January – early sowing of seeds
In 2023, we started sowing early, already at the end of January, to give enough time for turnips and artichokes to develop. The latter was introduced as an experiment, but the demand for it was unexpectedly high, so we need to sow more this year (but more about that from the market later 😉 Apart from artichokes, we also experimented with okra and bottle gourd. The artichoke is showing promise, gifting us with a few flowers in the first year; we eagerly await to see if it successfully winters under the thick cover. Okra had a moderate success, requiring careful attention. The bottle gourd thrived exceptionally well, taking over half the kitchen garden from two nests and generously yielding its harvest.
walnut leaf deep mulch
Due to the lack of winter precipitation and late frosts, the garden had a somewhat slow start. The banana survived the winter and is growing beautifully alongside the woody perennials. The experimental walnut leaf deep mulch effectively retained water, resulting in a bountiful harvest of enormous zucchinis from that bed. Unfortunately, the potatoes didn’t thrive as well, and we are unsure whether it was due to the walnut. This year, we’ll experiment with maple leaves instead.
Water system and soil improvement, other works
Fortunately, this year wasn’t as dry as the previous one, and with the help of the previously cleaned rear cistern, we managed to achieve water self-sufficiency. In December, we further improved the water system by redirecting and extending the rainwater from the office building’s roof through the gutter system to the forest garden. In the forest garden, during winter, we leave the IBC tank open to prevent it from freezing, allowing the water to seep into the soil. The soil, enriched with organic matter, has the capacity to retain and store a significant amount of water. Therefore, we continue with soil improvement and building efforts, including mulching in the forest garden.
During the summer, new colleagues joined the garden. Thanks to Feri, we have new support structures, Kornél monitors aphids continuously, and Anikó is working on a secret project that we will soon unveil. 😀 Betti and Feri successfully completed the Permaculture Design Course; heartfelt congratulations to them! Additionally, we found ourselves in the rare and wonderful situation of having three people with PDC working in the same garden at the same time, which was an amazing experience!
Floral garden around the office building
Meanwhile, the flower expert, Marika, has been busy creating a beautiful flower garden next to the office building, where we can admire the blossoms from early spring until the first frost.
Siedling fairs and the open days at the permaculture garden attracted many visitors
Thanks to the overwhelming interest, we were able to organize two spring and one fall seedling fairs this year, and all three grew into two-day events. Despite the cold, windy, and rainy spring weather, so many seedlings were sold that we had to rescue some to ensure there were enough for the garden. 😀 The unwavering interest of the guests and the sight of visitors persistently strolling through the garden in colorful raincoats were uplifting.
Vegan, gastro experiences
During the open days, the gastronomic workshops (salad making, fermenting) and permaculture lectures were highly successful. We also started amplifying the garden tours so that Ági’s words could reach as far as possible.
In spring, guests could taste the delights of Chef & Gardener, and in the fall, chefs Kardos Bálint and Zsolnay Gergely took turns creating vibrant bowls on the table.
In addition, we prepared various surprises. Visitors not only got a taste of Grapoila products but also saw examples of processing garden produce, including dried sage, wild mushrooms, various special chili sauces, candied rhubarb, and herb-coated seed snacks. The fall program was enriched with a seed exchange tent and a children’s corner.
A short film was made about the early spring open day, which you can watch here: link
Organic gardening, the basics of permaculture for adults, children
Apart from the fairs, an increasing number of visitors came to us. Besides adults interested in organic gardening and camping students, agricultural students were also curious about the work happening at our place. Shaping the mindset of the youth is close to our hearts, so it was a great joy for us to hold workshops for several groups of children, from elementary school to teenagers. During these sessions, we introduce the basics of permaculture thinking through experiential, playful, and practical tasks. We always ensure a connection to nature by assigning tasks where children can observe the environment alone at specific points in the garden. Many enjoyed this task so much that they were reluctant to stop. We hope this experience will be influential in shaping the children’s relationship with nature.
It’s a special pleasure for us that through our collaboration with the Hungarian Permaculture Association (MAPER) Magyar Permakultúra Egyesület – A permakultúra magyarországi ernyőszervezete (permakultura.hu), excellent professional speakers joined us and enhanced the quality of our events. We are very proud to have received the Liget certification from MAPER.
We are eagerly looking forward to the next year. In May, our small garden will host a weekend Permaculture Design Course.
Thank you for the attention and participatio throughout the year. Join us again this year! And don’t forget to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages!
Ágnes Radnóczi
Permaculture Project Manager
farm@grapoila.hu