Culinary experiences

A herbalistic experience at Kalobje with Milan and Vikica Kalan

Slovenia can boast of well-preserved nature and there are few places where mankind and nature coexist in such harmony as Slovenians have always known.

One such place is the Kozjansko region. Its dynamic topography has prevented the incursion of industry, and its woods and fragmented farms have prevented intensive farming. At the north-western end of Kozjansko and 620 metres above sea level lies the village of Kalobje, where you can find the Kalan farm.

The farm family started growing medicinal and aromatic plants in 1995 in the pristine actual setting of the Kozjansko hills, going professional after 20 years of amateur experience. To date, they have grown into the largest herb farm in Slovenia, both in terms of the herbs produced and its surface area.

On a hectare and a half of land, they grow around 50 sorts of herbs and aromatic plants using their ancestors' methods. A rotation and mixed crops plan is carefully followed for all of the plants. They are manually planted, tended and harvested, and manually cleaned of weeds, dead and damaged parts, insects and anything that should not be found in tea.

They are dried in a dedicated herb drying room, manually stripped, attractively packaged and sold with good advice.

As a case of good production practice, the farm has also drawn the attention of agricultural experts, including visitors from France, Austria, Germany, Serbia, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia, Russia and Estonia, and it has hosted EU attachés for agriculture.

Programme:

The tour differs from standard farm tours in that it has an educational angle. You will not only learn about the work method but also get guidance on identifying medicinal plants, advice on how they should be prepared for drying, dried and stored for the winter, how to properly use them and how to make a cup of tea that will be much more than just a hot beverage.

 

 

Farm tour for adults

Duration: three hours

Dates: from June 1 to September 15, by booking only

Group size: from 30 to 50 persons

Price of the programme: EUR 10 per person

Concessions: free tour for children aged up to 12 in an organized group and supervised by parents

Activities:

- reception of guests in traditional Kozjansko fashion,

- introduction to the location and farm,

- presentation of herb growing, crop harvesting, preparations for drying, methods of drying and methods of processing after drying,

- tour of one field,

- tour of the herb drying room,

- optional purchase of herbs and herb products prepared using traditional methods.

 

Herbalism Day at Kalobje with Milan and Vikica Kalan 

Duration: six hours

Dates: from June 1 to September 15, by booking only

Group size: from 10 to 20 persons

Price of the programme: EUR 35 per person

Activities:

- reception of guests in traditional Kozjansko fashion,

- introduction to the location and farm,

- tour of a field,

- lecture on how herbs are grown and the crops harvested and prepared for drying,

- tour of the farm’s herb drying room and a discussion on options for drying at home,

- presentation of the proper way to make herbal tea, break,

- tasting of herbal teas and herb spreads,

- visit to an exhibition of dry herbs,

- presentation of herbal treatments for health conditions,

- optional purchase of herbs and herb products prepared using traditional methods.

 

Information and reservation:

Farm Kalan

Podlešje 12

3233 Kalobje

Tel.: +386 (3)579 50 11, +386 (0)41 311 884

zelisca@siol.net

www.podezelje.com/zeliscna-kmetija-kalan

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