The time has come: After ten years in Basel, I am finally ready to take the big step and leave my old home behind. The migration slowly started two years ago. The constant back and forth was a good experience, but also tiring and sometimes a bit frustrating. As soon as I took on a project in one place, I had to leave to take care of the other one. But now I can concentrate fully on Son Selva.
I'm not just leaving behind my home country, my appartment, my friends and family. I'm also leaving behind my business Urbanroots. A project I've been building up by myself over the past 4 years with the goal of teaching people how to grow food in their own backyards, on terraces or balconies. Over the past 5 years I successfully built up an onlineshop for organic seeds and garden supply, convinced many souls to start their own garden, helped plan outdoor spaces of restaurants and offices, gave countless workshops about urban gardening and permaculture and even had a series in Switzerlands most read newspaper Blick! I had so much fun building this business up and thank all our customers and partners for this incredible time.
Working in two different countries and on two different projects was definitely to much for me to handle. I envy everyone who can just switch their brain from one world to the other. For me it felt like constantly being behind on my tasks, not present enough and the well-being of the newly planted trees in Mallorca suffered as well as the sales back in Switzerland whenever I wasn't around.
Aspecially the collaboration with Blick was a blast and an experience I wouldn't want to miss.
Being in front of the camera every week also helped me to improve my skills for my youtube channel. It was super interesting to see how the pro's plan and execute a film and I am very grateful to have been able to learn from them.
What's next? –
My to-do list for this year is getting longer and longer. The fact that I am no longer tied to Switzerland, gives me the feeling that I will have endless time in the future! And I can finally involve some animals!
Buy a container and (at some point) turn it into a workshop/warehouse.
Start a vegetable garden.
Build an outdoor kitchen and shower (including a gray water garden).
Learn more about beekeeping.
Build entrance gate.
Restore dry stone walls.
Attend a Spanish course (for advanced learners).
Order tents, clear camping area.
Inauguration of the workshop space and implementation of the first workshops.
Repair pig enclosures, build chicken coop.
Buy pigs, chickens and quails.
Clarify future water supply.
Detailed planning of the house (building permit should come through this year!)
Implement four upcoming plantings/permaculture designs for clients.
Farm tour: Visit and portray various projects on the island.
Planting Miyawaki Forest.
As I write this list, I realize that this is probably a bit overambitious. We'll see how much of it I can actually implement! In addition, every step also costs money. Anyone who has not yet been able to bring themselves to donate or sponsor a tree can still do so.
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