Balkan Ecology Project

Balkan Ecology Project Serving the Kingdom Plantae The Balkan Ecology Project is a permaculture-inspired, grassroots family run project based in Eastern Europe - Bulgaria.

We're exploring farming and market gardening and looking for models that can provide reliable income growing a diversity of affordable foods and other products whilst enhancing biodiversity

23/08/2026

Summer winds rushing through Zanthoxylum piperitum - Japanese pepper. This was one of the first plants we planted in Phronesis before we had irrigation in place and fences up and it was the only plants that survived the dry summers and relentless browsing of wild and domestic grazing mammals. in fact the cows and goats would nibble just a little of the the fresh young growth in spring and this resulted in the Japanese Pepper trees ramifying and taking on a dwarf, shrub like form.

These plants are highly valued for their culinary and medicinal properties. The dried, ground pericarp is the famous Sichuan pepper, a key ingredient in Chinese five-spice powder and Japan's shichimi togarashi, prized for its unique numbing quality . Young leaves and flower buds are also edible, used raw in salads or as a flavorful seasoning in soups and with miso paste .

In traditional medicine, it has been used to treat digestive issues and pain .

Ecologically, Z. piperitum shows strong potential in regenerative agriculture. Its leaf essential oils contain bioactive compounds with insecticidal and antibacterial properties, making it a candidate for developing natural pesticides to reduce reliance on harmful chemicals. We have around six plants in various gardens and I have never witnessed any pest damage.

We have these plants available from our nursery this Autumn- https://www.balkep.org/zanthoxylum-piperitum.html

22/08/2026

Всеки, който е купувал сирене от бачия, мед директн& #1...

Harvesting Staghorn Sumach - Rhus typhina inflorescences this morning with aim to make the tangy seasoning Sumach tha...
22/08/2026

Harvesting Staghorn Sumach - Rhus typhina inflorescences this morning with aim to make the tangy seasoning Sumach that features often in Levantine/West Asian cuisine.

To make sumac spice from fresh Rhus typhina inflorescences, harvest the red berry clusters on a dry day (rain washes away flavor). After removing any debris, thoroughly dry the clusters in a cool, dark place or a low-temperature oven until brittle. Once dry, strip the red outer husk (the drupes) from the hard inner seeds, then grind them in a blender and sift through a fine sieve to get the tangy, lemony powder.

Plant profile here - https://www.balkep.org/rhus-typhina.html

Plants will be available from our Nursery this autumn - https://www.balkep.org/nursery.html

Echinops ritro - Small globe thistle, pretty much the only wild flower in bloom on the steppe around Shipka this time of...
21/08/2026

Echinops ritro - Small globe thistle, pretty much the only wild flower in bloom on the steppe around Shipka this time of year. Its primary uses are medicinal and ecological. In traditional medicine, particularly in China and Eastern Europe, the root has been used for its anti-inflammatory properties and as a galactogogue to promote lactation in nursing mothers.

Ecologically, Echinops ritro is a superstar for wildlife gardens. Its spherical, nectar-rich blue flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. As a drought-tolerant perennial, it thrives in poor, well-drained soils, making it excellent for low-maintenance and gravel gardens. Its architectural form and spiky texture add contrast to borders, and if the spent flower heads are left over winter, they provide a valuable food source for birds.

Beautiful Cacti collection in Plovdiv
21/08/2026

Beautiful Cacti collection in Plovdiv

20/08/2026

The Parvenetska River - Western Rhodope Mountains near the villages of Hrabrino and Parvenets, just a short drive south of Plovdiv. Its riverbed features smooth natural granite formations that have been sculpted over time.

Phronesis – Late Summer. Wildflower meadows are, in large part, in senescence, with the next generation ready for next s...
20/08/2026

Phronesis – Late Summer. Wildflower meadows are, in large part, in senescence, with the next generation ready for next spring. The new plantings from the previous autumn and spring have a 95% survival rate so far.

Great to see this newcomer, Eryngium campestre - field eryngto, to the wild meadow in our forest garden and even better...
19/08/2026

Great to see this newcomer, Eryngium campestre - field eryngto, to the wild meadow in our forest garden and even better to find out its many uses as food, mineral repository and medicine.

As food, its young shoots and roots are edible; the shoots can be cooked as an asparagus substitute, while the starchy root can be eaten as a vegetable or even candied for a sweet treat.

Medicinally, its root is particularly valued, acting as a diuretic, expectorant, and antispasmodic. It has been traditionally used to treat coughs, whooping cough, and kidney and urinary tract inflammations.

Ecologically, this resilient plant thrives in dry, nutrient-poor, and calcareous soils, making it a specialist of dry grasslands and disturbed areas. It is a deep-rooting hemicryptophyte, with a taproot that can reach up to two meters deep to access water. Its spiny leaves offer protection from herbivores, and its flowers are a valuable nectar source for long-tongued insects like bees and butterflies.

One of my favourite Fig cultivars in our gardens. Michurinska-10. Every year abundant crop that ripens from early Augus...
19/08/2026

One of my favourite Fig cultivars in our gardens. Michurinska-10. Every year abundant crop that ripens from early August right through to late September. If we don't have storms during the summer, a decent amount of fruit will dry on the tree and can be picked for storing in late September.

Wild fruits in our establishing forest garden include Blackberries - Rubus fruticosus ( far more delicious than the thre...
18/08/2026

Wild fruits in our establishing forest garden include Blackberries - Rubus fruticosus ( far more delicious than the three or four cultivars we grow in other gardens) and Sloe - Prunus spinosa. These fruits, along with wild strawberry, Walnuts, Cherry Plums, and Cornelian Cherry were all growing in the site before we arrived and patches have been left intentionally to grow among the new plants and features we introduce.

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15 Dobri Kartolov
Shipka

Telephone

+359988342649

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