Although we spend most of our time in the big city, sometimes we need to go somewhere else for a change. Some people prefer to book a holiday at a luxurious resort, others to visit a peaceful Bulgarian village, where people live in harmony with nature. Polyana is one of these Bulgarian villages. You can get to the place via an asphalted road. The mobile signal in Polyana is good and access to drinking water and electricity is good. However, the best thing you can do if you find yourself in the village of Polyana is to forget for at least several hours about your daily routine, turn your mobile phone off, sink into the silence of the village and enjoy the fragrant scents. Martin Ganev is our king host. He is a person who likes changes. Martin made a successful career in a popular international company. Later, he left the company, built his home at the foot of Strandzha Mountain and dedicated himself to organic farming. Everything started with an accidental stop during one of his trips to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

“I discovered the village of Polyana quite accidentally, although people say all things happen for a reason. I visited the town of Tuscany (Italy) one year before I went to the village of Polyana. This Italian district looks very similar to the area situated at the foot of Strandzha Mountain – hilly area covered by woodlands and arable land. The difference is that in Tuscany there are many castles and solid stone houses and the local people are truly happy with their lives. They enjoy everything they have and appreciate every gift from nature. The farm near the village of Polyana is a project which started on December 8, 2009.  When I first went there I had a tent and a sleeping bag only. I told myself that one day I would build a solid house here. In the beginning I slept on the ground. I felt strong connection with the place. Although I did not sleep at all during my first night here I felt sober as a cucumber on the following morning.”

Martin has already fulfilled his dream. Now ten people are taking care of his farm. However, he changed his employees several times in the past nine years, because he was not happy with their job. It is important for Martin to work with people who appreciate all gifts from nature. Mr. Ganev contends that the farm is a living organism. We must not plant one crop only, because this is not typical for nature and is unhealthy for the crop itself, Martin went on to say.

We try to produce the best food possible and this cannot happen through the development of monoculture farming. That is why we grow different cereals, including einkorn wheat and spelt which were once found in the Pyramids in Egypt. Besides, we plant almond trees, walnut trees, different types of herbs, as well as the oil-yielding rose. We keep bees, which are of exceptional significance for every farm, because they are in symbiosis with the earth and the plants.

The Bulgarian entrepreneur uses solar water pumps to irrigate his land. The water pumps suck water from 70-80 meters depth thanks to inexhaustible solar energy. Wildfires are typical for this area, because hot weather starts in April. That is why the use of flammable fuels in Martin’s farm is limited.

Some of the Bulgarians live in a nightmare, because they think nothing depends on them, Martin says with much regret. The truth is that the change starts from us and we are the ones who must change the things we don’t like or the things that irritate us. If our backyard is full with lumber, we must not tell our neighbor how to clean his own. Envy does not allow people to feel complete and motivated to work for their own well-being, Martin further said.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov