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Permakultur tanzt gen Osten

Branka Brabek Milekic erinnert sich, wie Ökodörfer und Gewaltfreie Kommunikation nach Kroatien kamen

Yes, I like this opportunity to express my love for Declan. Maybe I can also use my wild English. This is how Adam Curle once named Croatian peace makers English.

How to start?

Maybe with my own inner struggling with new knowledge which slowly I have  started  to pick up since 1992.

It was the time of the war in Croatia. A time of fear when all values have been broken. I felt myself lost and was thinking what to do. To run away were the thoughts I had in mind.

First I took opportunity to participate in a Mediation seminar in Lebensgarten. Beside mediation workshop in my face came many „strange“ brochures, leaflets and ideas. I did not know to sort or catalogue them in my mind. No theoretical model I learned did fit. 

Beside inner struggling in one part of myself I realized that I was deeply touched by people I never met before. I found myself deeply inspired by them.

None could be compared with each other. All my expectation and defences I brought with me did not function.

You, Declan, were for me one of them whom I could not compare or put in any box. It seems to me now because you directly entered into my heart and my mind in the same time.

The Universe brought to me what at that moment I needed - „Institute for Permaculture“, written in a small brochure. So many times I tried to really understand what it is. The word „institute“ promised academic value, what was for someone who was educated at the University where the „academic approach“ was opening all closed doors in society where I lived. Behind this institute was the man who was dancing in the circle, who knew a Croatian dance „Sadila sam rogozec“ which I remembered from my childhood and then totally have forgotten.

Your smile, laughing and dancing I wanted to show to each single person in my world.

My running away continued.

In 1996 I asked Katharina Sander if I can write your name as mentor onto one permaculture project proposal. She confirmed and I felt supported.

Then it happened that our project Latinovac was on internet. One student from Zagreb, activist in green movement phoned me one day delighted with eco village concept in Croatia. We did not meet till 2004 when he organized a permaculture seminar. I knew there is a new generation who will work on the future.

Today an ecovillage network exists in Croatia, many people in this network know your name and your work.

I was one of the lucky ones who could feel your presence in a workshop on nonviolent communication, enjoy you talking about permaculture, admire your inner richness and unbelievable energy and charm.

And at least once a year I share the place where you live, dance, work, strongly influencing and changing the world, bring hope and values back into the life.

Happy birthday dear Declan, with love and joy!

Branka Brabek Milekic

Latinovac, Croatia