About me
For more than 30 years, my work and interests have been guided by the philosophy and practice of permaculture, as a way of understanding how humans can live in balance with the living world.
I was born in Serbia, in Belgrade, and arrived in Amsterdam as a student in the early 1990s. At that time, although Belgrade itself was still physically safe, the wider geopolitical situation and the trauma of war in the region were deeply present in everyday life. Like many others, I found myself carrying experiences of uncertainty, displacement, and transition.
During this period of change, I was searching for a more harmonious and meaningful way of living in the world. Nature has always been my place of refuge. Since childhood, being in forests and meadows (observing insects, listening to birds, and simply being in natural environments), helped calm my nervous system, clear my mind, and restore a sense of hope.
My introduction to permaculture came unexpectedly in a small American library in Amsterdam, where I discovered a book by Rosemary Morrow. That moment changed the direction of my life. Soon after, I was introduced to the broader work of permaculture pioneers such as Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, alongside the influence of thinkers and practitioners such as Masanobu Fukuoka and P.A. Yeomans. Permaculture offered not only a philosophy but a practical framework for regeneration—a way to respond to ecological and social challenges through living systems thinking.
At that time, I did not have land or even a balcony. My first applications of permaculture were through social permaculture, exploring how these principles can be lived in relationships, communities, and everyday life.
Over time, my path expanded into working with plants and healing traditions. I have been involved with herbalism for more than 15 years, initially as part of a personal search for natural ways of healing and wellbeing. I am deeply grateful for classical medicine, which supported me during critical stages of my health journey, and this experience helped me understand the importance of integrative and complementary approaches to healing.
This led me to study folk herbalism, art therapy, and later to develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between trauma, mental health, and our connection to nature. Coming from a region marked by war and collective trauma, and having lived through migration and displacement, I became aware of how deeply these experiences shape the way we relate to ourselves, others, and the world around us.
In this context, I also worked as an intercultural interpreter and mediator, including with the Red Cross, supporting communication and understanding across different cultural and social backgrounds.
In 2020, I completed my Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) with Permaculture Education (USA), while actively working on our land in Serbia, which became a living demonstration site for permaculture practice. We kept chickens, worked with bees, and experienced both the challenges and the deep rewards of ecological regeneration in practice.
I am also a mother of three daughters, which continues to shape my understanding of care, responsibility, and the importance of creating a more regenerative and compassionate world for future generations.
Over the years, I have travelled widely across Australia, Southeast Asia, and Europe, participating in and learning from ecological, educational, and community-based projects.
Today, my work integrates permaculture, herbalism, urban ecology, creative education, intercultural facilitation, and holistic wellbeing, offering workshops and learning experiences that support reconnection with nature, resilience, and regenerative ways of living.
Today, I also work as a naturopathic health coach, supporting individuals through holistic coaching focused on lifestyle, nutrition, movement, stress, and daily habits. This work complements my ecological practice, as both are rooted in supporting regeneration of land, systems, and human wellbeing.
