There is a lot of talk about the need to increase local self-sufficiency, but the path to satisfy all market, tax and food conditions can be very challenging. In the Society for the Development of Rural Laz from Jablaniška dolina and the Association of Rural Women and Girls from Polšnik, with a joint project we set ourselves the goal of arranging the conditions so that bakery products made in a traditional way are available to customers.
For the implementation of the Goodness from the Heart project, we obtained funds from LAS Srce Slovenije, and all housewives from Jablaniška dolina and Polšnik, who like to bake local delicacies, are invited to participate.
The countryside has a lot of potential in relation to the trend of returning to nature, healthy food and home cooking. The purpose of the project is to establish the conditions and offer a supportive environment for the development of activities in the countryside. Additional activities such as baking can fill rural women with a gap created in winter and is definitely a welcome source of income. As part of the project, the theme of which is cuisine, various workshops will take place. One of the goals is therefore also the collection of traditional recipes from the areas where the two societies operate, which we will publish in the booklet. With this, we will also preserve cultural heritage.
Support in the project application and the implementation of the project itself in the role of mentor is carried out by the members of the non-governmental organizations of the Central Slovenian Region.
Workshops and trainings:
Training for safe work with food and presentation of the Goodness from the Heart project, 3/12/2013
Training to work safely with food – invitation
At the training, which was held at the beginning of December, Petra Privšek Konjaćič, an expert in safe work with food, trained the participants and presented how to properly store and label products. The interest was great, 30 participants obtained a certificate of completion of the course in safe work with food.
Workshop: Cookie baking course, 10/12/2013
Cookie Baking Class – Invitation
The workshop, which took place on December 10 in the Pustov mlin inn, was intended for children from 1st to 5th grade of elementary school. The housewives of Polšnica prepared a free workshop for the children, the purpose of which was to transfer knowledge from experienced bakers to our young participants. The children designed and baked their cookies under the guidance of Mrs. Marinka Bevc.
Workshop: Traditional dishes and their modern use, 16/01/2014
Culinary workshop ‘Traditional dishes and their modern use’
As part of the third workshop, with the help of the participants, we researched the potential of local traditional recipes for future use in the catering offer of the Jablaniška Valley. With the help of local providers, we will create a suitable menu that will reflect our traditional cuisine and at the same time be attractive to the modern consumer. We will publish the collected recipes in a brochure.
Workshop: Course for making carnival goodies, 3/3/2014
Culinary workshop Making carnival goodies – invitation
During the carnival, we are accompanied by various fried delicacies, so as part of the project and with the aim of transferring knowledge to younger generations, we held a culinary course on making donuts, flancats and mice for young people from the 5th to the 9th grade of elementary school. The workshop was conducted by Marinka Bevc.
Workshop: cooking course with Robert Merzel, 31/03/2014
Cooking Course to Robert Merzel – Invitation
The course was led by the renowned chef in the state protocol facility in Brdo, Mr. Robert Merzel. We prepared dishes from cottage cheese, vegetables, potatoes and turkey. In addition, we had the opportunity to learn how renowned chefs conduct cooking workshops.
Workshop: Easter Goodness Baking Course, 15/04/2014
Easter Goodness Baking Course – Invitation
At the workshop, led by Nada Kokalj, Ivanka Primc and Marinka Bevc, we learned how to bake various poticas, braids and Easter birds. The course was aimed at transferring culinary knowledge between generations.
Viewing good practices: Culinary wandering around Pomurje, 10/05/2014 More…
Culinary wandering around Pomurje – invitation
On Saturday, May 10, we always went to Pomurje and Prekmurje for new knowledge and experience. The focus was on local cuisine, marketing approaches in the promotion, marketing of local products and experience in providing all sanitary, market, tax and other legally prescribed conditions.
Workshop: Cooking course: Preparation of feasts for groups on various occasions, 25/06/2014
cooking class: preparing feasts for groups on various occasions – invitation
Designing a brochure with recipes
Consultation with Dr. richam
For this purpose, we consulted with dr. Janez Bogataj, who sees the culinary specialties of a certain area as a great potential for the promotion and development of tourism. Based on his rich experience, he noted that events in our area, such as Strawberry and Asparagus Day and a hike along the Jablaniška path, are an excellent opportunity to place traditional cuisine in our offer. For Jablanška štrukeljce, for example, he sees an opportunity in the organization of a special event.
Establishing market pathways in practice
- Presentation at the countryside market in the city on 23 December 2013
- Participation in the carnival market in Litija on February 27, 2014
During the training for safe handling of food, 30 participants obtained appropriate certificates. A few participants have already used their newly acquired knowledge at a joint stand, where they presented their products to customers for the first time.
Since March 2014, the bakery products of the members of the association have also been available in the home corner of the KGZ Litija shopping center.
- Products on the shelves of TC KGZ Litija, March 2014
About the Goodies from the Heart project
Project duration: 1/9/2013 – 31/08/2014
Project value: EUR 9,134.28
co-financed: EUR 7,105.74 from LAS Srce Slovenije funds
Rural associations are an important element in promoting the area and brighten up most events by offering and preparing culinary products for tasting and as such are an excellent training ground for the development of rural activities.
With the project, we arranged the conditions and trained rural women to prepare and sell small pastries and other bakery products, which will be able to provide them with additional income or employment in the future. The project thus ensures greater involvement and education of women in the countryside by organizing trainings in this area, ensuring their greater independence and independence, encouraging the integration of rural societies in the area of the Heart of Slovenia for the preparation and implementation of joint projects and the development of rural activities.
through project activities such as culinary workshops and preparation Recipe booklets, we helped to preserve the culinary heritage, transfer knowledge between generations, socialize and promote the area.
The project ensured that by renting a space/kitchen, the idea of a joint food preparation room that interested rural women could use is realized. In this way, the conditions for baking and further sales of products and the implementation of cooking courses and workshops were regulated. A HACCP plan was created, the participants learned about the correct use of packaging and product packaging, market performance and conducted training for safe food work.
By creating a common image of packaging, today’s products are presented under a brand the goodies of the countryside, which contributed to a more uniform and holistic presentation, recognition and promotion of products. By preparing a product marketing plan and introducing new sales channels, you can also find them on the shelves of some stores and other providers.
