reGeneration
Good practices against the climate change
2023-
"We live under the impersonal rule of coercive notions mocked as technological-economic rationality, and these exempt us from the responsibility of independent thinking and free choice. High IT technology ensures the freedom of exchange of our views, a flood of waste follows our desires, we cannot achieve our goals in the impossibly expanded social space without wasting fossil energy. And we console ourselves with the fact that we are powerless against the inexorable logic of global processes." … "One day they will realize that small is beautiful and that growth is not necessarily development. Or they say that nature is not a raw material, knowledge is not a weapon, and prosperity is not an abundant supply. Restless troublemakers, of course, are always there, but fortunately, the sane thinkers don't listen to them. Even now, it’s still not the calm before the storm. But if it was, we wouldn't hear it. Headphones on our ears, computer screen in front of our eyes — if there’s no news of it in the media, it doesn’t exist."
/András Lányi: About freedom, for blow-ins/
We have been overconsuming the Earth's resources for decades; according to data from the Global Footprint Network, the day of overconsumption is getting earlier and earlier. Its global date in 2023 is July 27. In the case of Hungary, it’s an even earlier date: May 30. This is determined by comparing the ecological footprint per capita with the globally available biocapacity per person. In other words, from January to the end of July, humanity uses as much of nature's resources as our planet can replenish in a whole year.
It's hard to talk about climate change and the climate crisis, and not only because it's not the most cheerful topic. It’s also highly politicized; those in power use it to divide voters, even at the risk of going against science and rationality. Also, it's terribly difficult to comprehend mentally when someone talks about something over decade-length horizons, while many of us can't even see our next week clearly. In many cases, the climate crisis can seem like an extremely impersonal topic that is very difficult to relate to outside of passive concern. Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, coral reefs are dying, and the Amazon is burning — these are all tragic things, but what should someone who lives in Central Eastern Europe do with such information? And what should a storyteller do against the ever-growing apathy?
I think if we come up with a domestic and personal story about how climate change has a negative effect on flesh-and-blood people, we can bring the whole topic closer. What else can we do as storytellers? Ever since I began engaging with photography, I felt somewhat limited by being able to show only the problems surrounding us without offering any possible answers. So my interest gradually shifted toward a solution focus. I realized that I find it extremely motivating when I’m able to present the ambitions and efforts put into solving problems.
Individuals play a crucial role in addressing climate change. While systemic changes and policies are more than essential, individual actions can collectively create significant impacts that add up to a larger movement towards sustainability. In this photo series, I would like to showcase various good practices that individuals and communities are adopting to combat climate change. Each triptych of the series sounds a different good practice towards a more sustainable life, from the use of ecological agriculture and reducing food waste to recycling and eco-conscious holidays.
By highlighting these practices and sharing the thoughts of the subject in their own words, we hope to inspire others to make more conscious choices in their daily activities, take action, and incorporate sustainable practices into their own lives. I strongly believe that through our collective efforts, we can make a positive impact on the planet and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
Planting trees
"For me, planting trees is a symbol of hope that it's worth doing things even when we cannot see their short-term results. You can understand a lot about life and time when you work with trees."
Portrait of Fanni Sali, member of Nyim Eco Community in their garden in Nyim, Hungary, 02.01.2023. (left) / Members of Nyim Eco Community planting trees on their meadow, Nyim, Hungary, 19.02.2022. (middle) / A tree planted in February on the Eco- meadow belonging to Nyim Eco Community, Nyim, Hungary 22.05.2022. The straw (mulch) placed on the plate of the tree helps to bind and retain the moisture from the morning mist and serves as a living space for small insects that turn the soil. The little ecosystem created this way helps the tree grow. Branches placed around it make the little tree easier to find. (right). "I am Fanni Sall, a visual artist, bookbinder, illustrator, and member of the Nyim Eco Community for eight years. I live in the village of Nyim in Somogy County with my husband, Dani. In our community, I act as an organizer, and I'm the one who is responsible for external communication. What is important to me in life? My family: my husband and mom; my friends - many of whom are also members of our community. lt is important to experience the possibility of living in many different ways, somewhat becoming more distant from society's expectations and framing our own culture. Creating traditions where it is the most natural thing in the world to organize a greeting ceremony for newly planted trees. lt's also relevant to me that I don't need to go on vacation or go somewhere else just to relax and feel rich and complete in my life. It recharges me when I plant a tree, create art, take a walk in our garden, or perhaps pop in to visit my neighbour. I like living in Nyim and cooperating with the community members and my friends in the village. It's good to experience how close common goals and good intentions can bring people. I experienced a depth of human relations that I don't think many people have a chance to experience, even in their own families. I would like to state that this is not the result of an accident or good fortune, but of hard work and determination: we don't leave when it is difficult, but work until we find the solution.
Tree planting is one of the most important things for me, whether I do it alone or with others. A tree is a living being that exists in a completely different way compared to us. It does not run around like we do; it's calm, stands still, grows slowly, and often lives much longer than us humans. For me, it is a symbol of hope that it's worth doing things even when we cannot see their short-term results. You can understand a lot about life and time when you work with trees. When I return to a tree year after year and look after it to some extent, I remember what condition it was in at that time of the year; I remember what I did for it; I see it getting bigger every year; and I can directly experience that what I'm doing makes sense. For me, a tree already counts as big if it's taller than me when I sit beside it. I also like to plant trees because everyone understands the significance of this act, I have yet to meet a person for whom planting trees is not important for some reason.
Tip: instead of going on vacation abroad, take a small trip, plant a tree, and try to see and find nature in your surroundings and in yourself. It's not consumption that makes us happy in life, but being together and cooperating with each other and with other living beings - like trees."
Plant-based cooking
"I believe in the healing power of a complete plant diet and chemical-free ingredients, so I'm always looking for new ways to use them in my cooking. The saying that you become what you eat couldn’t be more relevant today! "
Portrait of Orsolya Simon-Bojta in the stairway of her workplace, Pécs, Hungary, 17.04.2023. (left) / Orsolya Simon-Bojta making a focaccia with vegetables. Pécs, Hungary, 17.04.2023. (middle) / A slice of vegetarian focaccia baked by Orsolya Simon-Bojta. Pécs, Hungary, 17.04.2023. (right) "I'm Orsi Simon-Bojta, chef and lover of healthy food, nature, and permaculture. I believe in the healing power of a complete plant diet and chemical-free ingredients, so I'm always looking for new ways to use them in my cooking. The saying that you become what you eat couldn't be more relevant today! We struggle with many kinds of diseases due to a lack of conscious eating and also because it's pretty complicated to supply our bodies with unprocessed, non-chemical raw materials.
My mission is to allure as many people as possible to the creation of tasty, sustainable, and healthy dishes that nourish both the body and the soul. I created my Instagram page, called @iz.lelo to help those who'd like to learn the basics of a plant-based diet or the means of moving towards a healthier diet. For me, food doesn't just satisfy my hunger. Eating is an experience, and every plate has its own story. Eating gives us an opportunity to get closer to each other, to share our thoughts and experiences, to celebrate, and also to say goodbye to our loved ones.
Regarding the future, my goal is to create an apartment restaurant where I will use ingredients grown in our own garden to prepare delicious dishes that will serve as an eternal memory for those who visit us."
Community garden
"I have no doubt that the discourse of sustainability is extremely worn out, outmoded, and falling apart under its own weight. At the same time, it is also possible to live a decent life in a city, one of the first components of which may be to vote trust in each other in our neighbourhood."
Gergő Hajba, founder of the Green Spot community garden in downtown Pécs posing for a portrait. Pécs, Hungary, 10.02.2022. (left) / Plant exchange in the Green Spot community garden. Pécs, Hunagry, 24.04.2022. (middle) / Mural in the Green Spot community garden. Pécs, Hungary, 06.08.2021. (right) "My name is Gergő Hajba. I am a CRM consultant and a music producer under the name RADN0TI. I'm also the enthusiastic founder and coordinator of the Zöld Folt Közösségi Kert (Green Spot Community Garden) in downtown Pécs, which will celebrate its 6th birthday this year, in the summer of 2023. We cultivate this small piece of land in the city center, which over the years has become an independent ecosystem on Király Street with a group of people.
The community garden movement, which is active and flourishing to this day, managed to forge a nimbus from the care and love of plants to bring people closer together—not from intrusion but from a common will, which is the truly important value of a public garden. This year, as always, we are operating at full capacity, with approximately 36 people in less than 400 m2 of utilized space.
The dialectic of the garden and the human factor is sometimes a tenacious struggle with the elements, while at other times it is true, unclouded relaxation (you could say, there is always work to be done in a garden), and sometimes it is a learning process to coexist. The goods produced by us, mainly vegetables, herbs, and, to a lesser extent, fruits, usually serve the existence of the self and the public, and often the public outside the gates. I have no doubt that the discourse of sustainability is extremely worn out, outmoded, and falling apart under its own weight. At the same time, it is also possible to live a decent life in a city, one of the first components of which may be to vote trust in each other in our neighbourhood, in this case a small piece of soil and, ultimately, food that reaches the plate by a shorter route.
My favourites from here are home-grown Peruvian ground cherries, orach, and, in addition to a wide variety of tomatoes, lily of the valley. I would definitely not recommend the latter for consumption, though."
Composting
"I'm pleased every time that any kind of organic waste (food scraps, rotten wood, pulled weeds) happens to be usable. I just put it in the compost bin, and thanks to the billions of living things there, it turns into valuable material. It reminds me that everything in nature is useful; everything has its place and role."
Portrait of Dániel Zimmermann, member of Nyim Eco Community, in their garden in Nyim, Hungary, 23.05.2022. (left) / Dániel Zimmermann building a compost frame in their garden in Nyim, Hungary, 01.11.2023. (middle) / Dániel Zimmermann showing a handful of fine, crumbly soil - the result of one of his compost experiments, in their garden in Hungary, Nyim, 01.11.2023. (right) "My name is Dániel Zimmermann, and I live in Nyim with my wife, Fanni, as a member of the local eco community. In terms of my qualifications, I am an ecologist and a mental health specialist. I always like to participate in activities that help us establish a better connection with nature, our fellow humans, and ourselves. I often experience that people tend to live cloistered lives in isolated bubbles. I am interested in many things, from storytelling to organizational development, and from getting to know nature to mentoring.
The photo shows the act of building a composting frame from fence netting. The process of composting is the basis of healthy soil life, and in nature, it happens constantly without putting the organic matter in a pile or compost bin. However, this way we can speed up the process and make it easier to use its results. Good compost enriches the soil with valuable nutrients, helps retain moisture, and makes the soil structure more viable for the macro- and micro-organisms that live there. I'm pleased every time that any kind of organic waste (food scraps, rotten wood, pulled weeds) happens to be usable. I just put it in the compost bin, and thanks to the billions of living things there, it turns into valuable material. It reminds me that everything in nature is useful; everything has its place and role.
If I have to give advice, never throw food away! This is easier to accomplish and also a lot more healthy if you buy ingredients instead of instant meals. Take as much as you can consume or store properly. Let's cook, pickle, and dry everything you can. And in the case of non-edible garbage, let's compost it, give it to someone who can compost it, or give it to someone who keeps animals."
Basket community
"We organize a short food chain. We work with the majority of small-scale vegetable and fruit producers in our area. The Basket Community of Pécs builds customer communities, organizes cooperation between farmers, and develops logistics solutions."
Portrait of Zsolt Radnóti, founder of Pécs Basket Community, an organization that aims to connect local producers and customers. Hungary, Pécs, 31.03.2023. (left) / A local farmer and volunteers packing out of a van outside the building that hosts the Basket Community. Hungary, Pécs, 31.03.2023. (middle) / A customer and a volunteer arranging an order at Pécs Basket Community. Hungary, Pécs, 31.03.2023. (right) "My name is Zsolt Radnóti. I am a geographer by education and a food chain organizer by profession. Ever since I can remember, I feel the best when I'm out in nature in the most untouched environment possible, as well as during creative activities done together with companions. We are part of nature, and I believe that if our actions move in the direction of naturalness and diversity, our human relationships will also be able to deepen. I have experienced that people can develop such collaborations and joint actions that favour community interest and our common goods, and in line with this, they ensure our cultural and spiritual needs and provide a livelihood.
We organize a short food chain. We work with the majority of small-scale vegetable and fruit producers in our area. The Basket Community of Pécs builds customer communities, organizes cooperation between farmers, and develops logistics solutions. Even within the framework of globalized capitalism, roughly half of the planet's food needs are produced by small farms, and this is also true here in the area. Farmers' lives are not easy. While the food system used to be based on the cooperation of communities living close to one another, today they are under enormous pressure from all directions, so it's not surprising that the number of producers today is a fraction of what it was decades ago. Even if we will not be able to produce technical equipment locally because we are largely unable to influence this kind of production, we can supply our food locally, and we consider this to be our fundamental right, just like access to agricultural land and clean drinking water.
Now is the time for joint action. Many people are trying to act individually against the social and climate crises: they collect waste selectively, create energy-efficient homes, grow as much food as possible for themselves, bake bread, and help family members, friends, neighbours, etc. as much as they can. These individual actions are all important and great, but they also require a lot of energy. However, community solutions work effectively for most socioeconomic problems. Many examples, including the Basket Community of Pécs, prove that there are community actions and activity groups that you can freely join that create jobs and whose goal is work-based cooperation, where instead of the dominance of profit, it's the needs of the community that matter. We are not alone; we have many conscious and well-intentioned fellow human beings. If we all join as active links and give our best knowledge to grassroots organizations and already functioning communities, it creates a sustainable and sustaining space for the individual as well."
Barter
"The farmer I used to buy eggs from gave up the business at the beginning of the year. I didn't want to buy eggs from the shop any more. Fortunately, it turned out that there are two families in the village who are happy to exchange eggs for sourdough twists and bread, so now everybody is happy."
Portrait of Borbála Lipka, resident of Nagyszékely, who bakes in exchange for eggs. Hungary, Nagyszékely, 08.03.2023. (left) / Sourdough twists baked by Bori Lipka, Hungary, Nagyszékely, 08.03.2023. (middle) / Bori Lipka exchanging sourdough twists for eggs with a neighbour. Hungary, Nagyszékely, 08.03.2023. (right) "I'm Bori Lipka. I have a degree in nature conservation, but this is more an orientation of my life than a job. I've done and still do a number of different things that are somehow connected to nature conservation. I've worked as a field botanist, research assistant, translator, youth worker, gardener, weaver, and I could go on and on ... But even though these jobs seem quite different, they have something in common: I started all of them because I felt that the world would be a little bit better if I did them. For me and for others as well.
We moved to a small village in Tolna County from Budapest four years ago. After years of wandering (moving around fifteen times in three countries and six towns), I feel that I have found a home here. In Hungarian, we have a word for people who move to a place and then go - it expresses that we don't know where they came from or how long they're staying: "gyüttment" (blow-in). I don't like this word, but from some point of view, I'm also this kind of person, even though my original motivation for moving to the countryside was not self-sufficiency or community life but the wish to be able to sleep in silence.
I've always tried to do as many things for myself as I could. I don't like ready-made solutions. This is especially true for food: I find it extremely important to be conscious of what and how we eat. I'm one of the home bakers who started baking with sourdough at the beginning of the pandemic, during the yeast shortage. To my own surprise, baking with sourdough has become such an integral part of my life that I can't imagine my week without it. And it came in handy: due to the economic situation, the farmer I used to buy eggs from gave up the business at the beginning of the year. I didn't want to buy eggs from the shop any more. Fortunately, it turned out that there are two families in the village who are happy to exchange eggs for sourdough twists and bread, so now everybody is happy.
Food is not only a key to our physical and mental health but also an unavoidable topic of sustainability. Agriculture is not only the victim but also a cause of climate change. Because of this, all of us have the opportunity to do something for a better future - according to our time, money, and preferences. I believe that well-planned shopping, decreasing food waste, and abandoning processed foods can be at least as effective (and usually more wallet-friendly) as buying organic, best-quality products."
Package-free shop
"Sometimes we wonder at the speed at which the world is spinning: where are we rushing? After the initial great interest, today our customers are those dedicated people who are willing to take the time to prepare the boxes and bottles and wait while we measure the goods, and who are happy to chat for a word or two ... "
Portrait of Enikő Niczuly (r) and Gábor Bartal (l) outside their package-free grocery store called Green Block. Hungary, Pécs, 18.04.2023. (left) / Gábor Bartal working in his package-free grocery store. Hungary, Pécs, 15.01.2020. (middle) / Canvas bag with freshly bought dried foods labeled "Green Block" in Green Block package-free grocery store. Hungary, Pécs, 18.04.2023. (right) "My name is Gábor Bartal, and with my wife, Enikő Niczuly, we are the owners and operators of a packaging-free shop. As for qualifications, we both graduated as teachers, but we did not work much in the field. The idea of the store popped into Enikő's head when we ourselves were looking for the possibility of shopping package-free. There was a small organic store in our vicinity, which we often visited, but life brought it to the point that it was put up for sale. For a long time, we have been looking for something meaningful and useful to deal with in our lives. We planned to start a business; the place itself was given; and the farm took shape. Trade is very far from the attitudes of both of us, but we took over the small shop with its remaining inventory, and this is where our family business, Zöld Blokk (Green Block), started on January 19, 2019. It was the first packaging-free store in Pécs and among the first in the country. The name has a double meaning: on the one hand, it is at the bottom of a block of panels; on the other hand, this store is a small island in the country's largest housing estate, which, by a twist of fate, is called Garden City. We believe that such an initiative can have a mission here.
At the beginning, it had a great charm to build something from scratch, for which we don't really have a pattern but can shape it according to our own taste. It was exciting to get to know the producers from the area; we really enjoyed it. In addition to the packaging-free line, another important aspect for us is to fill our shelves with local products. We also planned for the store to be connected to a community space that could be filled with programs where people could get a glimpse of environmentally conscious alternatives. Unfortunately, covid put an end to the promising community initiatives, and at the moment, we do not see a real demand for them around ourselves.
Sometimes we wonder at the speed at which the world is spinning: where are we rushing? After the initial great interest, today our customers are those dedicated people who are willing to take the time to prepare the boxes and bottles and wait while we measure the goods, and who are happy to chat for a word or two ... For us, it is very important that even if there were financially more profitable solutions, we see that what we do makes sense. We have two children, and it is important that they grow up with this approach. The store has also changed our lifestyle a lot; we have become much more aware of and demanding of healthy food. We go to the market for vegetables, fruit, and baked goods. In the kitchen, bagged rice, dry pasta, lentils, and flour are replaced by food stored in bottles and bags. In our home, we try to reduce waste production, eliminate plastic bottles and tubes from the bathroom, and use measured cleaning and sanitizing agents. This did not happen overnight; we are moving forward with continuous, ongoing small changes."
Eco-building
"No energy is lost during transport; we fill the masonry with raw materials that can be obtained nearby; the adobe also comes from this area. We do not pollute during production either, as there is no plastic packaging, styrofoam, or other substances harmful to nature. The finished house requires much less energy; its humidity control is self-regulating."
Portrait of Gergely Ligeti, member of Nyim Eco Community, one of the builders of the community's first straw-bale eco-house. Hungary, Nyim, 21.03.2023. (left) / A community member smooths a layer of adobe on the plaster of the eco-house under construction at the meadow of Nyim Eco Community. Hungary, Nyim, 25.09.2023. (middle) / The straw-bale eco-house of Nyim Eco Community under construction. Hungary, Nyim, 11.01.2023. (right) "My name is Gergely Ligeti. With my wife, Adri, and my two sons, we live in Nyim, and we are members of the Nyim Eco Community. I have always been interested in technical things; this comes from my family. In terms of my qualifications, I'm a car mechanic and electrical engineer. Before we moved here, we lived in a house with a garden in Székesfehérvár, where I ran our business, selling car parts and equipment, for ten years. Gradually, I began to lose interest in this; I didn't really like what could be a career model for such a business, and I didn't like the commercial mechanisms either. My older son was three years old when I definitely felt that the garden was not really enough, that he did not have enough space, and that the city would not provide him with the experiences that me or my wife had growing up in the village. In the city, we didn't really find people with similar values with whom we could connect honestly and wholeheartedly. We wanted to live close to nature, and we were thinking of having a larger area of our own where we could cultivate plants. We were also looking for a cohesive community. After long periods of online searching, someone recommended Nyim. We came down for a day and liked the diversity and freshness of the community. We felt that we could not only enroll here but also shape it ourselves.
Our community is currently building a community house together. This is an eco-house made of straw bales. This building material is surrounded by many stereotypes; there is also a tale where the straw house is simply blown away ... The prejudices affected me as well, but I can already see how many advantages such a building has. No energy is lost during transport; we fill the masonry with raw materials that can be obtained nearby; the adobe also comes from this area. We do not pollute during production either, as there is no plastic packaging, styrofoam, or other substances harmful to nature. The finished house requires much less energy; its humidity control is self-regulating; it absorbs moisture when there is an excess and releases it when the humidity is low. Elsewhere, this can only be solved with mechanical engineering. It can be licensed, and there are contractors in Hungary who can make it, so anyone can build a straw house, and I recommend it to everyone."
Water retention
"With the changing climate, our precipitation system has changed, which has left us with long dry periods and sudden downpours. We have to find ways to keep the water from running down the hill. I use various techniques; one of them is the implementation of swales on the pastures. These long, horizontal, shallow channels keep the surface run-off water in place and help it infiltrate the ground. "
Portrait of Zsanett Rozendaal-Pandur on her land. The family collects and uses rainwater in their household. Hungary, Hosszúhetény, 17.03.2023. (left) / Planting trees on the top of a freshly dug swail. The shallow channel aims to keep run-off water. Hungary, Hosszúhetény, 19.03.2023. (middle) / Summer landscape with horses and green swales. Hungary, Hosszúhetény, 31.07.2022. (right) "My name is Zsanett. I live with my children and animals on a 3,5-hectare farm in southern Hungary. We keep horses for our hobby: trail-riding in and around the mountains. Our horses live outside all year long. I have lived in rural environments for almost two decades, and this is the way of life that I recognize as my own nature. I'm in close connection with all living things around me, from the worms in the ground to the birds chirping in the trees.
We are situated in a warm and dry local microclimate on the southern slope of a mountain. My farming practices are based on the principles of permaculture; I work on bringing life and biodiversity into these exploited soils and ecosystems. Water has a special focus in this system since we only use rainwater: we drink it, we wash ourselves and our clothes and dishes with it, and our animals and plants drink it too. We collect and store rainwater in subterranean concrete cisterns and in open-surface ponds. These ponds are very popular in the local ecosystems, attracting all sorts of animals throughout the year.
With the changing climate, our precipitation system has changed, which has left us with long dry periods and sudden downpours. We have to find ways to keep the water from running down the hill. I use various techniques; one of them is the implementation of swales on the pastures. These long, horizontal, shallow channels keep the surface run-off water in place and help it infiltrate the ground. These swales become wet zones where we can successfully plant trees and start an upward spiral: the trees hold on to the groundwater with their roots, and as they grow, they provide shade; their leaves become ground cover, making it possible to store more and more water in the ground. The swales grow into green zones that give us biomass, habitat, food, etc. This is all made possible by a plain intervention technique to keep the water in place. It's a simple method that can be implemented on a small scale as well as on huge landscapes."
Natural dyeing
"The first step of the process is yarn colouring with dye plants, which is very exciting since we can never be completely sure of the exact colour shade we produce. Colouring with plants can remind us of the power nature has and that even we humans cannot influence everything."
Portrait of Dóra Várkonyi, founder of Nagyszékely Botanical Garden Workshop. Hungary, Nagyszékely, 10.01.2023. (left) / Yarn colouring with natural dye-plants (anion peel and elderberries) in Nagyszékely Botanical Garden Workshop. Hungary, Nagyszékely, 07.01.2023. (middle) / Naturally dyed wool coat created in Nagyszékely Botanical Garden Workshop. Hungary, Nagyszékely, 08.03.2023. (right) "I am Dóra Várkonyi, one of the founders of the Nagyszékely Botanical Garden Workshop. Ever since I was a child, I've loved tinkering with fabrics. I graduated as a textile designer from MOME and taught at a vocational high school for a short period of time. Little by little, I formed the idea that I would like to create a place where - focusing on natural materials and traditional techniques - we can teach those who are interested how to make their own household items. Our goal was to create a space and program where the participants could experience the amount of time and energy that goes into the creation of each item and form a personal relationship with the objects made by their own hands, which perhaps reduces the overconsumption to some extent.
The photo series shows a process very dear to my heart: the birth of a hand-woven and sewn jacket made of woolen yarn dyed with plants. The first step of the process is yarn colouring with dye plants, which is very exciting since we can never be completely sure of the exact colour shade we produce. Colouring with plants can remind us of the power nature has and that even we humans cannot influence everything. I used elderberries and purple cabbage to colour the yarn; that's how we got the wonderful purple-blue shades. The yarn is a Hungarian product; it is made from the wool of Hungarian sheep, thereby minimizing the ecological footprint of the raw material. After painting came weaving and sewing. The end result is a wonderfully warm jacket. In addition to the fact that I have a new piece of clothing produced with natural materials and techniques, the process of making it gave me such a flow experience - such a slowing down and immersion - that makes this piece very personal to me. When I pick it up, I fly back a little to the wonderful, drifting, engrossing state of mind in which it was made.
In terms of sustainability, the textile industry ranks among the last. There are many exercises for being a little more conscious in our own closets: let's buy secondhand, visit clothes exchanges, create a capsule wardrobe."
Paper from textile waste
"Paper is an incredibly versatile thing - just think about what it has given humanity! European papermaking was based on "recycling" from the very beginning; rag paper was made in such a way that people took the tattered clothes to the paper mill, where they were turned into paper."
Portrait of Petra Füzes, founder of Orfű Paper Mill and graphics workshop, which produces paper from tailoring waste. Hungary, Orfű, 19.04.2023. (left) / Petra Füzes producing rag-paper from tailoring waste. Hungary, Orfű, 14.10.2021. (middle) / Rag-paper produced from tailoring waste in Orfű Paper Mill. Hungary, Orfű, 19.04.2023. (right) "I'm Petra Füzes, the head of the paper mill and graphics workshop at Orfű Mills. I can trace my love for graphics back to childhood: there was an elementary school graphics class where we cut lino and made monotypes. This is where I fell in love with the material and the methods of working by hand. After high school, I went abroad with the plan of working as an au-pair for a year, and finally, I ended up spending 17 years in the Netherlands. I studied reproductive graphics at the Hague Academy, where I became interested in the technical side of printing. I worked a lot alongside others in the old apprentice-master setup. I stayed in the Netherlands because I could do what I felt was important. It was very exciting to deal with printing for others; you had to be able to get into the other person's head and add professional knowledge to their ideas. I worked with people from all segments of the creative world in addition to graphic designers: painters, sculptors, and film directors. I never planned to stay abroad; I gradually started collecting machines for a future workshop of my own. I stored several hundred kilograms of printing presses in small warehouses, in a friend's bicycle storage rooms, and in my living room. I moved home permanently in September 2013.
The mill is a serious family bond. The Sásd Mill, which was the last mill on the Orfű stream, belonged to my ancestors, and it was taken from the family in 1947. After many detours, my grandfather and father began to renovate the museum complex of the Orfű Mills, which is the first mill on the stream. My sister, Kata, and I took over all of this from Dad; they practically dragged me back here with a paper mill. Originally, there was no paper mill here; we expanded the museum in 2014 with this new type of exhibition and workshop.
The art of making paper was new to me; I had previously only been involved with paper on a user levei. Paper is an incredibly versatile thing - just think about what it has given humanity! European papermaking was based on "recycling" from the very beginning; rag paper was made in such a way that people took the tattered clothes to the paper mill, where they were turned into paper. Unfortunately, there are not as many rags made of pure herbal fibers today as there would need to be to meet the increased demand for paper.
We at Orfű Mills use tailoring waste for creating our papers. We mainly get this from a brand that produces organic clothing, but we also take used covers and sheets from local accommodation providers or jeans that don't find a home from second-hand shops - but few of these are clean clothes made of herbal fibers. Hand-drawn paper has completely different qualities than machine-made paper; its aesthetics, texture, and material quality are totally different. A very important field of use is bookbinding and restoration. From 17th-century original prints to very old manuscripts, a lot of things have been repaired with our papers. I see the future here in high-quality, fine papermaking, not mass production."
Eco-lodge
"We can provide both quiet nooks and crannies - a Tree House, a Cabin in the Woods, a Bohemian Caravan, glamping and camping sites - and functional communal spaces surrounded by a colourful garden full of edible plants and our own small organic micro-farm."
Portrait of Milady Siringo (r) and Roeland Nollet (l) founders of Hunza Ecolodge, which offers slow-life, ecologically sustainable guest houses. Hungary, Bodolyabér, 19.04.2023. (left) / Milady Siringo putting flowers in a vase in one of the eco-friendly guest houses in Bodolyabér. Hungary, Bodolyabér, 06.04.2023. (middle) / The Bohemian Caravan of Hunza Ecolodge. Hungary, Bodolyabér, 06.04.2023. (right) "We are Roeland and Milady, the founders and hosts of the Hunza Ecolodge in Bodolyabér. We became a couple during a trip in Hungary and gradually became more and more attached to the place - to the hillsides, forests, wonderful wines, and the cultural atmosphere of Pécs. Finally, we moved here from Ghent, Belgium; we bought the area in Mecsek where we fell in love. It sounds like a fairy tale, but a lot of searching, several years of traveling and learning, and running a party service business preceded the big move.
We have two sons; we moved to Hungary just before the eldest was born. We wanted to start a family in a place close to nature with good air. Our eco-lodge, located on an area of about two hectares, is in a small valley at the edge of the forest. We can provide both quiet nooks and crannies - a Tree House, a Cabin in the Woods, a Bohemian Caravan, glamping and camping sites - and functional communal spaces surrounded by a colourful garden full of edible plants and our own small organic micro-farm. According to permaculture farming, we use biodynamic technology in cooperation with mother nature. Our garden also serves to feed our guests. Protecting the Earth, caring for people, and ensuring fair distribution are at the heart of our philosophy and our accommodations.
During the construction of our eco-lodges, we always work with our hands, using low-energy, local materials. For the application of old technologies, we often ask for the help of local specialists. We value and respect local residents. The self-sufficient lifestyle is not a new cool trend for them but rather a natural part of life, and this knowledge has been passed on to each other for generations. We try to introduce the local residents to new, foreign technologies, while also learning a lot from each other.
There are many cycling and hiking trails and beach opportunities in the area, and Pécs, which is full of cultural programs, is only half an hour away. We believe that instead of the constant rush and stress, it is good to pour a glass of local wine and relax with a good book surrounded by the sounds and smells of nature. To promote relaxation and quality rest, our accommodations can be booked for at least one week during the season and for at least two nights during the spring and autumn periods."
Footnotes
"Hope. Children exude hope, even under the most terrible conditions, and that must inspire us as our conditions get worse. Hopeful patients recover better. Hopeful test candidates score better. Hopeful builders construct better buildings. Hopeful parents produce secure and resilient children. ln groups, an atmosphere of hope is essential to a shared successful effort: "Yes, we can!" is not an empty slogan, but a mantra for people who intend to do something together - whether it is rescuing victims of hurricanes, rebuilding flood-damaged buildings on higher ground, helping wounded people through first aid, or inventing new social structures (perhaps one in which only people are "persons," not corporations). We cannot know what threats we will face. But ingenuity against adversity is one of our species' built-in resources. We cope, and faith in our coping capacity is perhaps our biggest resource of all."
/Ernest Callenbach: Epistle to Ecotopians/