Is the Albanian countryside right for you?

A question that I often answer with a resounding, yes! I can see the appeal for the city dwellers... socialization, shopping at your doorstop and a variety of events. But what they miss is the peaceful serenity of a pollution free morning of coffee on the front porch overlooking the vineyard with the melody of the birds and chickens. Spring offers a variety of florals and unique aromas. Plus the lambs baaing from the neighbors adds to the rebirth of the season. We love walking the property to inspect the trees and plants and enjoy the new blooms each and every day. How can you enjoy this too?

April Garden

Stay at the Orchard Guard Tower. It sits inside the garden and overlooks the pomegranate orchard. Every guest has full access to the seasonal fruits, veggies, and nuts grown on the property including the greenhouse. We encourage them to harvest and eat as much as they want, plus we offer off seasonal goodies to try like the wine and raki made here at Homestead Albania. Still not convinced that the countryside is right for you?

We have bikes for the guests to take a ride down to the lake for a swim, coffee or even dine at the two restaurants. And if they are up for a short hike we have the mount to the cross directly behind the homestead or a longer hike to the old army post abandoned after communist era near the lake.

This April's transformation has been lush and productive. All the trees are full and the grass in the orchard is chest high. Biggest win of the month has been the many many many plums that are prime picking for those that like the crunchy sour treats. Plus the sugar and black plums coming soon.

The three apple trees inside the garden are full this year. And we have several others in the orchard and vineyard that are doing well too.

Our quince and pear trees are holding heaps of fruit.

And the persimmon trees are dripping in flowers.

The fragrance of the lemon and orange blossoms are at peak season at the moment. The bees are loving them.

Thana (Cornelius Cherry) trees are full and ripening daily. The cherry tree is ripening but sparce this year.

Next up we have mulberries ripening in May and June.

The nut trees are just starting off with the little walnuts. The chestnuts and hazelnuts are starting to flower.

The roses and wild roses are holding their own show and their lovely aroma are adding to the bee's joy.

Another spot of growth is in the garden and green house. We've added hundreds of seeds and starter plants to the rows and are harvesting herbs, salads, onions, garlic, and strawberries. Plus we have a few tomatoes already growing and the potatoes are flowering.

The pomegranate orchard has been slowly transforming after the massive cleanup of the dead branches from last year's frost damage. We have new flowers and the trees are doing well. And we'll be busy cutting grass for hay in the next month or so.

The pomegranate trees in the garden are doing well and flowering.

The fig trees are coming around as we expect to harvest the first round near the end of June.

The vineyard is doing well. The grape clusters are growing everyday.

The spring has also brought a few familiar faces back to the homestead.

And let's not forget our egg producing queens. The hens have been giving us an average of 19 eggs a day still not always in the nesting boxes. We found a few in the grass again. A few exceptions is that we have two new mamas this month and two more sitting on some eggs. We've added sixteen new chicks. No predator losses to report.

Mister and Roger are still doing well.

Farm life has many rewards and the joy of watching the spring transformation is top tier.

April Flyover

Stop on by and say hello when you are in the neighborhood.