ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
In a world of alienation from almost everything inside and around us, when we departed from real meanings, values and connections in life, by living our lives according to principles that separate us from other beings, mother planet and our own souls, we have felt the urge to reconfigure our route in life.
In Firiteaz, a small village close to Arad and Timisoara, where we started organic farming 16 years ago, we build now the first ecovillage in Romania. In and with the existent community, we start an ongoing process of building a living and learning centre for a regenerative future, a place of continuous exploration, heritage celebration and planet loving while making a living.
We build our Dream on strong values and principles:
- Respect for any being
- Inner and outer harmony
- Reuse and recycling
- Veganism and non-alcohol
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
2004
Organic farming settlement
Moving from Switzerland to Romania and starting organic farming in Firiteaz, Arad County, as Biofarmland. The land was gradually extended, from 300 to 1000 ha, for cultivating cereals (rye, wheat, einkorn, spelt, emmer, oats, barley) to be sold on organic markets in Romania, Switzerland and Germany.
2008. Starting planting medicinal plants for tea (marigold, cornflower, dill, Swiss spice, anise), handpicked, flower by flower, and naturally dried, in the dark and processed and packed in a restored and equipped old building.
2011. Acquisition of an awarded whole flour professional mill that does not cause cereal nutrient lost when processing. Starting mustard planting and processing, followed, in 2018, by the acquisition of a semi-automatic professional line for mustard in larger quantities.
2016
The Dream of an Ecovillage
If at the beginning we were producing only for eco-aware markets as Switzerland and Germany, in time the market for organic products slowly developed also in Romania and our products got on the shelves. People started become aware and curious about a healthy lifestyle. So we started organizing hands-on food workshops for adults and children, movement activities for kids, and local gatherings on various topics.
That was when we realized that, in 12 years, we have not only grown a farm, but also a community. We got aware of how much can be done if everything is done from the heart. From that moment, our conscious journey towards a more meaningful ecovillage began: in 2017 decided the founding members, in 2018 founded the CALEA NATURALA Association. Same year, met Gernot Minke, father of green building, who was willing to project first of our buildings. 2019 was for planning, scheduling and finding new team members.
2020
From Dream to Reality
We can say now we are ready to start the Ecovillage Firiteaz project! The list for 2020:
- construction of the administrative and sanitary group building, first accommodation units (tents and wood shepherd hut) and a clay oven for bread,
- hosting of our first group of young people from five partner countries as part of an international Erasmus+ project,
- and a lot of workshops and activities (afforestation, clay and straw bricks hand making).
So much to do? We knooooow! We will definitely need help, know-how and good vibes! So… watch our blog, social media and newsletter for real time updates.
LET’S DREAM THIS DREAM TOGETHER!