ONE GARDEN
MONTENEGRO
Why the One Garden?
It is a reminder that our planet is “one garden” floating in space.
Places of retreat and contemplation often include “garden” in their names.
Or maybe just this, it is a quote from Jalal ad-Din Rumi:
“ There is a garden beyond good and evil, meet me there”
THE PLACE
We are located about 10 kilometers out of Podgorica, Montenegro. On a very old piece of cultivated land. Some of the grapevines are 150 years old. Since Roman times and most likely before that humans had settled here. The Romans gave plots to retired soldiers. This is part of the history of this land.
Our area is called “ the Four Winds.” There is usually a very light wind that goes around. We are on the southern foothills of Kamenik and enjoy a tremendous view all the way from Sakadar Lake to the park Lovćen.
The main plot with a family house, a piece of forest nearby, and a little bit down a vineyard. Altogether, it's about 1.5 hectares. Here, we want to continue what we did before in other different places—creating a space for working with plants and food growing, practicing meditation and ceramics, and just being and resting.
Our area is called “ the Four Winds.” There is usually a very light wind that goes around. We are on the southern foothills of Kamenik and enjoy a tremendous view all the way from Sakadar Lake to the park Lovćen.
The main plot with a family house, a piece of forest nearby, and a little bit down a vineyard. Altogether, it's about 1.5 hectares. Here, we want to continue what we did before in other different places—creating a space for working with plants and food growing, practicing meditation and ceramics, and just being and resting.
OUR TEAM
- Michel SpaanMichel is a long-term seed saver and meditation practitioner. The natural builder with many years of experience.
- Django & ErnestoThose who joke a lot create actions, innovate games, and tell us stories.
- MarjoMarjo runs the French International School in Podgorica, writes children's books, works with ceramics, and loves cooking.
BASIC NEEDS
What are the basic needs? - a nice question to play with, maybe even to ponder
For years, we (Michel in particular) worked with and lived the Buddhist concept of four basic needs: food, medicine, shelter, and clothing. Of course, we can add to the short version, for example, social coherence, safety, freedom of thought, etc.
Our Garden is a place for practice
Meditation, tai chi, yoga, or other similar practices can be very helpful in regaining a sense of who we are and how we function.
At One Garden, we facilitate and participate in these practices. We offer a place for a peaceful retreat, where one can partake in yoga and meditation, indulge in natural food, explore our organic garden, and even play with clay in our ceramics studio.
It is a natural place where we can practice and relax, do and not do, and take time out from our habitual lives. We can meditate, build, garden, meet, be solo in natural surroundings, or lay in a hammock. Someone needs to lay in a hammock and “do” nothing. We create stories rather than provide explanations.
At One Garden, we facilitate and participate in these practices. We offer a place for a peaceful retreat, where one can partake in yoga and meditation, indulge in natural food, explore our organic garden, and even play with clay in our ceramics studio.
It is a natural place where we can practice and relax, do and not do, and take time out from our habitual lives. We can meditate, build, garden, meet, be solo in natural surroundings, or lay in a hammock. Someone needs to lay in a hammock and “do” nothing. We create stories rather than provide explanations.
"I feel it is very important breaks, corridors from one place to the next. Breaks between doing this and that and the other thing and the next. Have a pause. Ideally, even a pause from ego absorption should be allowed"
Michel Spaan
We grow food and save seeds
Our concern is about maintaining diversity. We need to eat healthy food, so we will continue growing it, and there will be different gardens. We can grow food for ourselves, visitors, and friends to exchange it. The climate here allows us to introduce tropical plants like papaya and avocado. We have five months of pretty hot conditions here. Pear, apple, and fig trees are already growing on the plot.
OUR PLANS
Peaceful retreats
Yoga Sala
Sauna and ice bath
Quiet accommodation
Tropical plants
Home-grown food restaurant
Ceramic studio
Place for volunteers
Who is the person we are waiting for?
Who are tired and looking place to rest
Volunteers who want to learn
Yoga teachers with their groups
Artist who looking for inspiration
PARTNERS
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