As winter settled in, January and February were months filled with work, creativity and adventure. Whether tending to the orchard, exploring the mountains, preparing martinitsi or skiing each experience was meaningful and rewarding.
January: Cleaning and preparing
January was a time for organizing and getting things ready for the months ahead. In one of the orchards, we cleared away blackberry bushes to give the trees more space and light. Due to the nice (and quite warm) weather and the nice area, we enjoyed this task a lot. Even though we needed to overcome the spiky bushes. 
I went to watch the sunrise at the Shipka Peak, which was a very beautiful experience! One weekend I hiked to a mountain hut, even though there was a lot of snow, which made the hike exhausting but the nice views made up for it.
A lot of time was spent organizing different spaces, including the community center (the Chitaliste), the statue room, and storage areas. We moved paintings and windows, swept the parking area, and cleaned up various spots. On the eco-trail, we cleared paths and updated signs to keep everything accessible. 
On January 9th we joined the remembrance event for the Battle of the Shipka Pass, an important historical moment. Later that month, on January 18th it was the day for the blacksmiths at the museum. It was a great chance to see traditional craftsmanship in action and meet with local people.
We also focused on cleaning and organizing sheds, making sure everything was in its place. In the garden, we prepared the beds by weeding and covering them to get them ready for planting. Another step was preparing the space where we plan to set up a greenhouse.
February: Creating, Learning and Exploring
February was all about planning, making things, and exploring. We started by cleaning out the community compost, so we can use the nutrient-rich soil at the bottom for the garden while also making space for new fresh organic material. We also pruned some trees in the garden and got reminded to be careful while doing so.
Another task was starting to plan the garden. To think about what plants we want and where we will put them.
On the 14th of February it’s the celebration of wine in Bulgaria. In Shipka there is a wine contest, one of the volunteers participated in the event and got to experience Bulgarian hospitality. 
We took part in a traditional activity by making Martinitzi, red and white decorations for Baba Marta on the first of march, which celebrates the arrival of spring (see the article about Martinitza). Another creative project was making lampshades, which was a fun way to be artistic while making something useful. We repurposed old plastic water bottles and covered them with pages from old books, turning waste into something useful and decorative.
To take a break, I went to the black sea, where I camped on the beach and enjoyed the peaceful winter landscapes. Later on in February, we went skiing at Buzludzha, making the most of the snowy season.
Learning continued with an introduction to permaculture course organised by the Green Association. It was a great opportunity to meet new people, discover inspirational examples and dive into the principles of permaculture.
One volunteer took some free time and went to Greece for a one week trip at the end of February.
And during these two month we made a lot of yoghurt and cottage cheese!
Looking Ahead
As spring approaches and the weather is slowly getting warmer, our fingers are getting itchy to start in the garden. The work we did over the winter has prepared us for the growing season, however there is still some work that needs to be done. We look forward to seeing the first plants sprout, and tackling new projects. With plenty of work and discoveries ahead, we are excited for what’s to come.
