Volunteering at Greenville Farm: Building a Sustainable Greenhouse Together
Arriving in Samobor, Croatia, on October 28th, the thirteen of us from various parts of Europe were welcomed warmly to Greenville Farm, where we’d be spending the next few weeks building a sustainable greenhouse. The project has a practical, ambitious mission: to design, construct, and implement sustainable technologies in a greenhouse setting. Using tools like FarmBot, hydro towers, and a digital incubator, we’ll be exploring ways to make farming more sustainable and efficient.
The first few days have been a combination of settling in, connecting with each other, and laying the groundwork for the project. Here’s a look at our experience so far:
Day 1: Arrival and Settling
In After arriving at Greenville Farm, we were welcomed by the local team who introduced us to the farm and the project. We settled into our accommodations and got a feel for the farm’s layout.
Day 2: Team Building and Getting to Know the Project
On our second day, we had a chance to participate in team-building activities designed to help us connect and get to know each other. The day also included a formal introduction to the greenhouse project, the values of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) program, and Greenville Farm’s goals. Most of the day was spent outside, enjoying the nice weather in the nearby park in Samobor, which gave us time to ease into the group dynamic and understand the project’s broader impact.
Day 3: Research and Design Brainstorming
We moved on to discussing the design of the greenhouse, where we split into smaller groups to dive into research on sustainable materials and brainstormed the best design approaches to integrate these technologies into a single greenhouse structure. We explored questions like Which materials would offer durability and insulation? How can we make the design energy- efficient?
Day 4: Sharing and Shaping Our Ideas
On October 31st, each group presented their ideas for the greenhouse. Some focused on materials and insulation, while others worked on the design. This sharing session was a chance to bring our thoughts together and shape our next steps.
Daily Reflections and Mentoring
A key part of our daily routine has been the 4 PM reflection sessions. These moments give us a structured space to talk about how we’re feeling, both about the project and our experiences as a team. On Wednesday, we also had a mentoring session that focused on understanding social structures and gave us a chance to talk about anything weighing on us. It’s been a helpful way to feel heard, stay grounded, and foster open communication within the group.