“Model Home” reads the text of standard sign boards that people used to place on their doors during the times of communism. The message was that the home was the property of responsible owners.

Such sign boards are no longer in the vogue today but one of them would tell the truth about the home and garden of Dobrina Encheva from the town of Zlatitsa, Western Bulgaria. The place is dominated by strict order that many homes and houses in this country lack. Dobrina Encheva is a retired chemist who has dedicated more time recently on care of her house. Her family, house and land comprise her priceless wealth. Dobrina's garden looks like paradise dotted with countless bright flowers, fruit trees and vegetable beds. She also keeps a few happy chickens, a calf and cow, whichalso enjoy a "model home" as if made by European standards.

All this has been achieved at a very high cost - tireless work with no right to any neglect. Dobrina has learned key insights of gardening from her mother. Today she is saddened at the thought that young people lack that great love for the land and for gardening and even has fears that her own garden's future is unclear.

"I'm an amateur gardener, I'm not a professional. I love to grow vegetables and I produce my own seedlings for them and never rely on seeds from the market because more often than not they are imported. I select my seeds from ripe tomatoes, peppers, squash - all from my garden. At the same time, I care forplenty of flowers. Now I have taken them inside the house to protect them from the cold weather. It's a mountain region here, and it is cold. Now I plant the bulbs of spring flowers - tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. Also I trim the roses and clean the gardens from weeds. While I am in charge of the garden, my husband takes care of the cow, calf and chickens. We have a few acres of land, we have a small tractor as well as equipment for hay harvesting.We do not have material difficulties to work so hard, but we are led by our love for the land. Village work requires daily efforts, especially in the fall and summer. There could be a scorching sun in the field or heavy rain, but we won't leave until we have finished the daily job.Every day I and my husband get up early at 6 am to milk the cow, put food to the animals and get them out to pasture. The garden also should be watered early before the son becomes scorching. Village work is not a simple: it requires a lot of knowledge, serious attitude, experience and care. For urban people this might look a bit alien, but we live in such a town where animals are still kept in the suburbs. We are going to work until we have energy. Then, I do not know what the young of the family will do with the land.”

The model housewife is absolutely ready for the winter. The ground floor of the house displays stacked jars with winter supplies arranged as if in a pharmacy. All fruits and vegetables, home-made, have been preserved. The family does not sit at the table without its homemade pickles. This year it is the recipe for "100 peppers", and Dobrina Encheva was kind enough the share the recipe with us”

„The peppers are roasted, and put to marinade in jars for sterilization. The marinade is made from vinegar, sunflower oil, salt and sugar. Then the jars are boiled. The spices I use are simple - garlic and parsley. These pickled peppers are so very delicious”, concludes Dobrina Encheva from the town of Zlatitsa.

English Daniela Konstantinova