On November 4th, 2024, we organized a small volunteering action at the Andrija Belovarić family farm (OPG) in Mahovo, a small village located in the heart of the Sisak-Moslavina County. The aim of this event was to provide volunteers from the European Solidarity Corps with an opportunity to get to know the local community, culture, and daily life of rural areas in Croatia through work and social interaction, while also contributing with their efforts. A special highlight of this event was the corn harvesting season, during which the volunteers actively participated in farm work, gaining hands-on experience and connecting with the hosts.
We used this occasion to help one another, foster connections, promote family farms in our county, advocate for volunteering, and emphasize the importance of solidarity and mutual support, promoting cultural exchange and strengthening ties between various European communities.
Read below to find out how we spent the day at the Belovarić family farm in a reflection by our volunteer Chloe.
Monday, November 4, 2024 – A Day of Volunteering at the Corn Farm
8:00 AM: We leave the apartment with Sam, Shana, and me to meet Nadja and Iva, 30 minutes away. We start the day with a coffee by a lake—a must-have tradition. The girls join us in our van, and we set off together to explore the farm.
The morning air is cold, nearly wintery, and the fog hides the landscape. As we arrive, Eres, the village dog, happily greets us. We then meet Andrija and his mother, who make us feel at home right away.
First step: a little liquid courage ! We gather around the table to taste the homemade rakija, a strong local alcohol that gives us the energy needed for a long day. Fresh boots and gloves await us; all we have to do is gear up and get to work.
After greeting the chickens and a walk through manure, we reach the area where our task awaits : sorting corn. The goal is to remove the husks, then toss the cobs into large wooden cages that store the corn without letting it spoil. Luckily, the sun comes out just as we begin.
We meet the semi-wild horses, including a little foal that can’t leave its stable because Eres enjoys playing the shepherd dog. The first corn cobs are quickly sorted and stored, and a few minutes later, we return to the main house. With Andrija and a new farmer, we bring in a large elevator to help fill the structure faster, along with two trailers full of corn. We settle in with cushions for those who prefer a bit of comfort, and the work resumes. After some time, the machine breaks down, giving us a well-deserved break. It’s the perfect moment to taste local white wine, fresh cheese, and homemade cake.
With the machine repaired, we get back to work. This time I can say for sure—we spend hours at it; the corn seems endless in the trailers. From our perspective, Sam and Iva, who need to spread the corn in the wooden structure, look a bit like hamsters in a cage…
Fatigue begins to set in, and each runaway cob from the elevator makes us laugh. But the sun keeps us warm and motivated. Finally, Andrija announces that this first structure is complete. Iva comes down from her “wooden castle” and we all go for a coffee.
On the way, some of us lie down in the corn-filled trailer pulled by the tractor. We relax, look at the sky, and the corn massages our backs.
After this second break, the last trailer still awaits us, and we need to return it to its owner quickly. With all the energy we have left, we fill several baskets to load all the corn into the second structure.
At the end of the day, we applaud our work: around 9 tons of corn sorted and stored!
Back in the house, Andrija’s mother has prepared a feast for us: breaded chicken, veal goulash, cauliflower, and vegetable patties for the vegetarians. The night has fallen; we’re exhausted but happy, with full hearts and full bellies. It’s time to head home.
Shana discovered a new side of Croatia. Although it was a physically demanding day, it left a strong impression on her. She was touched by the warm hospitality and the calming atmosphere of the farm, not to mention Eres, who brightened the day. The hours spent sorting corn felt long, but once back home, after a hot shower and snug in her bed, she felt a personal pride and that good fatigue that comes from a job well done.
- Chloé
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4. studenog 2024. organizirali smo malu volontersku akcija na OPG-u Andrija Belovarić u Mahovu, malom selu smještenom u srcu sisačko-moslavačke županije. Cilj ove akcije bio je pružiti priliku volonterima Europskih snaga solidarnosti da kroz rad i druženje upoznaju lokalnu zajednicu, kulturu i svakodnevni život ruralnih područja Hrvatske te pri tome doprinesu svojim radom. Posebna zanimljivost ovog događaja bila je sezona berbe kukuruza, tijekom koje su volonteri aktivno sudjelovali u radovima na gospodarstvu, stječući praktično iskustvo i povezujući se s domaćinima. Ovaj susret iskroistili smo da jedni drugima pomognemo, povežemo se, promoviramo obiteljska poljoprivredna gospodarstva u našoj županiji, promičemo volonterstvo i apeliramo na važnost solidarnosti i međusobne podrške, promovirajući kulturnu razmjenu i osnaživanje veza između različitih europskih zajednica.
Kako smo proveli dan na OPG-u Belovarić pročitajte niže u tekstu u osvrtu naše volonterke Chloe.
Ponedjeljak, 4. studenog 2024. – Dan volontiranja na farmi kukuruza
8:00: Krećemo iz stana sa Samom, Shanom i ja kako bismo se pridružili Nadji i IvI, 30 minuta vožnje dalje. Započinjemo dan kavom pored jezera—obaveznom tradicijom. Djevojke se pridružuju našem kombiju, i svi zajedno krećemo na otkrivanje sela.
Jutarnji zrak je hladan, gotovo zimski, i magla skriva krajolik. Po dolasku, pozdravlja nas Eres, seoski pas, veselo mašući repom. Upoznajemo Andriju i njegovu majku koji nas odmah dočekuju toplo i opušteno.
Prvi korak: malo tekuće hrabrosti ! Okupljamo se oko stola kako bismo kušali domaću rakiju, jak lokalni alkohol koji će nam dati energiju potrebnu za dugi dan. Nove čizme i rukavice čekaju nas; samo se trebamo opremiti i krenuti na posao.
Nakon pozdrava kokošima i prolaska kroz stajnjak, stižemo na mjesto gdje nas čeka zadatak: čišćenje i prebacivanje kukuruza. Cilj je ukloniti lišće, a zatim baciti klipove u velike drvene kaveze koji skladište kukuruz bez kvarenja – kuruzare ili kako ih lokalnu zovu u Mahovu – ‘’koš’’. Srećom, sunce izlazi baš kad počinjemo.
Upoznajemo i poludivlje konje, uključujući malog ždrijepca koji ne može izaći iz staje jer se Eres voli igrati pastira. Prvi klipovi brzo su sortirani i pohranjeni, a nekoliko minuta kasnije vraćamo se u glavnu kuću. S Andrijom i još jednim lokalcem donosimo veliki lift tj. elevator kako bismo brže napunili strukturu kukuruzara, zajedno s dvije prikolice pune kukuruza. Sjedamo uz jastuke za one koji vole malo udobnosti, i posao se nastavlja. Nakon nekog vremena, stroj se pokvari, dajući nam priliku za zasluženu pauzu. Savršen trenutak za kušanje lokalnog bijelog vina, svježeg sira i domaćeg kolača.
Nakon popravka stroja vraćamo se poslu. Ovaj put mogu sa sigurnošću reći—ostajemo satima; čini se da kukuruz u prikolicama nikad ne nestaje. Iz naše perspektive, Sam i Iva, koji trebaju rasporediti kukuruz u drvenoj strukturi, izgledaju kao mali hrčci u kavezu…
Počinjemo osjećati umor, a svaki klip koji pobjegne iz elevatora nasmijava nas. Ali sunce nas grije i motivira. Napokon, Andrija najavljuje da je prva struktura gotova. Iva silazi sa svog “drvenog dvorca,” i svi zajedno idemo na kavu.
Na putu, neki od nas legnu u prikolicu punu kukuruza koju vuče traktor. Opustimo se, gledamo u nebo, a kukuruz nam masira leđa.
Nakon ove druge pauze, čeka nas još posljednja prikolica koju moramo brzo vratiti vlasniku. Uz svu preostalu motivaciju, napunimo nekoliko košara i premjestimo sve klipove kukuruza u drugi kukuruzar.
Na kraju dana, pljeskom pozdravljamo naš rad: oko 9 tona kukuruza sortirano i spremljeno!
Natrag u kući, Majka od Andrije nam je pripremila gozbu : pohanu piletinu, gulaš od teletine, cvjetaču i povrtne popečke za vegetarijance. Noć je pala; iscrpljeni smo, ali sretni, punog srca i punih trbuha. Vrijeme je za povratak kući.
Shana je otkrila novu stranu Hrvatske. Iako je to bio fizički zahtjevan dan, ostavio je na nju dubok dojam. Dirnula ju je toplina domaćina i mirna atmosfera gospodarstva, a posebno je uživala u društvu Eres, koja ju je uveseljavala cijeli dan. Sati provedeni u sortiranju kukuruza činili su se dugima, ali kad se napokon vratila kući, nakon vrućeg tuša i ušuškana u svom krevetu, osjećala je samo osobni ponos i onaj ugodni umor koji dolazi nakon dobro obavljenog posla.
- Chloé
