I design ecosystems where people, plants and purpose thrive together.

Mail barbara@bogatasuma.com or call +385 95 5555677

I’m Barbara Scheltus, a permaculture designer, facilitator and long-term homesteader.
For more than twenty years I’ve been building Bogata Šuma from the ruins up, transforming bare land into a living landscape of food, medicine, water cycles, wildlife corridors, and community. Every system here (soil, water, plants, animals and humans) is designed to support the next. Nothing stands alone; everything is connected.

Bogata Šuma: a living example of regeneration

Permaculture farm Bogata Šuma is more than a homestead; it’s a working example of applied permaculture.
Food forests and guilds, net-and-pan orchard designs, perennial layers, greywater flows, composting systems, animals working in partnership with the land, and people systems that grow cooperation, resilience and belonging. Volunteers, neighbours, visitors... together we’ve evolved a place that feels like a small village rooted in generosity and shared purpose.

People systems matter as much as plant systems

My work integrates the visible and the cultural landscape. Together with volunteers, neighbours and guests we have shaped this land, creating a small village rooted in generosity, learning and shared purpose.

People connect here like living soil. It supports systems to grow well. And just as healthy soil feeds the plants, healthy cooperation feeds the whole project.

Teaching with both hands in the soil

I love to teach, guide and design for others who want to create the same kind of deep transformation on their land, in their organisations, or in their own lives. My work blends practical permaculture, social design and Cultural Emergence so that people don’t just learn techniques; they learn to lead, tend, and regenerate from the inside out.

If you’re ready to create systems that are alive, efficient and truly supportive, and beautifully practical, quietly revolutionary: I’m here to help you make that real.

Permaculture and Cultural Emergence teacher and facilitator

In 2024 I received my Diploma in Applied Permaculture from the Permaculture Association Britain, where I am now an educator member.
I designed our nut farm, a garden for the chickens, an unfashionable minimalistic capsule wardrobe, a hand made life, a permaculture decision making model and more.

I collaborate with Looby Macnamara, Delvin Solkinson and Emma Gorbut in the Cultural Emergence network

 

My vision is to live a life rooted in simplicity, health and joy, surrounded by people who value connection, nature and a generous way of living.

I live with my family on an 8 hectare self-sufficient homestead in the heart of Croatia. Together with hundreds of volunteers and learners, we have been growing also a small village culture. One where contribution, care and shared responsibility feel natural. This taught me that landscape regeneration and human regeneration go hand in hand. You can’t build one without tending the other.

Facilitator of a positive culture

Alongside land-based design, I specialise in Cultural Emergence and social permaculture. I help people and groups find clarity, cooperation and momentum so the systems they create truly serve them. My facilitation style is simple, human and grounded, making space for potential.

What I offer

I teach, design and support projects and people that aim for beauty, practicality and long-term resilience:

• Permaculture design for homesteads, farms and eco projects

• Cultural Emergence guidance and facilitation

• Courses, mentoring and hands-on learning

• Designing people systems that actually work

• Mentoring people on their permaculture (Diploma) pathway

Why I do this work

Because I’ve seen what becomes possible when people reconnect with land, with each other and with their own agency. Regenerative living isn’t a theory; it’s a practice that grows stronger every season.

In essence

I help people design ecosystems, inner and outer, where Life can flourish.

Contact barbara@bogatasuma.com or call +385955555677

> Article Cultural Emergence in Green Spirit Magazine

> Article Cultural Emergence, a toolkit for a permanent regenerative culture in Permacultuur Magazine Netherlands

Article Designing life like a garden, for Permaculture Magazine Denmark

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On our homestead Bogata Šuma you can experience a permaculture lifestyle. There is colorful organic food from our land to enjoy, you can learn how permaculture works on our courses, or you can enjoy a holiday in Croatia's nature on our small, eco campsite.

With Bogata Šuma's Country Life Academy you can be coached to a harmonious, successful life in nature. We organise weekends and courses for people who want to learn all about a good life on the land.

With our NGO "Udruga Anno 3033" you can volunteer with us to learn about permaculture and a fulfilling self sufficient life.

My permaculture pathway plays a big role in our ecosystem. Since we live in Croatia, creating self sufficiency and sustainable ecosystems became an important part of my life. Permaculture and Nature around us inspire me to develop synergetic growth systems based on diversity, resilience, productivity, and sustainability. I have been designing and implementing productive ecosystems to be fully integrated with the landscape that surrounds us. Reading the landscape grew on me and taking care of it in small steps, creating a healthier and more sustainable environment, thus reducing our impact on the Earth.

Besides permaculture designs for our land, I am also making people-based designs. I use various methods, like the "SADIMET design process" and Looby Macnamara's "Design Web".

Permaculture designs I work(ed) on

Besides the 10 designs for my permaculture Diploma, I have been designing:

Designs for the week
I design the week ahead: how does it all fit with my vision and values, what qualities do I want to bring, what are my needs, how can I stack functions, which pattern and what principle would be helpful this week.

Permaculture pathway design
My personal Action Learning Pathway design for a Permaculture Diploma, for becoming an experienced designer and a resourceful facilitator.

ME
Personal permaculture design about how to be the best version of me.

Overall permaculture design for Bogata Šuma
Overall design about our life and our land. It links to al other land-based designs:

Natural greywater cleaning swim pond design
About how and where we can make a natural pond that filters our greywater and gives us a nice spot to swim.

Forest garden and food savannah
An extensive design about our edible landscape and fruit park. Is still a bit behind the facts.

My underground house
My woman-cave, comfortable and cosy, underground, natural materials.