Last week (starting from 27.02.2017) I have been having my hands (literally, too) onto a project that I have been dreaming and talking about for some time. I also mentioned it in my Yearly goals for 2017, namely – starting my own (i.a.) olive plantation. Well, the result is, after a lot of hard work in the last week, there are now 40+ test plants in the ground in a small village nearby Sandanski, Bulgaria, as per today. :) Here is an update on how that happened (pictures available below):

Preparations: My sister had kindly offered to come along and be part of that new beginning. We both landed in Sofia around 25th February, planning to leave the day after. We left Sofia early in the morning on Sunday, 26.02., with the train to Sandanski, Pirin Macedonia region. We would stay in the lovely town Melnik where we were to a hotel called Elli Greco, a fantastic place with the friendliest staff. We said goodbye to my father in the morning, and he mentioned he “might pop on Tuesday or Wednesday, just to check the land out”. OK, we thought, went on the train – gorgeous trip through wonderful nature –  and arrived in Sandanski. There we went for a walk – cozy little town, worth a visit! Little did we know that we would get a phone call from my father: “I am in front of the hotel, I hitch-hiked. I wanted to come for moral support and will go back tomorrow”. Imagine our surprise :)

Day 1:

– Next day, early in the morning, we got onto the car/minivan that the hotel so generously had lent us. Destination – Sandanski, going to a Notary’s office to sign the deal. The funniest notary ever – turned out his daughter and I studied the exact same subject at University of Hull, and she even remembered me. Further, there was the cutest dog at the office too. Quite an experience – went relatively smooth and within one hour I became the legal owner of the piece of land, nearly half hectare (4,150m2).

– collecting the plants – I had ordered the plants days earlier from a reputed nursery (www.palmi.bg), and by that time they were already delivered at the courier’s office in the city of Sandanski. Around 50 units in total – 25 olives, 8-10 figs, 4-5 Pomme-grenades, 2 bay trees, 2 palm trees (trachycarpus fortunei), 4 oleanders, 2 lavenders and 2 rosemaries. Loaded them in the van and off we went to see the land!

– We arrived at around 12h, checked the place, and quickly started to divide it up – the plan was to test-plant around 45 units around the plot to see how they react to the soil, slope, climate, etc. We promptly located the places the tree-holes would be – all in the different ends of the property – and started digging. Plenty of work ahead – every tree hole was to be around 80cm/80cm/80cm, or almost 1m3. Quite some work for three people :)

– by the end of the light part of the day, we had managed to dig 10 holes in total, and plant 10 olive trees. Good start! But plenty of work ahead!

Tree planting methodology: dig a hole. Fill it back with the soil. Half-way through, fill it with rotted manure. There was plenty on-site, as it had been used for years by local shepherds and wild horses. Mix well the manure and soil, give plenty of water, place the tree, and make a good tree bed. Cover with mulch – also readily available there, dry hay.

Day 2: We thought – ok, today we finish on time, come on, let’s work hard! We even thought that we could bring my father to the train to Sofia – after all, the man had come for some moral support only, and there he was – already two days working hard :) So, we did do around 20 holes that day, and planted around 15 trees/plants in total. We went back to the hotel quite exhausted, but hard work calms the body and mind so well – had some excellent wine and food, and we all slept like babies.

Day 3, Wednesday: we thought – OK, today it’s gonna be ready, all finished, perhaps before lunch! Well, that was also wishful thinking – after hard work, we did finish all the work by 16h. We then brought my father to the train station – he had to work the day after. My sister and I, however, stayed for another night – and another treat. We went to a fantastic SPA – sauna, mineral jacuzzi, mineral water swimming pool, steam bath.. A deserved treat! We finalised our stay with a delicious dinner, matched with excellent Macedonian wine!

The weather: As if pre-ordered to perfectly fit our needs! Went extremely smooth – day one and two were plain sunshine with around 20 degrees, Wednesday was more cloudy, but still not too cold. To make it perfect, the night of Wednesday rained hard, which would be a most welcome start for the young plants! :)

The people: Probably the most crucial aspect. No one can do anything alone. Could not have done anything without the relentless and unconditional support of those who helped me out financially, as well as my sister and father with their hard Egyptian-slave-like work! On top of all, the hotel of Elli Greco provided me with the van and some crucial gardening tools (pick-axe, spade), not to mention the constant assistance and readiness to help.

Conclusion: I must say it almost appeared as if I am helped by God, universe, destiny – call it whatever you want, but it all clicked well and went as smooth as possibly imaginable! Weather, people, logistics… All worked out simply perfect. And for now this is only a test – perhaps not even 10% of the trees will succeed in growing. Even if not a single tree does succeed, I thoroughly enjoyed the process and have made connections with people that will last, and I bonded greatly with my father and sister, with whom we worked relentlessly. It also felt so enriching and inspiring to work for your own project, with your hands in the ground, literally – hands on. Working for a purpose – a unique and fulfilling feeling of purpose that I would be very happy to experience more often!

Wanna join? This is not only ‘my’ project. I started it, but it is to share. If you feel like coming, seeing, planting some trees, working on the land while enjoying the weather and the ‘terrible’ Bulgarian beer/wine, just let me know :) There will likely be plenty more work!

Sandanski, 26.02.2017, shortly before getting the phone call from my dad :)

With the Notary, with the super-cute dog, 27.02.2017

The plants, delivered in bomb-proof packing (27.02.2017)

The land, immediately to the right of the green wheat field 

Egyptian slave No 1 (27.02.2017)

Egyptian slave No 2

Working hard (27.02.2017)

Unpacking the first olives to be planted (27.02.2017)

The first tree to be planted (27.02.2017)

Planting the first tree (27.02.2017) 

Best breakfast - mostly home-made! Excellent ‘fuel’ for the hard work (28.02.2017)

Some uninvited guests (01.03.2017)

Final results - lines of olives (01.03.2017) 

Bringing my father on the train to Sofia (01.03.2017)

L’ultima cena, The last supper, with excellent local wine. Thank you, Ilina! <3