We have completed the field research phase of the BIOSUSTAIN project, and we are still inspired by the experience. The team of Varna University of Management (VUM), together with our student volunteers, visited more than 20 settlements across the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, Dobrudzha, Strandzha, and Tuzluk, speaking with over 30 people – elderly community members, farmers, herbalists, fishing families, community cultural centres, and museums.

Why is this so exciting? Because we sat at the tables of people who preserve knowledge that cannot be found in any textbook. Even more importantly, they shared it with the younger generation, who carefully recorded every story, recipe, and technique.

What we witnessed first-hand:

Living crafts – traditional broom making, natural wool dyeing with plant-based colours (red from madder, yellow from dyer’s weed, and blue from elderberry!), wool felting, cotton processing, and knitting.

More than 70 traditional recipes using wild and cultivated plants – from Strandzha-style zelenik with dock leaves to Black Sea fish pie, and the rich culinary traditions of the Kapan community.

A whole home ‘pharmacy’ and natural cosmetics based on medicinal herbs – traditional knowledge of plants used for health, beauty, and everyday life.

Behind every recipe and every naturally dyed skein of wool stands a person who has kept these traditions alive for decades. We have brought together all the collected information in our field research report, and this knowledge will continue its journey into the project’s future Experimentarium and Seed Bank, ensuring it is preserved for generations to come.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who welcomed us into their homes and shared their knowledge with such generosity. And to our young volunteers – you are the bridge between generations.

The BIOSUSTAIN project (BSB00848) is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme.