In Croatia, gardening is a longtime tradition, which allows us to cultivate as many flowers, fruits, vegetables, and spices as we want, in a variety of places, from the balconies of our apartment buildings in the city, to our grandmother's garden at the foothills of the Velebit Mountains.

Throughout history, our people have always worked on the land and have grown the food that would be eaten around the family dinner table. Nowadays, after visiting their grandparents in the village, grandchildren are still sent back to school, in the city, with fresh organic fruits and vegetables. When it comes to naturally grown foods, we are still very spoiled and are often unaware of the privileges which we enjoy by having access to homegrown crops.

Lately, each year, an increasing number of small family farms are being created by the younger generation. Along with the older generation, young families are leaving the crowded fast-paced city lifestyle behind and are moving to the countryside and starting a whole new life. Even people living together in the city have begun to come together and buy or lease large uncultivated land parcels on the edges of the city to jointly plant their own fruits and vegetables.

During your stay in Croatia, it is definitely recommended that you visit one of these farms and meet some of these inspirational people who will show you how they grow their own crops. These visits will allow you to connect with Mother Nature and is especially valuable for modern urban people who are spending more and more time in the virtual world and feel less of a connection with the real world. There is no greater happiness than to follow a zucchini from its seed, which was planted, watered, and nurtured, into a full grown vegetable. Afterwards, it is picked and made into a delicious dish.

In Zagreb, you can see many gardens on the rooftops and balconies. One of the most famous is Zelena Andreja on Šenoina Street, by the Central Train Station. As well, you can meet small farm producers at the grocery story, Mali plac na Tavanu, where you can organise a trip to visit a farm and do some volunteer work at the same time. There are many farms, which are located not far from Zagreb and can even be reached by using public transport.

In the northern regions of Zagreb, such as Šestine, there are many orchards where farmers offer free picking of their organic fruit. After working in the fields, you are even treated to a tasty snack and a glass of wine beneath the shade of the trees. This is not only true in Zagreb and the surrounding county, but in all of the counties in Croatia, which have abundant small farms. Each year, farmers open their farms to visitors to pick the crops they have grown, from olives to grapes, apples, hazelnuts, walnuts, carob, peaches, tangerines, and lemons. If you just want to learn how to pick raspberries or blackberries, which are very sensitive and must be picked very gently, with patient and skilled hands, then Istria is the best place to visit.

Croatia is a paradise for growing, harvesting, and tasting organic fresh foods and if you don’t believe us, visit a small family farm and see for yourself!