The Bedepuszta Project

The Bedepuszta Project

Village Retreat is more than a holiday/event destination, the comfort of our guests is very important, but at the same time we work on solutions to accomplish this comfort in a sustainable way.  We work on biodiversity, generate energy, plant trees, re-use materials and collect rainwater.  Also we grow our own fruit and vegetables and work on an ambitious project to heat the village in a sustainable way. Additionally we bring culture to the countryside through artist in residence projects and small scale events.

Sponsors

Our guests are also automatically sponsors of the eco-retreat project in Bedepuszta. Our vision goes beyond commercial exploitation of the location. The income generated from renting out accommodation is invested directly in our green and cultural projects. The small scale setup of Bedepuszta Village Retreat offers great opportunities in the area of food production, waste processing, energy production and water management, but also in the field of culture.

Energy solutions

We want to heat most houses in the village centrally by building an energy house. From this central building, an underground network of isolated tubes is built through the village, these tubes transport hot water and the houses can be connected to this network by means of heat exchangers.  Depending on the season, the energy required will be generated through local bio waste, sun boilers or with a heat pump (solar panels/grid). The energy house is planned for 2025. At this moment 60% of the underground tube system is already in place and the basement of the energy house has been built. Until 2025 we heat the houses with gas.

Circularity

In a small village it’s relatively easy to see what comes in and what goes out. Not only do we want to recycle as much as possible, we also want to keep this transparent. In addition to the garbage container, we have a waste base to select reusable material. Either for construction, energy or compost.

Water

The water from the largest roofs is already being collected in underground basins and wells. In the future we will expand this and also save resources ourselves. The water is used for irrigation and the grey water system. Unfortunately there’s no sewerage in the village, therefore grey water is collected in cesspits/septic tanks. In the future, septic tanks will be connected via a steps system to a mechanism that allows this water to be purified and then used as part of the grey water system for flushing the toilets.

Food production

The village and its surroundings have fields with fertile soil. Already, we have more than a hundred fruit trees and honey from the bee keeper, but we also grow our own vegetables and herbs. Part of the food served in the village partly comes from our own gardens. The fruit that we don’t use is either distilled, dried or canned and kept in a cool cellar.

Artists in residence

The Artist Farm is located in the centre of the village and offers accommodation for artists who can stay and work in Bedepuszta Village Retreat for free during a certain period and under certain conditions. In the future we want to make this an international program. Bring the right people together in the right place and you have all the fundamental ingredients for a festival. Several festivals are taking place in Bedepuszta. Often with different themes but always with a link to the environment.

Culinary events

Unfortunately it’s not feasible to operate an exclusive restaurant in Bedepuszta. Instead, we will start ‘dinner & breakfast’ food events, where we invite innovative chefs to cook with our own produce and ingredients from the forests of Nógrád. This way we hope to set up a network of local entrepreneurs involved in the production or processing of food in a special way.

Biodiversity

We consider the plants and animals as much as possible in and around the village. Bushes for small birds, open stalls for the swallows, wetlands for frogs and dragonflies, piles of wood and roof tiles for butterflies and insects, etc. We also want to apply this in the countryside around the village by planting different types of trees, digging up fens (wetlands) and laying hedges.

Planting trees

In cooperation with Sziget Festival we started the Sziget Forest Plantation on the north side of Bedepuszta. Guests of Sziget Festival, The Great Yonder and Village Retreat can buy a tree that is planted as part of a small forest on former farm lands. The new forest is directly connected with the biodiversity zone of the Zsunyi creek.