Questions and Answers
What is this ‘letters’ thing?
In late 2011, we decided we’d need to revolutionise our approach to making ends meet if we wanted to create the sustainable paradise we dream of in Bulgaria. We were trying to do a bit of freelancing, a bit of growing, some marketing artisan produce, and finding it all frankly exhausting and stop-and-starty in a place where we need tremendous amounts of energy just to develop our garden, house, live in basic conditions in an extreme climate and cherish our two young daughters. So, we decided to create momentum.
Momentum is really our word for the year. We started testing out a plan to create a new, much deeper level of connection with our readers, and so we sent out regular in-depth letters late in 2011, and a month of free weekly letters in January 2012 (see here for those if you want a taster or to catch up).
We’re changing the way we send out these letters. Keep an eye out for more news soon…
The Orpheus Letters
Long term, we are designing and building from the ground up, a sustainable off-grid farm including winery, so this is a period of intense research and experimentation for us as we push boundaries in a depressed rural village (read more about our projects).
How is all this stuff making an impact?
We believe in supporting rural communities to create flourishing and self-sustaining enterprise. Here in Bulgaria this is so, so possible: the natural conditions are absolutely perfect. Yet, the paradox is that the social and fiscal barriers, the health and education inequalities and the lack of perspective are huge factors here. We want to change that, but to do that we need to do more than waffle hot air. We need to do it ourselves and make a living, breathing model for this village, for other villages, and outward in spirals to the rest of the world. You can read more about our specific projects here.
