Cultivating Community, Knowledge, and Tradition

The Last Months at După Gard

The months leading into autumn at După Gard have been rich with meaningful events and new connections, but we still managed to keep our promise from the last blog and post this one before end of October. We have been deepening our work in permaculture, agroecology, rural empowerment, and cultural heritage. Here is a recap of some of our highlights, plus a Call-To-Action at the end...

PoPaFu Youth Exchange: Growing Hope through Permaculture

In early September, După Gard hosted the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange "Positive Pathways into the Future" (PoPaFu), welcoming young people from Romania and Spain for immersive learning in permaculture and rural life. Over nine days, participants engaged hands-on with nature-based skills and cultural exchange, transforming climate anxiety into action rooted in ecological hope. This exchange was a vibrant space where the next generation discovered sustainable living as a path forward, strengthening ties between youth and the land in our Transylvanian home.​ The outcomes have been beautifully summarised by our participant Malina, check out the PDF here: PoPaFu Doodle

Visiting the Agroecology Workshop in Timișoara

This fall, După Gard connected with Asociația pentru Susținerea Agriculturii Țărănești (ASAT) during an agroecology workshop in Timișoara. ASAT champions community-supported agriculture and agroecological practices that are both sustainable and participatory. Our visit highlighted the importance of knowledge-sharing between rural networks, emphasizing farmer empowerment and the preservation of local food systems. The main takeaway: staying connected as a community of agro-activists is what makes us strong. And: support your local farmers!

Ioana at the European Rural Parliament with Forum Synergies

Our association’s president, Ioana Joca-Pohl, proudly represented rural Romania at the European Rural Parliament (ERP) in October 2025 alongside colleagues from Forum Synergies. This significant event gathers voices from across Europe’s countryside, strengthening rural advocacy and collective solutions for global challenges. Ioana’s participation underscored După Gard's commitment to amplifying rural perspectives at European levels and fostering solidarity among rural communities striving for sustainable futures.​ It is also a further commitment towards the concept of the Rural Experience Hub, which we are developing further and are aiming for a first implementation till 2027 as our set goal.

Andreas at the Agroecology in Action Workshop in Buzău

Our permaculture enthusiast Andreas attended the "Agroecology in Action" workshop in Buzău, deepening his expertise in practical agroecological methods. This event featured a visit to one of Romanias most renowned vegetable research facilities, hands-on experience at a Permaculture project and insights into Eco Ruralis work in seed saving and advocacy for the rural—another chance to see how Agroecology and Permaculture work hand in hand, and how important it is to include civic engagement into our everyday work with the soil and people.

Call to Action: Support Our Crowdfunding Campaign — Karpaten Uncut: The Wurst-Dilemma

As we continue to explore the balance between traditional rural life and modern sustainability, După Gard is launching a heartfelt crowdfunding campaign for the documentary project "Karpaten Uncut: the Wurst-Dilemma". This film chronicles the journey of slaughtering a pig in a locally-rooted, ethical way—an exploration into the cultural, ecological, and personal dimensions of meat consumption. Supporting this campaign means joining a conversation about respect for animals, heritage food practices, and conscious living. Join us in preserving these vital stories and traditions by contributing to the campaign and sharing it with your networks: JOIN THE CAMPAIGN

The last months at După Gard have reinforced how deeply interconnected ecological stewardship, cultural heritage, and community empowerment are. We invite you to stay connected with us through our social media channels and website, and help us bring important stories like "Karpaten Uncut" to life.

Although autumn has come, things here have not slowed down yet - days are full with last garden preperations for the winter, and in the evenings we already plan upcoming activities - for example Andreas will host another course in Sicily at Vela Vega in late winter, plus we are preparing our second year with the European Solidarity Corps program. So, stay tuned for the next post, and thank you for being part of this journey toward a more sustainable and vibrant future.

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