We meet in Turi, a smaller town in the middle of Estonia, at the community house called Konn, which means frog. And for sure there are many frogs here. That’s probably because of the lowlands and the river. We have even seen two storks´ nest with chicks. The town of Turi has a past with a gardening school in the center of town and maybe because of this you see beautiful little gardens all around. A big flower fair is also very well-known widely, and it has been taking place for 46 years. Marian is living here, and she is really succeeding well with her initiatives implementing knowledge about permaculture in cooperation with the local municipality. Among others she has been offered a job where she shall establish a school garden in the area where the gardening school had its fields before. This place is suitable and open to a permaculture person like her. 

We are 11 people in this permaculture retreat. We are four from Finland, Miina, Henna, Erkki and Marja; five from Estonia, Marian, Indrek, Mari, Anne and Hillar; two from Denmark, Cathrine and Tove. Cathrine is a diploma holder and our mentor, Erkki and Marja recently finished their diploma, and they are here to train mentorship. 

The weather is wonderful, smelling of blooming trees, herbs and bushes and birds singing along in nice tunes. We can either sit inside or outside around the garden in deep concentration, and we spend a lot of the time working like this on our respective designs. But we also meet and share challenges and results, and we deepen our knowledge about how to design in the best way. Saturday late afternoon five- six visitors who are interested in permaculture and from the Estonian Permaculture Association pass by. 

This gathering is also meant to strengthen cohesion between active members of the NPA, both mentors and apprentices. In 2025 NPA has already held one earlier gathering in Finland in March. The next gathering is coming up 21 – 23 of November at the Folk High School in Holma, Sweden. Make sure you can come and participate in more of the NPA magic!  

Text and photos by Tove Bang, 15.06.25