“Hi! How Are you?”
I am Ellen Blommaert. I am an anthropologist (Ph.D.), a social worker, an activist, and an idealist.
Munay Forest Garden stands as our inspiration and our modest endeavor to create a better world for generations to come. Having lived in various countries amidst diverse circumstances, groups, and cultures, it became clear to me that rather than attempting to change the global system, I would create my own enchanting heaven. A place where we as a family can welcome and host people from around the globe. My aspiration is to spark inspiration in them to cultivate their own magical gardens!
My History
I created Munay Forest Garden because I believe there is a general need for people to spend more time in nature. In our hectic lives with busy schedules and social commitments, we often spend far too little time in nature.
Growing up in the Belgian countryside as a “farmer girl”, I learned the vital connection between solidarity and nature. It is so important to connect with nature because when we connect, we care. With farming roots in my family, I spent my childhood outdoors, tending to gardens and animals.
My drive and perspectives of life were deeply shaped by my work as a social worker with refugees and homeless individuals in Belgium. Later, I focused on defending the rights of coca farmers in Bolivia, studying their survival strategies in the War on Drugs. Living in Kenya, I worked as an anthropologist and delved into the local lifeworld of young people, facing the realities of poverty and diseases like leishmania, TB, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. In the village, we had no tap water, no electricity, no gas… A big amount of our time was used cleaning the water that was carried in buckets on donkeys from Lake Victoria, cooking with firewood, and lighting the house with a candle or a petroleum lamp. “Close to nature”; “Romantic”, an ecologist would say. For most villagers, however, it is a daily reality and not romantic at all.
My experiences working in Bolivia and Kenya shed light on the intricate and ambiguous nature of the development world. Within development projects, complex power dynamics are always at play. The central question isn't solely whether development functions, but rather, HOW it operates and WHO ultimately reaps its benefits. Numerous stakeholders are involved, yet despite many repeating the same mistakes, little knowledge exchange occurs because our focus tends to fixate on success stories exclusively. Regrettably, if a project is labeled a 'success,' its narrative is shaped by how YOU, as a (natural or social) scientist, interpret certain situations. I aspire to one day muster the courage to pen a novel on 'Aspirations and Sex: Coming of Age in Western Kenya in a Context of HIV,' laying bare the true stakes in that village and advocating against injustice.
After my experiences in Kenya and Bolivia, my husband, our little daughter and I moved to Lima (Peru) and Dakar (Senegal). No matter where we had lived so far, I consistently established my own organic vegetable gardens for both nourishment and tranquility, viewing them as a form of meditation. Engaged within transition network groups and interconnected with organic farming networks, I immersed myself in projects focused on preserving organic cotton and/or (sheep and alpaca).
Due to my husband’s job, we relocated to Bonn. Despite the allure of city life, my passion for starting a permaculture food forest project led us to search for a countryside home near Bonn/Köln. After some time, we found our dream home in Drinhausen!
Memories from our time ABROAD
Setting up a Permaculture food forest project
On the sunny and sheltered edge of the forest, I’m creating a small food forest, essentially mimicking the natural layering found in forests. The significant difference is that food production plays a major role in my design. At this early stage, I'm experimenting on a small scale with tall and low trees and shrubs. I aim to further enrich the ground layer with climbing plants and more perennial herbs, striving to cultivate a resilient edible ecosystem. The soil quality in Oberberg, rich in natural stones, loam, and clay, presents its challenges. Nonetheless, by creating raised beds, consistently mulching, and enriching with compost, I've already witnessed remarkable transformations.
Throughout this journey, I am deeply grateful for the invaluable support of my husband and the dedicated volunteers who have joined us along the way!
Thanks to our volunteers
To flourish in our project, we depend on dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who share our love for nature, permaculture, and food forests. We welcome individuals who envision themselves as part of our vibrant and open-minded community, bringing a spirit of creativity and ease to our diverse range of outdoor tasks.
Volunteers play a crucial role in helping us feed the animals, tend to the vegetable garden, and do tasks like clearing maple/beech seedlings and wild berries. Those with experience in permaculture food forests are encouraged to share their insights. Additionally, volunteers assist in organizing Forest Language Camps for local children.
In the last 3 years, we've hosted over 60 volunteers from around the globe. Many of them became like family, and we've even visited some in their home countries. Some returned for a second or third time, including students and workers who left renewed after overcoming burn-out. We are deeply grateful for their invaluable contributions and the time spent with us. Hoping to welcome them back or stay connected in the future!
still under construction
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
