Why new year resolutions fail and how to grow people 🍀

Winter's chill might be biting, but we've got a cozy  little blog-post to warm your mind and heart. Expect some New Year's resolution relief, exciting 2026 plans to look forward to, and a few profound insights sprinkled toward the end.

A huge thank you for carving out time to stay connected with us and the Dupa Gard project. Your support as part of this lovely community truly warms us - even from afar. 🤎 In return, here's our special winter edition, packed with updates straight from the soil.

Why New Year's Resolutions Often Fizzle (And How Permaculture Can Help)

Did you know over 90% of New Year's resolutions get abandoned within a month? One big culprit: trying to change everything at once. Look at the permaculture principle of "Small and Slow Solutions" - it reminds us that sustainable change thrives on tiny steps rather than dramatic overhauls.

If your epic 2026 life-changer is already wobbling (or headed that way), cut yourself some slack. Swap the grand gesture for baby steps. Your future self will thank you.

Participants of our first Youth Exchange PoPaFu

Campfires, Soil, and Youth: What's New at Dupa Gard

This year brings fresh shifts to our programs, shaped by organizational needs, participant feedback, and lessons from past volunteers:

• -we've restructured our volunteering to focus almost exclusively on EU residents through the European Solidarity Corps
•  
• -I'm thrilled to join as CoP leader for Romania with CURIOSOIL
•  
• -expect a series of PopUp Workshops, but no major events except...
•  
• -the Permaculture Campfire - save the date for August 6-10 (registration open now!)
•  
• Plus, a Youth Exchange and Permaculture Eurotrip for young folks, hitting 5 EU countries and epic projects will be organised by us. Also, we will partner in a number of Erasmus+ projects, to educate our staff and give rural youth from the region a fresh perspective

Growing People: Beyond Plants to Community Roots

Is it cheeky to quote myself? I will do it anyway: "Happy soil, happy plants, happy people." That's my motto since Dupa Gard kicked off in 2017. Our focus has evolved: from plants to soil, and now increasingly toward people.

Continuing this path, we're sharing not just our plants, but the soil itself. Imagine claiming your own plot at Dupa Gard, growing your food, building skills, and weaving into our community. Multiple membership levels available - check Romanian details on EARTHSTRONG or join in English via Ko-Fi: JOIN NOW.

This initiative deepens our bonds with supporters, hands you a slice of paradise, and grows our shared roots.

A Personal Reflection to Close

As we huddle over plans for the year ahead, these questions linger for me: Are my daily habits aligned with my values? What sparks life in me? How do I nurture real connections? Am I kind - to myself and others? I revisit them often, and lately, the answers bring a wider smile, one small step at a time.

Warm regards,
Andi and the Dupa Gard Team

© C5BOX - Framework