Summer placement at AppleFarm
- sustainable small-holding
in Czech Republic (3rd July - 7th August 2006)
AppleFarm - introduction
AppleFarm is a 4-acre sustainable small-holding located about
100 miles east from Prague in the highlands of East Bohemia between the cultural
and historical towns of Litomysl and Policka. AppleFarm is surrounded by extensive
forests. The countryside in the area is varied - fields, meadows, woods and
villages located in river valleys.
The farm consists of 250-year-old residential building, barn and organic fruit
orchard (mostly young apple trees) mingling with patches of herbs, veg plots,
compost heaps and hedges. The central spot on the farm grounds is a small
amphitheatre from turf for educational and culture purposes.
AppleFarm's production is not based commercially; the aim is sustainability,
self-sufficiency and organizing environmentally educational activities. All
care for the land and crops on AppleFarm is being done in organic regime.
AppleFarm is run by Rudolf and Kristyna Zidek. Rudolf has got university degrees
in agriculture and education. He works as a teacher. He specializes in organic
fruit-growing and environmental education. Kristyna has got a university degree
in education, she teaches English. She specializes in herbs and dendrology.
They both have got years experience with sustainable way of living. On AppleFarm
they follow organic and biodynamic methods of growing and apply principles
from permaculture.
Rudolf and Kristyna take AppleFarm to be a place for passing on environmentally
friendly experience; they organize workshops, educational placements and project
teaching. Since 1999 they have environmentally trained several dozen participants
from Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Czech Republic.
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Apple Farm (herb Garden)
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Pruning Apple Trees
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Making St John's Wort Oil
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2005 - 2006 at AppleFarm
The main projects that were carried out at AppleFarm during 2005 were: restoration
of the existing fruit orchard, realization of summer environmental placement
and construction of a small amphitheatre. All the participants who came on
the summer placement were eager to learn; it was joy to teach them and work
with them. Because of their enthusiasm the amphitheatre was nearly finished
over the summer which was unexpected. Long time upcoming plantation of young
fruit trees and woody plants for future hedges was carried out over the autumn.
However, 2006 brings new challenges. The aim will be to re-organize the existing
veg and herb gardens over the spring to make them more suitable for educational
purposes. Another intended project for this year is to construct a system
of pools with clay beds and thus support the ecological stability on the farm
grounds. There will of course be the year-round tending to the young apple
orchard and it will be necessary to carry out a summer pruning of the older
pear and cherry trees. Hopefully, also the environemntal library will grow
and setting up of a new classroom will begin. The brightest prospect is that
AppleFarm will again be liven up with students, placement participants and
friends over the summer.
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Preparing Compost Material
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Making Clay Bricks
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Picking Mullein for Syrup
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About the summer placement 2006
The placement offers participants the opportunity to gain or deepen knowledge
and skills in the field of fruit, veg and herb - growing, care, harvesting,
processing; to learn about self-sufficiency, sustainability, traditional techniques
and uses of natural materials, dendrology and how to apply principles of the
organic, biodynamic and permaculture systems. Beside that the placement includes
oportunities for varied cultural visits and sport activities.
The placement is hosted by AppleFarm, a sustainable small-holding run by Kristyna
and Rudolf Zidek.
The placement is funded through an EU scheme, Grampus Heritage (sending organisation)
and AppleFarm. Costs of return travel to the farm from the UK and basic food
and accommodation are covered for the participants whilst on the placement.
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Drying Herbs
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Scything
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Clay Plastering
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Tree Identification
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Accommodation: There are large rooms available, a standard bathroom,
a separate toilet, a washing machine.
Catering: There is a large kitchen and dining room in one, which serves
also as a lounge. Food is cooked partly from the farm's produce. It is mostly
vegetarian but could be modified for vegans as well as for carnivors.
Transport: Participants will use public transport or will be transported
by cars. The nearest bus stop is about 15min walk from the farm, the nearest
train and bus stations are in Policka (5 miles). Participants will be able
to borrow a bicycle from the farm.
Internet: The nearest access to Internet is an Internet Café
in Policka. Participants will be able to visit it on regular basis.
Weather: Climate is continental with warm summers, although colder days with showers of rain may occasionally occur.
It is necessary to bring: warmish clothes, good outdoor footwear and a sleeping bag.
Read the report by Maisie Wake, a participant in the 2005 placement on Apple Farm
Get more information from:
Grampus Heritage and Training Ltd.
Ashgill,
Threapland,
Wigton,
Cumbria,
CA7 2EL
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0) 16973 21516
E-mail: grampus@clark-mactavish.co.uk
www.grampusheritage.fsnet.co.uk.
Rudolf and Kristyna Zidek
Vysoky Les 1
572 01 Policka
Czech Republic
E-mail: applefarm@tiscali.cz
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Making Pottery
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Picking Herbs
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Stacking Firewood
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Rough programme for the summer placement at AppleFarm dated from 3rd July to 7th August 2006
APPROACHES: introduction to the principles of organic, biodynamic and
permaculture systems
HERBS: how to create and maintain a herb garden, identification, care, culinary
and
medicinal properties, processing (teas, syrups, oils)
CLAY: plastering, brick making, preparation and application of a clay tree
balm,
insulation of a pond bed
COMPOST: how and why to build compost heaps
SCYTHING: how to prepare and use a scythe
VEG: growing, harvesting and processing, constructing raised beds
ORCHARD: design, planting, shaping (slender spindles, horizontal cordons,
apple
tunnel), pruning, mulching, feeding, propagation, harvesting, processing fruit
HEDGE: traditional hedging techniques: planting, laying, weaving
LIMESTONE: building paths, walls and decorative stone sculptures
COOKING: wholesome recipes using home-grown herbs and vegetables, bread and
cake baking in a traditional oven
DENDROLOGY: learning to identify trees and shrubs, properties and uses
TURF: finishing off the top layer of the amphitheatre, roof turfing
WOOD: building, collecting, chopping, carving
OTHER ACTIVITIES: pottery, willow weaving, outdoor painting, making dream catchers, walking in the countryside, wild berry picking and mushroom hunting in the forest, cycling, table-tennis, swimming…
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Dreamcatchers
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Bread-making
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At the table
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Possible trips:
Litomysl town - renaissance castle, monastery gardens, museums and galleries,
cinema, outdoor swimming-pool, selection of pubs, live music Policka town
- medieval town walls, theatre club, internet café, selection of pubs
Sand rocks in Budislav, Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, open air museum of traditional architecture Vesely kopec, Arboretum Boskovice, Moravian carst, Nove Hrady castle, capital city of Prague, Moravian capital town of Brno, mountains, Bohemian Paradise - a rock city, etc.
General priority for all the activities within the placement is that each
activity is organised in such way to be safe and manageable for the participants.
We would like the placement participants to feel free at the family atmosphere
of AppleFarm. We believe that the participants will find the knowledge and
skills they will gain and practically try out during the placement useful
in their future lives.
Rudolf and Kristyna January 2006