Chiflik Livadi
Farm manager
Philip Harmandjiev
Farm name
Chiflik Livadi
Farm type
Mixed farm with animals, and a vineyard
Location
Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria
Farm size
70 hectares
Primary soil type
Sandy soil
Temperature range
-10° – 45° degrees Celsius, USDA 8a
Average precipitation
500mm/year
Social structure
Sole ownership
Sales channels
Farm shop in Sofia, Bulgaria
Produce
Primarily poultry, beef, cheese, milk, and eggs
Contact
Chiflik Livadi
Chiflik Livadi – transition to regenerative farming
Climate Farmer since
2023
Farm history
Chiflik Livadi was started by Philip 15 years ago, inspired by his desire to feed his family with quality food. His approach to raising livestock was never conventional, and the practice of pasture raised poultry was implemented from the get-go.
Investment costs
- Compost turner
- Direct seed drill
New practices
Compost tea and use of other biofertilizers
❍ Composting & Bio Fertilizers
Intercropping
❍ Minimal Soil Disturbance
Holistic planned grazing
❍ Rotational Grazing
Direct Seeding
❍ Minimal Soil Disturbance
Agroforestry
❍ Agroforestry
No till
❍ Minimal Soil Disturbance
Challenges so far
- Hot climate and poor soil (money lost in failed seeds)
- Local regulations prevent the implementation of certain practices
Outcomes so far
- Animals are clean, happy, and healthy
- The farm produces quality produce
Learnings of your journey
- What is best for each farm is entirely individual, but it is important to listen to the needs and feedback of your customers, and always provide food directly to them without relying on middlemen. At the end of the day, despite conventional farming being more profitable, the positive feedback from customers and the ability to feed people with clean food is worth it.
“I want to feed enlightened people with natural and honestly produced food”
— Philip Harmandjiev on what motivates him to pursue regenerative agriculture
Future ambitions
Continue to experiment with making homemade biofertilizers, such as: bio char, fish hydrolysate, and feather meal.
Our partners
Our partners
