Slow Living in Early Spring

‘Slow living’ is a current trend for some people, but here in rural Bulgaria it has been the way of life for centuries. In fact, the Bulgarians have a saying “when the world ends, it won’t happen in Bulgaria for another fifty years”, such is the slow pace of life here.

A simpler way of life

Most people in our village engage in small farming or homesteading. They grow and preserve their own fruits and vegetables and often keep chickens and rabbits. They keep a pig to fatten up for Christmas and they make their own wine from their own sun ripened grapes. Wood burning stoves are the most common form of heating. Air conditioning is unheard of. Houses are built to stay warm in winter and cool in summer. Most villagers do not own a car; horses and carts are still a common sight on our roads. People rarely leave the village, and certainly don’t travel further than the nearest town. The long warm days add to the the slow living ambience.

The start of spring

Spring begins on the first of March with the Baba Marta celebrations. People share woven bracelets of red and white. At the first sight of a stork or a fruit tree in blossom, these bracelets are hung on a tree. Though summer holds out it’s promises, winter still has a firm grasp and snow is not uncommon. The surrounding mountains retain their snow well into June.

A typical day of slow living

Since moving to Bulgaria our typical day begins by walking our five rescue dogs. As it is difficult taking five dogs on leads , we usually travel the short distance into the foothills of the mountains and let them free run in the forest. Again, life here is so much simpler than in England where so much of the forest and countryside is fenced off. Often we see wild deer, rabbits, birds of prey, and even the occasional wild boar.

After the dogs are satisfied, we drive back home where we begin our day in the garden, growing and preserving our own food. Later Jeff chops firewood for our petchka. Though it is often warm in the daytime the evenings are still very cool. I undertake the various chores. Our evening meals are usually spent at home where I prepare as much of our food as I can, using our own ingredients wherever possible. I enjoy the slow pace in my own kitchen where I typically light a candle and pour myself a glass of wine whilst I listen to slow lazy jazz or classical music whilst I cook.

As we don’t own a TV we typically end our evenings either sitting by the fire or reading a book. If the nights are not too cool, we like to do this outside under the stars.

For anyone wishing for a simple lifestyle in a quiet location away from the fast pace of life in the modern world, one couldn’t do better than to come and enjoy some slow living in our valley.