Mikhail Zakharenko is a participant of the ENI-LLB-1-117 project "Green Agriculture without Borders" of the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus Cross-Border Cooperation Program under the European Neighborhood Instrument 2014-2020 gg. https://robimrazam.by/product/ulitki-fermentirovannyj-chesnok/

The local economy (TG): Michael, why You decided to do agribusiness? Tell us about your farmstead..

Mikhail Zakharenko (MH): Our farmstead "Ekoland" operates with 2007 of the year. Previously, our farmstead was called "Lyudmila".

Agriturismo is in a beautiful place, surrounded by a pine forest, three kilometers from Minsk, in the village of Novy Dvor. Despite the proximity to the capital, clean pine air guaranteed for 100 percent!

We treat our guests with juicy kebabs and fish on charcoal. If desired, our guests can cook them on their own. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, vacationers can taste dishes of Belarusian national cuisine, Belarusian kvass, cooked according to an old recipe, as well as homemade cottage cheese, milk, vegetables and greens from your garden.

Over time, we decided to learn two new areas - to grow and produce eco-products, and create an innovative travel product - Ecolend, which prompted us to rename our farmstead.

TG: Another trend of time - fashion for eco-products.

MH: Yes, so to speak, keep up with the times. We at our site decided to grow products without the use of pesticides, herbicides, that is, without any completely unhealthy chemistry, and natural products with a natural shelf life.

TG: Michael, sound the assortment of your eco-products.

MH: We grow various types of herbs, herbal teas, we make cream honey, make fermented garlic and breed snails and treat them to our tourists.

TG: Admit, to suddenly hear about the cultivation and preparation of snails in Belarus. There are not many similar farms in our country..

MH: Yes, we all know, that clam dishes are the usual food on the table in France, Italy. We were looking for a way, what else can surprise our guests. Growing snails and making them is not a simple matter., but we mastered it.

Mostly grape snails are consumed as they differ from larger garden snails in larger sizes.. We treat our guests with snail caviar, which is considered a gourmet dish. You can also try snail fillets., stuffed, pickled, fresh frozen snail. The meat of these mollusks goes well with lemon juice, fragrant vinegar and white wine.

Snail meat has a large number of useful properties and substances. Snail meat contains a very valuable amino acid - choline. Besides, contains minerals necessary for the human body: calcium, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium.

Therefore, grape snails are a very healthy product.!

D: How do you grow snails?

MH: The main thing is to create comfortable conditions for snails. Ideal temperature for keeping - 23 degrees centigrade. The soil should be saturated with calcium and regularly moistened., in dry they will not multiply. If the snail does not create suitable conditions, she will not rush with offspring.

I grow my snails with micro green - it's a microgreen, small sprouts of greens and herbs.

Snail - nocturnal animal. In the afternoon she sleeps. Same, as in winter, burrows into the soil and hibernates.

TG: Your delicacy can only be tasted at your farmstead.?

MH: No, not only with us. We work with some restaurants, also supply there.

TG: Michael, You also mentioned fermented garlic. What is useful? How to eat it properly?

MH: First of all, due to fermentation, garlic loses its specific smell and burning. Secondly, after processing in this way it becomes more useful at times. Thirdly, when eating fermented garlic as a prevention of colds and viral diseases, the risk of ARI is reduced, what is relevant now.

Definitely, black garlic - a new hit in cooking. I give a guarantee, that this product will cause you new emotions!

TG: Michael, and the second direction is an innovative tourism product - Ecoland. Tell about him.

MH: We converted the farmstead into an interactive environmental center. This is an interactive educational environmental platform for students. We specially created collections of unique exhibits. For students in a relaxed playful way, we talk about the importance of using alternative methods of recycling. The main goal is to promote the principles of environmental education.

TG: Michael, what kind of support do you need?

MH: The only thing, what i would like, and I'm open to this - this is an exchange of experience between people, who have long been in this business and those, who is just at the start. I am ready to participate in teaching farmers agricultural skills, help novice farmers deal with complex problems.

TG: What would you recommend to novice farmers? What would you like to warn those, who is only at the beginning of the journey?

MH: I advise, before investing in your future business, consider financial, legal issues, draw up a business plan, choose a niche. Risks are there regardless of the type of product., which you decide to grow or produce. It's hard to surprise people, so you need to be creative, experiment. I wish you all good luck!

Information in the Internet source SB.BY – https://www.sb.by/articles/khozyain-zelenoy-planety.html?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fzen.yandex.com

The head of the farmstead - the interactive environmental center "ECOLAND" Zakharenko Mikhail Mikhailovich

Farm address: Minsk Region, Minsk district, ad. New Yard, str. Christmas, 8

contact number: + 375 29 644 23 01

E-mail address: 6442301@mail.ru

Site: http://agroturist.by

Interview was conducted by Julia Koroleva, EVIL “MAP ZAO” Minsk district