A week in the heart of the Zhelen hills

One week ago, I arrived in the beautiful hills of Zhelen to join the Vegetarium association. From the very first days, I felt almost immediately at home. Here, life is paced by simplicity and authenticity.

Each day is marked by a deep connection with nature, animals, and the people I meet. Between the magnificent landscapes and community life, everything encourages me to slow down and look at things differently.

At Vegetarium, we don’t strive for “perfection” or aesthetics. We simply live, we work, and that’s what’s beautiful. This raw reality teaches us a lot about ourselves, but also about others. We share, we exchange, we learn to live together with sincerity and kindness.

This place inspires me immensely. It makes me want to create, to imagine new projects, and to explore ways of living closer to the earth and to all living things. Even the most unexpected tasks take on a new dimension: collecting horse manure to make fertilizer is part of everyday life. And it all makes sense here.

I love nature’s surprises; sometimes you encounter more scorpions than people…

In just one week, I already feel this experience gently transforming me. It’s teaching me to live more consciously and the importance of caring for nature, ourselves, and others.

Today, I am deeply grateful to have joined this Vegetarium adventure.

Océ 😉