Stories to tell about

Ladies’ heart” in Pirot, Serbia

ladies heart

The cooperative “Ladies’ Heart” in Pirot, Serbia dates since 2009, when it was established as a cradle of old tradition and protector of the regional heritage. Cooperative is the only one in the country that is producing the traditional Pirot rugs – kilims, famous and valued for its high quality, authentic design and above all for the spiritual messages passed from generation to generation for more than 500 years.

Ladies’ Heart” is the winner in the 7th International festival of craftsmanship, when in 2012 in Russia their products were proclaimed for “The best product”. Also in 2011 the cooperative received the certificate “People of the new age – person of the year”, in 2010 certificate the “Tourists’ flower” and the “Golden medallion”.

Thanks to their high level professionalism, authentic products, and the good collaboration with the regional authorities and the national level decision-makers as well, “Ladies’ Heart” has managed to prove as important part of the Pirot community life and economy. “Ladies’ heart” kilims are certified according to quality standards with very strict criteria for production, knowledge and skills. Pirot kilims have geographic label of origin, and as living heritage are under the protection of UNESCO.

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Занатска задруга за израду ћилима и сувенира „ Дамско срце“ Пирот

Занатска задруга за израду ћилима и сувенира „ Дамско срце“ из Пирота, Србије, датира од 2009. године, када је основана као колевка старих заната и као заштитник регионалног културног наслеђа. Задруга је једина у земљи која производи традиционалне пиротске ћилиме , који су познати и цењени по свом квалитету, аутентичном дизајну и пре свега по духовним порукама које се преносе са генерације на генерацију више од 500 година.

 Задруга „ Дамско срце“ је победник 7. Међународног фестивала заната, када су 2012. Године, у Русији, њихови производи проглашени за „ Најбољи производ“. Такође у 2011. години задруга је добила признање „ Људи за ново доба- личност године“, а у 2010. години сертификат „Туристички цвет“ и „ Златни медаљон“

 Захваљујући високом професионализму, аутентичним производима и доброј сарадњи са регионалним властима и доносиоцима одлука на националном нивоу, „ Дамско срце“ је успело да постане важан део живота и привреде Пирота. Ћилими које производи „ Дамско срце“ Пирот су сертификовани, урађени по стандарду и Елабоату у коме су дати врло строги критеријуми за израду пиротског ћилима, а по коме је 2002.године извршена заштита Географске ознаке порекла имена „ПИРОТСКИ ЋИЛИМ“. Само знање и умеће за израду пиротског ћилима, као живо наслеђе је под заштитом УНЕСКО-а.

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Website: www.damskosrce.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com DamskosrcePirot

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Prica ravna suma

Visit to Farm "Ravna Šuma"

Village Prtopopinci, Dimitrovgrad

Shepherd serenades, stunning landscapes, traditional cheese, hard work and agricultural policy.

Coming to the close of the academic-industry visit for 2015 by the University of Almería researcher to ZIP Center in Pirot, we made a visit to Dimitrovgrad to visit the farm of Aleksandar Vasov, where 100 sheep and 80 goats are the mainstay of the farm. A superb mixed sheep and goat white cheese is produced amongst the rolling hills, clear streams and winding dirt roads. Local hospitality not only resulted in sampling the cheese and tomatoes from the garden, but also in an impromptu concert featuring traditional bagpipes and Caval, which are the common instruments of the shepherd, and in this case expertly played by Aleksandar Vasov.

 But farming is not only about beauty, culture and gastronomy—in the end, it is about the economic viability of the farm. In this case the farm is a family farm and the cheese is produced on site from the fresh morning milk. Family labour makes the farm viable, as in many places around the world. But the markets? Where are the markets for such a product? Until recently, almost all sales were destined for Belgrade and were direct sales to final customers. Customers also come directly from Bulgaria. Sales channels are based on relationships and word of mouth. Only recently,

 have local outlets begun to buy the product.  But economies of scale are still a problem in this area, a fact which is related not so much to the capacity of the local  farmers, but to the lack of infrastructure such as roads and internet coverage. Lack of consistency in national policy was also noted as being a hinderance to effective strategic planning. Organisational scale was also considered, and examples from various C-Bird partners such as Trento and Almería were discussed. These two latter areas also have small holding family farmers but have achieved efficiencies and economies of scale through organisational structures—predominantly agricultural cooperatives. As well in such regions, cooperative finance has also played a role.

 Rural tourism was also discussed as a multifunctional approach, and Aleksandar Vasov pointed out that they way in which they carry out rural tourism is not the standard B&B, but rather school and university visits, summer schools, working internships, international tourist group visits interested in biodiversity and ecology, collaboration with Slow Food, and synergies with traditional folk music activities.

 This visit was a good opportunity to compare and consider the stage in which southern Serbian agriculture finds itself, but one idea was shared by all parties: that agricultural policy must not be a “one size fits all” but rather fashioned to fit the particulars of the region.

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Poseta Farmi  "Ravna šuma"

Selo Prtopopinci, Dimitrovgrad

Pesma pastira, divni pejzaži, tradicionalni sveži sir, težak rad i politika razvoja poljoprivrede

Na samom kraju posete istraživača Univerziteta iz Almerije Zip centru za mlade doo iz Pirota u 2015. godini, organizovali smo posetu farmi Aleksandra Vasova ( Ravna šuma) u okolini Dimitrovgrada, koja ima 100 ovaca i 80 koza. Fantastičan beli sir se proizvodi od kozjeg i ovčeg svežeg mleka među brežuljcima, bistrim potocima i krivudavim blatnjavim putevima. Pored lokalnog gostoprimstva, degustaciji sira i paradajza iz bašte dobili smo i improvizovani koncert u bašti, koji nam je priredio vlasnik farme koji svira gajde i Kaval ( tradicionalni instrument pastira).

 Ali kada govorimo o poljoprivredi ne možemo samo govoriti o lepoti, kulturi i gastonomiji – moramo govoriti i o ekonomskoj održivosti farme. U ovom slučaju u pitanju je mala porodična farma na kojoj se proizvodi sir od svežeg jutarnjeg mleka. Angažovanje cele porodice održava farmu u životu, kao što je slučaj i sa mnogim farmama širom sveta. Ali postavlja se pitanje gde je tržište njihovih proizvoda? Do skoro se sav sir prodavao direktnim korisnicima u Beogradu. U skorije vreme dolazi mnogo kupaca iz susedne Bugarske. Lanac prodaje se bazira na ličnim kontaktima i reklami „od usta do usta“.

 Povećanje obima proizvodnje ne zavisi ovde od kapaciteta farme već od nedostatka infrastrukture ( pre svega puteva i interneta) kao i od nedoslednosti nacionalne politike, što onemogućuje farmerima strateško planiranje. Farmeru su takođe predstavljeni primeri Almerije i Trenta gde su mali farmeri uspeli da povećaju svoj obim proizvodnje udrućivanjem prvenstveno u zadrugama.

 Razgovaralo se i o ruralnom turizmu kao multifunkcionalnom pristupi i Aleksandar Vasov je istakao da se oni ne bave klasičnim seoskim turizmom, pružanjem prenoćišta i hrane, već organizuju posete Univerzitetima, letnjim školama kao i studentima ( domaćim i stranim) zainteresoivanim za biodivirzitet i ekologiju. Imaju takođe veoma uspešnu saradnju sa organizacijom „Slow food“.

 Ova poseta je bila idealna prilika da se sagleda stanje poljoprivrede u Jugoistočnoj Srbiji. Jedan zaključak se nametnuo na kraju: Politika poljoprivrednog i ruralnog razvoja ne može biti jednaka za sve u Srbiji, mora biti različita i bazirana na regionalnim razlikama i specifičnostima.

 

 

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