Permaculture for Beginners Autumn - 6 Nights / 7 Days
Imagine spending a week in a quiet mountain village where forests, meadows, and gardens become your classroom. This retreat is more than a course - it is hands-on, experiential, and transformative. Across the week, you will explore all 12 permaculture principles through real landscapes, practical design, foraging walks, and seasonal living at Biokovina Wild.
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- By the end of the retreat you will leave with: a clear understanding of permaculture principles, practical techniques you can apply anywhere, design ideas for your own space, and a deeper connection to food, land, and seasonal living.
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📅 20th - 26th September & 27th September - 3rd October | 2026 -
🛏️ 6 nights / 7 days retreat -
🎓 5-day immersive learning experience -
📍 Biokovina Wild near Jajce, Bosnia -
💷 €650 - fully inclusive
About Your Retreat Leader
Cara has over 25 years of hands-on experience in permaculture design, natural growing, and regenerative living. Originally from the UK, she has designed projects in Hawaii, India, and Europe, and is now developing a permaculture village in Bosnia.
Her teaching style is practical, relaxed, and deeply experiential. You will learn by observing, designing, doing, and reflecting - gaining confidence to apply permaculture in any space, anywhere.
What to Expect
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🌱 Master the Foundations of PermacultureExplore all 12 permaculture principles through stories, examples, and hands-on observation. Learn how to read landscapes, understand natural patterns, and design systems that work with nature.
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🌿 Guided Nature & Foraging WalksDaily walks through forests, meadows, and gardens train you to observe natural patterns. With Peter (Chippy) Grant, you will discover edible plants, herbs, and seasonal treasures - often harvested that same day for your meals.
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🌾 Local Knowledge & Mountain LivingLearn from local growers how traditional mountain farming follows permaculture principles, with low-input, resilient techniques that have sustained communities for generations.
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✏️ Hands-On Practical LearningFrom soil building and composting to garden design, companion planting, and water observation, you will apply what you learn directly to the land. You will also sketch ideas for your own future projects.
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🍃 Slow Evenings & CommunityRelax with nourishing meals, mountain sunsets, storytelling, and reflection by the fire. Connect with participants from around the world in a warm, communal atmosphere.
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🏰 Cultural ExcursionVisit the historic town of Jajce, see its famous waterfall, medieval fortress, and explore local markets and cafes before returning to the tranquility of the mountains.
Foraging & Food with Peter (Chippy) Grant
Our guest chef Peter (Chippy) Grant (@thegathererwild) brings wild food, creativity, and seasonal magic to every meal. Expect vibrant vegetarian dishes using wild herbs and edible plants, mountain vegetables and seasonal fruits, heritage grains and traditional breads, and fermented or slow-prepared foods.
Peter will lead foraging walks, teach plant identification and ethical harvesting, and show you how wild foods can shine in simple, nourishing meals.
Cook With the Chef
Participants are warmly invited to join Peter in the kitchen, learning techniques, flavour ideas, and fermentation tricks. At the end of the retreat, Peter will create a special recipe booklet featuring dishes from the week so you can recreate them at home.
Daily Flow
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- Morning: Theory sessions, discussions, and landscape observation.
- Midday: Shared lunch, relaxation, and reflection.
- Afternoon: Hands-on workshops, walks, and applied learning on the land.
- Evening: Communal dinner, conversation, and fire-side reflection.
Stay in comfortable rustic mountain rooms in a quiet village setting for 6 nights and 7 days.
Vegetarian meals are prepared daily by Peter using local and wild ingredients, with tea, coffee, herbal infusions, and snacks available all day.
Nearest airports include Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Zagreb, and Split.
Shuttle transfer from Jajce to Biokovina Wild can be arranged, and full travel guidance is provided after booking.
You will return home with an understanding of the 12 permaculture principles, practical ideas for your own garden or project, knowledge of seasonal wild foods, Peter's recipe booklet, and renewed inspiration and connection to nature.
Expect seasonal gifts from the land, discounts on future Biokovina Wild retreats, and post-retreat support and resources.
€650 - fully inclusive.
Includes accommodation, meals, workshops, foraging walks, cultural excursion, and all retreat activities. Spaces are limited to keep the retreat small and personal.
This retreat is perfect for people completely new to permaculture, gardeners moving towards regenerative growing, those dreaming of a self-sufficient and nature-connected lifestyle, curious foragers, and anyone seeking a meaningful nature retreat.
No previous experience is required - just bring curiosity, comfortable clothes, and a love of nature.
Wake to mountain air and a nourishing breakfast prepared by Peter, then join a permaculture learning session grounded in real examples.
Later, head out for a nature walk or foraging session, share a colourful communal lunch, and spend the afternoon in practical workshops applying what you have learned.
Evenings are for fresh seasonal dinners, optional time in the kitchen with Peter, and stories by the fire under the stars.
Retreats Accomodation
Lower Cherry Cottage
Upper Cherry Cottage
Walnut Cottage
Mulberry Cottage
Communal Spaces
Our thoughtfully designed communal spaces offer the perfect blend of comfort and connection. Whether sharing stories around the fire or unwinding in nature-inspired lounges, these areas invite relaxation and foster meaningful connections with fellow guests.
Nature Spaces
Explore lush permaculture gardens and serene forests, where harmony with nature thrives. Perfect for relaxation, reflection, and discovery.
Location
Address
Biokovina Wild, Biokovina BB,
Jajce, 70101, BiH