Food Forest workshop: how to grow an edible ecosystem
In this weekend workshop you’ll learn how to design and establish a food forest: a resilient, low-maintenance ecosystem that provides food, beauty, habitat and more. Step by step, we will explore the principles of food forestry, from choosing the right plants and creating guilds, to soil building, water management, and long-term care. With a balance of theory, hands-on practice, and time in a mature food forest, you’ll gain both the confidence and the skills to bring your own edible forest garden to life.
When: Friday 12 - Sunday 14 June 2026
Where: permaculture farm Bogata Šuma, Vojnic, Croatia
€ 250,- bursary support
€ 195,- normal price
€ 150,- low waged, under 18 or over 70, or from former Yugoslavia
The price includes all tuition, breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and a camping spot or a bed in a (2-persons) room.
Bring a friend and get 15% off
At Bogata Suma you can experience a permaculture lifestyle, as you gain the necessary skills to implement permaculture in your own life.
In this course you will have fun learning together with likeminded people on a permaculture farm in Croatia. This will be a richly nourishing and empowering course.
You will leave this course with...
... the confidence and practical knowledge to start or expand your own thriving food forest. You’ll understand how to design a resilient ecosystem that provides food, beauty and biodiversity, while regenerating the land. You will gain hands-on tools for choosing the right plants, building healthy soil, and creating systems that work with nature rather than against it. Most importantly, you’ll leave with inspiration, clarity, and a clear pathway to turn your ideas into a living, fruitful landscape.
Who is this week for?
This program is designed for people who want to know (and experience) more about living a happy life on the land and living with nature in an independent and sustainable way.
It will be an fun course with games and activities as learning tools.
Facilitator: Barbara Scheltus
Barbara lives with her family on permaculture farm Bogata Šuma in Croatia. They live almost food-self sufficient, have hosted hundreds of volunteers since 2011, she and Peter have setup a Country Life Academy and now they are growing a village/community.
Barbara has been working with permaculture ethics and principles for over 20 years now. She designed for land and for life, teaches people how to bring permaculture into practice and how to design for personal and social issues.
Barbara works with Looby Macnamara (“People and Permaculture”), Chris Evans and Tomas Remiarz.
She learned also from international teachers like Rosemary Morrow, Delvin Solkinson, Mark Shepard, Rakesh and others.
>> More about Barbara Scheltus
Almost self-sufficient homestead
Permaculture farm Bogata Šuma is situated on the top of a hill in the heart of Croatia, with forests all around. We have been on this land since 2005, after it was abandoned by the previous owners after the Yugoslavian war. 15 Years ago we found a jungle with overgrown fruit and nut trees, and we turned it into a beautiful edible landscape where guests have been enjoying camping holidays ever since.
The venue is a living example of how you can live more sustainable and how to grow towards self sufficiency in a low maintenance way.
Our life isn’t just about producing food. It’s a holistic approach for a deeper connection to the Earth and Life. It encourages mindfulness and creativity and it is a journey of learning from nature's wisdom and living in harmony with its rhythms.
When: Friday 12 - Sunday 14 June 2026
Where: permaculture farm Bogata Šuma, Vojnic, Croatia
€ 250,- bursary support
€ 195,- normal price
€ 150,- low waged, under 18 or over 70, or from former Yugoslavia
The price includes all tuition, breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and a camping spot or a bed in a (2-persons) room.
Bring a friend and get 15% off
More information: barbara@countrylifeacademy.com or call +385 95 5555 677