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Workshops, Retreats and Special Events
Conserving | July – October
Learn to cook, prepare and create sauces, jams, chutneys and purées from our own cultivated and local wild produce. Then learn the valuabe skill of preserving and conserving them, as well as how to prepare pickles, compotes and some of the more unconventional recipes we have.
Dairy Products | All Year Long
Learn and share our knowledge of making dairy products. Using fresh milk from our neighbours livestock and local methods we have been fortunate to learn from them we produce sirene (сирине) and kashkaval (кашкавал), the traditional Bulgarian white and yellow cheeses. Try making butter and Bulgarian yogurt, kicelo mlyako (кисело мляко); Help to milk the cows in the morning, make fresh cheese and yogurt in the afternoon and the following morning enjoy your own homemade produce for breakfast. :)
Pruning and Grafting | February – May
Well pruned trees are more healthy and produce better, more easily pickable fruit and nuts. We are blessed with an abundance of varieties you can learn to shape and care for.
Seed Saving | August – September
Learn the right time and our best methods for saving and storing seed, including Lara’s special technique for tomato seed saving. Our organic gardens generously offer a wide range of plants to save seed from.
Distillation | All Year Long
Learn to make the traditional Bulgarian rakia (ракия). The reputedly strong alcohol is typically made from a variety of fruits including plum, mulberry, grape and apricot. We have successfully experimented using different grains this year, maturing the rakia with oak and cherry wood. It is a tradition at the Happy Hippy to have a rakia toast with all new arrivals. :)
Retreats and Special Events
The Retreat Centre is available for exclusive or partial rent to groups, companies, organisations, charitable foundations, youth projects etc. wishing to hold residential courses, workshops, seminars, training and team building exercises and other events. We offer an all-inclusive package with all dietary requirements catered for.
We can host all kinds of special events, from festivals to happy hippy weddings.