Read the Italian website Planet.info article about Food for the earth - Good for All on: http://www.planetinspired.info/web/it/-/sabewa-cibo-per-la-terra
Below you find the english translation;
Planetinspired.info
SABEWA: 'FOOD FOR THE EARTH'
A great little sustainable innovation in the city of Sofia
October 29, 2013
• Tags: innovation,
sustainability, eco-friendly development, irena sabewa
Can a good tendency
represent a sustainable innovation for a whole capital of Europe, so
revolutionary as to increase the quality of life of the citizens and contribute
to reducing the cost of waste disposal?
The answer is yes, if we
talk about Food for the Earth,
Bulgarian winner of the EU competition "A World How You Like It". The idea of ‘giving food
to the earth' is of Irena Sabewa, social psychologist, president and co-founder
of "Our District," an association which works in Sofia for the
development of eco-friendly practices. With “Food for the Earth”, the volunteers of the association will run a
special composting site in the neighborhood where people will bring their
organic waste and garden clippings, receiving in exchange the compost to
fertilize their flower beds. In the proximity of the composting site, a small
playground for children, which will include the possibility to hold cultural
events, workshops and laboratories for
the recycling of material, will be created. An innovation not only sustainable
but also socially responsible. Planet Inspired interviewed Irena Sabewa.
Irena, where was
the idea for this project born? Can you give us some information on your background?
"In Bulgaria there are no municipal systems for
the separate collection of organic waste and the problem of the dumping grounds
is very serious. The municipality of Sofia where I live has a program for
composting at the household level, but in our neighborhood people do not put it
into practice. In the DNA of my family we have the 'gene' of respect for the
environment, so in our daily lives we try to implement as many eco-friendly
practices as possible. We do composting in our garden as a very simple and
responsible step for the mitigation of climate change. Instead of this method,
the people of the neighborhood throw away their organic waste in their garbage bins,
mixing it with all other waste. For us it was very ugly to look at, and so one
day my husband and I decided to start looking for a solution on how to avoid the
bestowal of organic household waste and garden cuttings in the dumping ground
and increase environmental awareness in people. Our idea was that we should
address the problem in a way that would increase the cohesion of the community,
would produce the composting on the premises and would be efficient. CO2
emissions will be reduced by reducing the costs of transport; high-quality
compost will be ready and people will have a chance to get together to do
something useful by taking care of the environment. It is along these lines
that ‘Food for the Earth' was born."
It seems that
a key element of the project is the relationship developed among the people.
Can you explain how this works and how you reached this particular approach?
"The idea is exactly this: to raise ecological
awareness in the individuals by providing access to composting facilities,
increasing at the same time cohesion in the community. The project "Food
for the Earth – a benefit for all" is still in the initial stage, but I
could testify that day after day each one is striving to cooperate. We are well
aware that this change takes time and steps to increase motivation and
information. We also try to involve the neighbors in beautifying their
neighborhood - to clean together, to plant flowers, bushes, trees, and to build
a small park with a children's corner. Some of the people are very supportive and,
together with the volunteers, the activities are going on well. We still have a
lot of work to do and we intend to continue neighborhood by neighborhood,
across the city."
How were the
reactions of the people so far, and what results do you have at this point?
"Over the years, the municipal garbage collection
service has created the attitude in people that waste is a problem that does
not concern them, because it is the responsibility of the local government, and
also the belief that it is a simple service that all one has to do is pay for
it. The team that put together the project understands very well that to change
these attitudes it takes time and reliable support from the government. We are
very happy for the meeting we had with the mayor of Sofia after the award of
the European Prize. The mayor of Sofia Fandakova has expressed her readiness to
support us by looking for tools for the implementation of "Food for Earth
– good for all". For us this is a very important and necessary
collaboration. We expect the first quantities of compost to be ready in the
spring. The estimate is that about 10-20% of the raw material becomes compost.
At the same time, it is estimated that organic waste constitutes at least
30-40% of the volume of all waste going to the dumping ground. If we imagine
how many tons of organic waste could turn into "food for the earth,"
it means uniting climate-friendly behavior with a deep respect for nature and humanity."
It's mainly for sturdy physical work with a shovel, hoe,
rake and garden secateurs. At the beginning of the week the three Irena's
children circulated in neighborhood mailboxes polite invitations for inclusion
in the activities.
"Here each of us has the opportunity to participate directly in the natural process of converting garden waste in an eco-fertilizer with which to maintain green areas, and there will be enough for anyone who needs a fertilizer for their garden", says Irena with her radiant smile. We are walking around the site. We find that freshly planted the day before the infront the composter area hydrangeas are broken. We wonder who could have done this. Days later, Irena realized that the culprits were goats, which usually go there. "I hope the goatherd led them on other paths," she wrote me no other comments on the case.
It's
all part of the project "Living together" which was developed by the
Association and approved for implementation by the Sofia Municipality under the
program "Green Sofia" 2013. The project's name speaks for itself and
reminds something essential that for a long time and severely lacking in our
neighborhoods.
Association for Sustainable
Practices "Our neighborhood" is currently seeking funding to continue
the project "Food of the Earth" in order to implement it in other
neighborhoods in Sofia.
All of a sudden, this year Irena hears about Green Sofia program 2013, which aims to ennoble the green areas
in the capital. The project, that
is currently called Food for the
Earth is approved, and at the same time, the initiative participates in the competition of the European Commission - World you like, with a climate you like. There our people also perform
well and become national winners. Both lines at certain moment intersect. Where? In
Knyazhevo - the residential area,
right on the corner of the street where family Sabew lives.
People in the neighborhood are surprised to find in their mailboxes explanatory materials, which Irena`s children distribute by themselves. After that, to everybody‘s astonishment, they observe how some three acres of Knyazhevska forest, which before were used mostly to discard rubish there, transform in plain sight of everybody into a lovely small garden with flowers and benches. And - most important for Irena - with a small enclosed space that appears to be the first neighborhood compost area.
Dnevnik Newspaper
On the 6th of November the newpaper dnevnik published an article about Food For the Earth. Read the article in Bulgarian here.
Neighborhood you like
For nearly a week there are
some billboards on Sofia streets from where an affably woman is smiling and a composter can be seen at the
background. Through that approach of
smiling Irena Sabeva achieved most things in life, and this is obviously
profitable. The billboard campaign is the award for Irena and for all members
from the Association for sustainable practices, "Our neighborhood"
for their neighborhood composting project.
This community initiative is a national
winner in the European Commission Contest "A
world you like, with a climate you like." But in practice its implementation steps are made in four consecutive
Sundays in "Knyajevo" neighborhood.
Compost area "Kniajevo"
On the corner of "Mecha
Polyana" (near Panoramen Road), where she lives, Irena and several
volunteers, neighbors and their children, built up gradually 40 sq compost area for garden and kitchen
vegetable waste, which will benefit everyone in the neighborhood. An excellent
example of how a collective effort can prevent the disposal of biodegradable
waste and use them for their own purposes. And this waste is at least 40% of
the "garbage", which is one of the reasons for the formation of
greenhouse gases.
"Here each of us has the opportunity to participate directly in the natural process of converting garden waste in an eco-fertilizer with which to maintain green areas, and there will be enough for anyone who needs a fertilizer for their garden", says Irena with her radiant smile. We are walking around the site. We find that freshly planted the day before the infront the composter area hydrangeas are broken. We wonder who could have done this. Days later, Irena realized that the culprits were goats, which usually go there. "I hope the goatherd led them on other paths," she wrote me no other comments on the case.
Their project is not just about
compost area. The idea is close to it to be delineateed some pleasant places
where people can relax, meet and communicate, children to play - with each
other and with nature. So cleaning the ravine of the river that descends from
Vitosha mountain, cultivate green spaces, restoring small forest trails and
build a safe forest playground with a sandbox in the park "Knyazhevska
Forest" – theese are other important things that are happening there gradually.
While Irena was telling me this things, a man with a dog came right up
on the purified forest paths,
approaching to the sandstone and saw daisies planted in the shape of a
heart. Gasped appreciatively of the change around.
Living together
On an area of 3 acres volunteers mainly prune
shrubs, cleaned of weeds and stones, and piles of construction waste into the
ravine, many of which "were planted deep in the ground." With this
latest action we even succeeded to liberate the natural course of the river.
Hoeing and planting (in season) flowers and other suitable vegetation. There
are already hundreds of planted shrubs and 400 tulips, 200 daffodils, many
carnations and daisies, and 180 shrubs that form a "bed" for
"River of the Flowers." So far, some of the seeds and
seedlings were stocked in the yard of Irena`s family, who has consulted for
color selection with a landscape architect. Municipal finance is 90% of the
materials and flower bulbs, shrubs, trees, pergola and benches, but the labor
is voluntary.
During the last campaign volunteers received
spontaneous support from the owner of the store from where they buy construction materials for compost
area. "Having realized that doing something voluntarily, he said:" I
can not believe someone makes such things. Then, the construction of the door
of the composter will be free, and we want to help in this good
initiative." People was stopping their cars and visibly enjoyed the change
we've seen. A man advised volunteers to employ guards to protect "that good
thing, because vandals live here."
The municipality has promised to deliver colored
containers for separate disposal. They intend to procure a shredder which fit
perfectly in use in this type of neighborhood, explains Irena to me, near by
the pile of branches, which the municipality has promised to transport out.
So
far, at the site there are two wooden benches, stiff from a fallen tree, and
will be set more. Around the compost area is planted evergreen hedge of
Ligustrum, which will provide fast decomposition of organic waste.
"Our neighborhood"
is going to be prettier
"Our neighborhood" is beautifying with the
general voluntary efforts of all of us, wrote in the recent invitations to
neighbors and friends Irena, and to the question of why we do all this she
said, "We want to create something beautiful with a tangible effect on
improving life in the community and put into practice a better relationship
with nature around us. We believe that this will help us to learn to live
together again. "
This weekend we took a walk with my children into the
cleansed forest. After a long play in the sandbox we went down to the little
river. With a smile we found traces of volunteers - a small bridge have built
there and we could see prints of hands on it of all participants in the
project.
Details and photos of the project for composting read
in the blog Food for the Earth.
The Bulgarian radioprogram Dariknews made an interview with Irena Sabewa.
Read the article in Bulgarian here: http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=1177798
Irena
Sabewa
She
composts, deals with psychotherapy and believes that the soul is pure.
Psychologist. She
graduated in Social Psychology at Southwestern University and her secondary school
was with electronic technician profile - nuclear electronics.
Irena is a part of the Association for Sustainable Practices "Our
neighborhood" which recently won on the
national level the competition of the European Commission "World you
like, with a climate that you like." On top of all she is a mother of three children.
Irena`s idea about
neighborhood composting was born
and has been awaiting
it‘s implementation in the street since 2011. The idea, in fact started with her personal experience
to solve the garbage problem at home. Because the understanding in her family is
that the organic waste is a valuable resource and must go
back into the natural cycle. Instead, daily, tons of
this resource go to recycling dumps,
where they start
rotting , but ultimately the process fails, because enters into
complex reactions with all other materials, and while the process is going on they
release huge amounts of greenhouse gases . Thus the first draft of the neighborhood
compost project was
born and in order to
find its‘
funding, Irena
creates a small NGO with close followers.
Association applies with several
projects to different programms, but faces
mostly incomprehension.
People in the neighborhood are surprised to find in their mailboxes explanatory materials, which Irena`s children distribute by themselves. After that, to everybody‘s astonishment, they observe how some three acres of Knyazhevska forest, which before were used mostly to discard rubish there, transform in plain sight of everybody into a lovely small garden with flowers and benches. And - most important for Irena - with a small enclosed space that appears to be the first neighborhood compost area.
How
long did it take to make the garden?
We were gathering
four consecutive
Sundays. First time for four hours, next
time – for six, after that
– people didn‘t want to go until really late. The last Sunday, there was a young boy who finally said, "Well,
aren`t these people already tired?"
Who
were "these people"?
Only volunteers, a dozen of people.
Did the composters start functioning in Knyajevo?
Yes, I installed it a few weeks ago. Shortly thereafter, a man came and pulled out two huge sacks.
And I wonder whether to react or not. At the same time the mounting of benches is going on. I thought to myself: “O`kay, I will not mess with him.” The garbage bins were full. After the man left, I nipped
over to see. I opened the sacks
to look at the inside – and…what a pleasure. Green and brown. Freshly cut grass and brown
leaves. The perfect balance.
Do you
expect the composter to be used?
I, frankly speaking, put the first composter as a test to see whether it will be stolen. But
someone had immediately put inside peelings from the kitchen, carefully wrapped
in some paper, it was extremely
nice.
What is actually compost?
It is a natural process of
converting the organic waste into a humus like
mixture, soil. It has exclusively feeding qualities, helping the soil recovery, fertility.
And what should we
do with these organic wastes?
Just collect them,
yet in the sink and take
them to such a place.
We should not throw
them away in a container.
How long should they
stay there?
The process depends
on external conditions. In this particular case we use a closed type of composter, where the process happens with a lot of oxygen and a lot of moisture. This is not a thermo-composter, so in
the winter the process
may continue three months, three and a half, depending on how cold it will be.
Anyway, the temperature in the middle of the pile remains high enough and the
process continues, but in the
summer it accelerates.
Then how do we use this compost?
It directly fertilizes the flower garden that we arranged near by. Practically we are closing the cycle, zero
footprints. We want, as much as it is possible, not
to lose anything that is
green and that can be a resource.
You've done a lot of work.
We have done the
easiest - the provision of the
facility. Now the longer and more difficult stage of the process is coming - to explain that we should not throw to the waste containers grass or leaves, or potato peels. The containers, by the way, are just next to the compost area, so
that everyone can see
that the process of separate collection is efficient.
Is there any hope all this to happen in other districts?
Fortunately, after
the jury of the contest at the European Commission announced on our project for
national winner we received an invitation from Mrs. Fandakova. Forthcoming are
more conversations, but it became clear that the municipality has the desire
and will to continue the project in other areas. Pending the details to be
discussed, but our goal is the landfill of organic waste to stop. We are open
to help with what we know. We believe that it is not difficult and we are sure
that it is not expensive.
Can one make a compost in their apartment?
There is an option to
put a composter on the balcony, one
of the type with worms –
vermicomposter. As long as one has the willingness and determination... And It repays properly, worms work and suddenly you see the brown soil beneath, and It`s great.
What kinds of people surround you?
Mostly friends with
children, which is very nice and cohesive. When you share the same principles in the upbringing, it makes you feel
supported. There are also other people, but
children are at the moment the dominant factor
in our family development.
Otherwise I deal with analytical psychotherapy, where I have a professional
life with colleagues.
What do they think of you?
It's difficult for me to say this. Knowing my current lifestyle - three children who at the moment I am looking after, alone, people are wondering how the projects happen at all. They consider it to be an extraordinery achievement. Indeed,
at times it is very exhausting. Sometimes I get blocked by exhaustion.
Do you make mistakes?
The mistakes are
opportunities which carry the solutions in
themselves. They are experience. Recently my attitude is to
accept them as a challenge, not as a guilt. The guilt is not constructive, it destroys.
You're fairly
positive person?
I am trying ... I am trying.
What the
success is?
It is one stop of the life journey. One of the
stops.
What
you don`t have enough time for?
For the details. To stop at some point and to refine down certain element. For example - some benches were delivered to us, and
the deliverers left them disassembled - two concrete legs of 50 kilograms each. Men ecplained It was very difficult to put them together, and they wanted extra
money for doing it. I told them to
leave the benches for us to
assemble them with my children.
But these people had
to come back because four of
the boards didn`t fit.
They took a hammer and started pounding and curving the bolt. I told them, "No, stop. Make
it so that in ten years it would still remain. Because if you curve the bolt
now, later the board will burst. What's the point of doing things
this way? " Well, such moments when I want to refine the
detail, I miss and I don‘t give to myself very often. We
all are in a hurry very much, we do not spend time to
finish something and to leave it well done.
What a
soul are you?
The soul this is striving of this life. The mind, the intellect are the internal structure of the psyche, while the soul is the striving and every step towards it brings these reflections of positivity, care, compassion, patience and
love. I think this is the essence
of each of us. With
heart, mind and intellect we try to get to this essence. In my understanding the soul is pure and is something we all
try to get closer to.
Your last inspiration?
Volunteers. This is a
strong will, courage to do something for the good and nothing else. To do
something and do not care who will use it, this is a supreme act of humaneness. There is no deal, but just pure, warm people, hoes, pickaxes, concrete. If more
people open their heart to go and do
something without self-interest, the world will get much better.
Do you have a favorite quote?
"The generosity
of the earth cultivates in our compost beauty. Let's try to be more like the Earth" by
Jalal al-Din RumiText: Veselin Trandov / Photography: Vasil Tanev
Channel BTV
Look at the Tv reportage from channel BTV here
