Last year we put the intention to grow as ALPA – so we did! Not one but two team members are joining our mission.
We are welcoming Borbála Láng (Bori) and Zsófia Gaudi (Zsófi).
Although the mission of ALPA might sound “simple” (- which is to contribute to a liveable planet for present and future generations through securing and agroecological stewardship of farmland, through bioregional regeneration efforts as well as the protection of extant biodiversity. ALPA’s main focus is its own bioregion in Transylvania, Romania) but it comes with many steps: engaging in collaborations, creating visibility, partering in projects, writing reports – all this with a hint of bureaucracy. All this, to be able to serve ALPA, and to serve our bioregion. So organically, it came the need to grow, to expand.
Through a series of serendipitous events and strong intentions from last year from Lars and Attila, ALPA could finish 2024 (and step into 2025) with a team of 4!
We would like you to meet Bori and Zsofi, therefore we prepared a short written “interview” AND a bonus video – which is filmed in Alunisu/Magyarokereke in our bioregion in our first in-person meeting of the year!
Bori:
Can you shortly introduce yourself?
I’m Bori, freshly graduated Ecologist. I love connections, nature, sports and music. I’m amazed by the complexity of life.
Can you share one anecdote/fun fact about yourself?
I had a fly as a pet for a day when I was 5.
Why did you choose to join ALPA?
I have been fascinated about agroecology since the quarantine period, when I could realise how fragile our globalized system is and how valuable it is to be able to work with soil – both mental health and sustainability wise. So I was very fortunate to get to know ALPA in 2024!
What in particular makes you happy about ALPA’s mission?
ALPA’s mission to include all the necessary elements for a bioregional regeneration, with kindness, respect and inclusion gives me motivation and hope.I think this attitude is fundamental to maintain a healthy community between humans and our environment.
What do you wish for ALPA in 2025?
I wish for ALPA to be able to keep the project alive, to have hope and energy, and to find ways to collaborate and create.
Zsófi:
Can you shortly introduce yourself?
I’m Zsófi, 30 and from the Hungarian minority from Transylvania. I have a background in the field of mental health working in hospitals and in education working on volunteering projects on a European level (including eco-communities). I am a driven person, structured and I like to get things done. One of my favourite activities is hosting friends and family, baking bread and reading romantic novels.
Can you share one anecdote about yourself?
I built my own mini-campervan!
Why did you choose to join ALPA?
I have lived, studied and worked in Europe for about 10 years, so when I moved home to Transylvania I couldn’t even imagine in my wildest dreams that I could contribute to something so meaningful and so local! My partner and I recently bought a small traditional house in Kiskalota/Calatele and by working with ALPA I feel I can really make my “new” region a better place for the future generations.
What in particular makes you happy about ALPA’s mission?
That it contributes to a more conscious planet.
One of the most frustrating things in today’s society is that it developed so much around us, but as humans we didn’t develop as much. I observe that most people do not have critical thinking, ability to question, to wonder. And I really like that ALPA questions the status quo of farming, of agriculture, of what it means to preserve nature and questions the real meaning of sustainability. I particularly enjoy that some of the answers ALPA has are not new, but more so about looking into our past.
What do you wish for ALPA in 2025?
I am very excited about ALPA getting started with their pilot farms, so in an ideal world I would already hope that ALPA has their first land with a farmer by 2025.
Bori is already currently working on a very exciting report on the biodiversity of our region. Her next project also involved research nature conservation funding opportunities for future farmers. Zsofi is busy with creating a farmers survey – so we can see who would be the first farmers of our new pilot farms, while creating visibility for ALPA and organising local festivals.
The video is taken on our first team meeting of the year – where we planned our first steps, talk through projects, upcoming trips – such as Attila going to South Africa with the Bertha Project, Lars travelling to the Netherlands, and Bori joining an Access to Land conference on CAP in Brussels. We are also planning to organise bioregional festivals and movie screenings in the upcoming year in Cluj – and so many other things. So stay tuned!