less pollution.To give immigrants respect and ability to contribute to the natural heritage.For the officials, to recognize the potencial of our region.For intelectuals to come to use their technologies for a sustainable and environmental friendly economy.

At our infrastructures and local halls, we will hold lectures, presentations, round tables and workshops to make people aware of stated local issues and to demonstrate how people can participate. We will establish a dialog with officials to support us in our endeavors with hands-on workshops that will empower people to grow their own food. We will teach how to make a garden with the principles of permaculture and discover many of the solutions we face in the world today that lie in our relationship with Mother Nature and the economy. Our facilities are intended as a sustainable farming community with simple charming yurt huts and, a few treehouses for guests, a cabin stay, or in tents. We will host mind/body/spirit workshops and for children, camps and music celebrations

A year ago targeted people learned about good practices that include permacultural planting, climate change lectures, understanding the Earth and its geology, natural planting without chemicals and implementing this knowledge into their lives. They became aware of civic rights and duties and democratic equality issues, intergenerational connecting, volunteering, inclusion of immigrants, children and elderly to create a connected society which shows respect for Earth and for each other to improve the quality of living and deal with local poverty by using its local resources.
Only with knowledge and experience can we make sustainable development and quality of living a reality.

By highlighting issues concerning Goričko to its local inhabitants and migrants, the people can better decide for themselves what they can contribute to improve their lives and the lives of others. Consequently they can make better decisions of who to vote for in elections and what changes to demand as part of a democratic society, thus pressing on municipal officers to come forward to help create a better equality in the region. By collaborating in our planned activities, such as round tables, local forums, lectures, workshops and volunteering, people can become active participants in society and help to address global economic and environmental issues with increasing confidence, creating a butterfly effect spreading outwards to the whole community and beyond

We have the responsibility due to environmental, health and societal issues to be a positive change in the world and with starting locally and thinking of the global impact, it is naturally important to us to honour all organic matter, our bio-resources and return it to the land. This is our profit, not financial, but nutritional. All wellbeing starts with healthy soil. To honour all the gifts that Mother Nature offers to us. Honoring them means consuming them. Building community through collaboration, celebration and education on the diverse values of local food and using resources of the land. The Ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. It is a natural way of life.

Project work - 22 000,00 eur (management, coordination, event organization, event promotion, accounting, documentation)
Material costs - 5000, 00 eur (material for practical workshops, hot meals for participants of all-day workshops, printing, brochure, exhibition)
Work of professional associates - 14 000 (conducting lectures, workshops, field research work, seedling cultivation, seeding, preparation of materials)
Accompanying program at major public events -1200, 00
Documentation1000,00

We would like to receive constructive feedback about our strengths, weaknesses, missed opportunities and overall opinions and if we can collaborate on a project in any way.