OVERVIEW

This project was successfully funded on Kickstarter on the 13th of May.  The kindest 606 souls helped me raise $77,000 for the project of a lifetime. As we are talking about a lifetime, there is tons of work to be done on the property. And you can help me create the most kindest destination in Croatia. You can still book nights in treehouses with promotional prices only on Indiegogo InDemand! Or plant a tree, adopt one from the forest, sponsor a birdhouse or help me build the a glass greenhouse! Power to the forest!

THE DREAM

We are on a mission to build an environmentally and socially conscious retreat with treehouses, like no other. Secluded within the pristine forests of Rastoke, Croatia, Tree Elements greets travelers and shelter-seekers with equal respect.

Creating the kindest treehouse eco-retreat in the world and devoting ourselves to the forest while giving back to the people and to Mother Nature, the retreat will be built with locally sourced materials. Life at Tree Elements is a story of community and conservation of natural and cultural heritage. Help us make our dream come true!

HOW IT ALL STARTED

In 2018 I bought 7 acres/ 28,000m2 of forest land near Rastoke village by Korana river in Croatia. There was nothing on the property except an old house from 1906, a small barn, and one gorgeous linden tree.  The moment I saw the property I knew this was the place where I wanted to create something magical, where I wanted to grow my roots. The proximity of the most beautiful national park in the country – Plitvice Lakes, was just an added bonus. 

I’ve dreamt of creating a zero-waste, plastic-free, treehouse retreat for a long time. The result is Tree Elements, a labor of love, passion, and dedication. But there’s more: I dream of redefining the concept of travel. Not promoting mass tourism, but proposing an ecological, sustainable, and socially aware way to explore and enjoy travel.

I welcome both travelers and organizations that help those in need.

Now, me and my family are so close to turning the whole property into a zero-waste, zero-plastic retreat and a holistic center called “Tree Elements”.
Wooden treehouses named Earth, Water & Wind are all secluded inside the forest, together with the new main house -the gathering place representing the Ether elementand a renovated barn, now a small farmhouse, the Fire element.

WHO ARE YOU?

I am a young girl with an old soul, hanging from a tree, completely in love with them, with nature and life, a huge fighter for justice, for people, and for Mother Earth.

The idea of what I want to do with my life, truly and fully, came to me when I was, luckily, only 28. It was crystal clear: change my career, buy a forest, build treehouses and come up with something new, something kind.

I got my first job in tourism when I was 15 and since then I was saving money like a little squirrel. I have been working and observing the industry for 17 years now, from selling souvenirs, being a cleaning lady, doing PR, working as a waiter, bartender, to working at the hotel’s front desks. From working in hostels and managing apartments, to being a guest in numerous places as a tour guide, I knew that this was not the path I was willing to follow because tourism desperately needs improving. I wanted something more, something different and something that could change people’s lives. I wanted to change the way how tourism works and thinks!

That is why I aim to create the kindest eco-retreat in the world, in the middle of Croatia, to devote myself to this forest, to nature, and to the people. All of this with immense help and support from my family and friends. 

RETREAT YOURSELF

Do you want to get away from everything? Yet, be connected to everything? 

In Tree Elements, you can rent a treehouse, or even the whole property and get married in the forest. You can participate in workshops and find inspiration and in yoga, meditation, and healing retreats or make your own retreat. You can come with your team and do a team-building session, shoot a movie, a music video,  or volunteer and educate… And plant trees in your sleep!

There are endless possibilities. As my love for this project is. It has been for years now.

I am not here to promote mass tourism, I am here to propose a new concept of it for which I’ve coined the term ‘eco-kind’, meaning, in addition to being ecological and sustainable in the 21st century, we should be also socially aware of the time we live in and be kind to people. 

By staying in our eco-kind retreat, you can help those members of society who might need to heal in this forest the most. You will be promoting environmentally aware travel while being kind to others. 

So we have partnered with organizations that help cancer survivors, abused women, and children with malignant diseases. By inviting them to stay on the property for free and giving them the chance to participate in a variety of workshops and retreats, we want to help them heal from trauma in this magical forest and provide a home away from home. 

We aspire to inspire other business owners to follow the idea. So far, the media houses in Croatia and abroad have recognized the value of the project, for which we are more than grateful and we hope this will have an immense impact on other businesses. 

HOME AMONG THE TREES

The retreat will be open 365 days a year, from August 2021, offering all of you a chance to visit whenever you can. Imagine waking up in a custom-made bed in the middle of the forest, in a treehouse of your choice. Shepherd Nicola is passing by you with his sheep while you are going to the main house for breakfast. If you are not in the mood of leaving your nest, you can have breakfast delivered to you. Now, you might want to go for a walk down to the river for a swim, meditate a bit on a meadow and read a good book you have borrowed from the central library in the main house. 

Then, you would like to cook something yummy so you visit the organic garden, pick your own fruits and veggies and hang out with domestic animals. Later on, you might want to participate in yoga, meditation & healing programs, maybe attend a workshop, go on a hike, visit the National Park Plitvice Lakes or get a bike and enjoy numerous activities in the region.  Or you rented the whole property and got married! CONGRATULATIONS!

All of it while helping others with your stay and planting trees in your sleep! 

WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT YOU GET?

We need to build a village! A village of treehouses! And you get to be among the first ones to visit. Or anytime in the future, for that manner. Just come and visit us! Or you can get something for our Mother Nature, by planting a tree, sponsoring a birdhouse, or simply he

TREEHOUSES EARTH, WATER & WIND

Imagine a place where you can rent more than a treehouse. Where you get a lifestyle while giving back. 

When promising peace & quiet, it is important to deliver precisely that. That’s why there are only 3 treehouses for you to rent: Earth, Water & Wind, representing the elements of Nature. 

You will be high in the air since all of them are almost 3 m (9 feet) above the ground, while the highest point is set on 9 m (18  feet). All of them will be built with wood and glass all coming from Croatian producers. The exterior is the same, while the interiors change according to the element they represent, so each one has a story to tell through interesting details and colors.

All of them have been designed to take advantage of passive cooling and heating with heat pumps, thus reducing the need for air-conditioning. “Push” valves, water-saving showerheads, and low flush toilet systems will be installed to preserve water while rainwater will be collected for watering the garden, flushing toilets, washing the clothes, and general household cleaning.

The size of each treehouse is 25 m2 (260ft2), all containing living space, a fully equipped kitchen, and a bathroom on one floor, while the gallery (13m2/139ft2) features a king-size bed. It can fit 4 people (with a custom-made pullout sofa). The living room opens out to a lovely wooden terrace through beautiful glass doors. Under each treehouse, we will have a decorated space for you to relax on hammocks, while the communal space will be in the main house and in front of it, under this big linden tree.

FIRE ELEMENT – the small farmhouse

This will be my home for the beginning. It was supposed to be a wood workshop but since we lack funds to furnish the main house, and since I need to supervise the construction until August, I need to be there. I want to start working on the farm as soon as possible, once this little guy is built. So we have decided to renovate the old barn into a small farmhouse that will also serve as accommodation in near future for different retreats and occasions.

The wood workshop will come, hopefully, with your help. Some funds we raise here can create a place where we would educate people about the importance of wood and natural materials. We want it to be an inspirational space and a place where, with local wood makers, we can create magic for the forest and more.
 

ETHER ELEMENT – the main house and the gathering place

The five elements theory existed in many ancient cultures such as Greek, Japanese, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and more. The fifth element on top of the earth, air, fire, and water, is space or aether. The Ether element is the space in which everything happens. 

So is this house, a place in which it all happens. Place of gatherings, of the people – all of you who visit or help in any way and leave a part of yourself here.  Here, you will attend workshops and numerous programs and meet me, my family, other travelers, or simply enjoy a home-cooked meal… You may also rent the house and the whole property, having the forest just for yourself.

It will hold a central library under the wooden stairs filled with local green guides, inspirational and motivational books, books about nature, food, novels… 

HOW WILL THE FUNDS BE USED AND WHAT HAVE WE DONE SO FAR?

Starting from scratch, without any infrastructure… it is expensive, to say the least. I’ve spent all of my personal savings (including my parents and my sister’s).  From 2018, the money went for land,  road, water and electricity, rainwatertanks, bio sewage tanks, heat pumps for heating and cooling, organic garden, construction of the small farmhouse, foundations for everything, steel construction, architects, paperwork, and a deposit for the construction of the treehouses with the main house (20%). The rest 80% is covered with the loan from the bank, but not enough to finish all of this. They started to build the first prefabricated house in May, 2021.

 Due to the unfortunate situation in the tourism industry caused by the spread of Coronavirus the banks were not investing in tourism-related projects.

If Corona did not happen, I would easily get the investment loan with the amount needed things would be much different. So after 10 different banks refused my application for the investment and 16 months of battle against windmills, I was finally able to get a loan to cover all the construction, but not enough amount.  So what now?

You need to sleep in a bed, right? You need a nice kitchen to cook some lovely fresh meals? Do you need a sofa to sit and watch outside? Sure thing you do.

YOU are the key

YOU can help me finish make my dream come true by Aug 2021. $35,000 would go directly into the interior of the treehouses. Things like kitchens, beds, bathroom equipment and so on would be funded from your support, so they are ready for your visit.

Other rewards would be for the exterior. Not only for this property (wood workshop, pathways) but for Her.  Mother Nature.  After all, it is Her property.

Think homes for the birds while planting more and more trees, a rich organic forest garden, and then magic! Wooden benches with inspirational thoughts, art sculptures made by local designers, and a glasshouse with herbs and spices…

Here’s the breakdown;

$30,000 – interior works for three guest treehouses 

$15,000 – interior works for the main house

$30,000 – exterior and landscaping

More funds received would go into the landscaping, plus things such as a pathway to the river, a decent chicken coop, a yoga amphitheater, irrigation system, wooden deck for the main house, more domestic animals, a tool shed, glass greenhouse,  little spots around the forest to unwind and so many unexpected expenses.

HELP ME GET OFF MY TREE AND CHOSE YOUR REWARD,PRETTY PLEASE 

(these are just some of many, every sponsorship gets a certificate and loyalty card)

$15 loyalty card with forever discounts. Comes with every perk.

$40 name a tree

$50 plant a tree

$70 adopt a birdhouse

$1500 sponsor a giant wooden swing

$3,500 sponsor a glass greenhouse

THE IMPACT

We want for a traveler to develop a growing sense of one another, our world, and our place in it. Yes, there should be a connection between the traveler and the local community with the environment but the purchase of something should have an impact locally & directly as well as morally. Why not supporting eco-kind businesses and change the tourism industry?

A retreat where all the furniture comes from local designers, all the products are bought from little producers who are making a difference, where food comes from the organic garden or neighboring farms and your stay supports planting trees around Croatia!

PLANT TREES IN YOUR SLEEP

We are proud to have partners as “Zasadi stablo, ne budi panj”(“Plant a tree, don’t be a stump”), an environmental non-profit association responsible for the (r)evolution of collective planting in Croatia. It started from one week of planting trees last year to the whole month of March of this year. With the help of 55,000 volunteers, they have planted more than 150,000 trees. And that number is growing.

We want to be part of that number, on a large scale. This is our way to give back to Mother Nature. In these times when She needs it the most.

With the help of our partners, we will plant trees provided by Tree Elements. How? Simple.

Each stay = 1 tree planted.  A little forest revolution.

Ok, not so simple. Since we are doing something nobody has done before. At least not in this country. Your pledge for planting trees will help plant and grow the first Miyawaki forest in Croatia!! It is a technique pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, that helps build dense, native forests and ensures plant growth 10 times faster and 30 times denserthan usual. It involves planting native species in the same area and becomes maintenance-free after the first three years. 

By staying with us you can show what a responsible and sustainable travel destination is, away from the masses, while being ecologically and socially aware of the time we live in. The essence should be the interaction, not only a transaction.

Make forests, not war! 

ECO – KIND TOURISM 

The idea of – tourism for all – is reflected in giving the treehouses for free, to users of different organizations around the country who help abused women, children, and cancer patients… In the 21 century, the emphasis is on the environment and sustainability but what if it could include social input as well? Being kind to one another? So we have decided to partner with organizations “Sve za nju” and “Krijesnica” and their users will, from time to time, come to stay for free and participate in different retreats.

Why not invite people to put some light back into their lives? Well, here, they are invited to stay between the trees, to find the motivation, and to find inspiration by participating in healing programs. Maybe by healing the mind, the body can be healed as well. 

“Place your hands into soil to feel grounded. Wade in water to feel emotionally healed. Fill your lungs with fresh air to feel mentally clear. Raise your face to the heat of the sun and connect with that fire to feel your own immense power”

We will show what a responsible tourist destination means in an overcrowded and overwhelmed tourist country such as Croatia and focus on the continental part of the country. “Mass tourism shows a loss of the authenticity & quality of the destination while doing it merely for-profit and stripping it of its essence until it’s no longer recognizable.”

Environmentally conscious travel does not mean compromising on comfort, nor socially aware travel should. It can only bring more value to the money. The desire to give something back to the places we visit is wholesome and ought to be encouraged.

That’s why your stay with us means much more. It changes people’s lives.

…GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK

Heat pumps will be installed for every treehouse and the main house. These pumps use air as a source of energy, they transform the outside air for heating or cooling of the indoor spaces. The pumps will also double as water heaters.

Bio septic sewage system will be installed, providing eco-friendly wastewater treatment. 

Rainwater harvesting will be done through the roof of a house and a small farmhouse. Environmental friendly materials will be used while building. We talk about bio-architecture: all walls (including roof and floor) are insulated with rigid insulating panels that contribute to optimizing the thermal performance and consumption of the house.

Everything from bed linen to the food will be organic and fair trade. Tables, chairs, bed frames will be built from local or recycled materials and by local designers. The material from the salvaged house and the barn will be incorporated into the building.

All bathrooms will have water-saving shower systems, environmentally-friendly paper (from copier paper, toilet paper, paper towels), organic towels, and low-water toilets in order to use significantly less water. Composting material will be used for the garden while recycling bins will be placed throughout the property.

An organic garden will be planted from which all the food will be coming from, including neighboring farms as well.

LOCATION & ACTIVITIES

In the heart of Croatia, in Karlovac county, surrounded by the gorgeous river Korana, close to 3 more rivers and 3 national parks. The proximity (40mins) of Plitvice Lakes National Park is something that should be cherished and I am forever grateful to find this amazing location where all of you will be able to relax, connect with the Earth, give yourself a break, and find that peace the forest is filled with.

• The retreat is a 1.30hrs drive from the capital, Zagreb, the biggest airport in the country (100km-60miles)
•  Rastoke waterfall village – 10mins drive from the property, the introduction to the NP Plitvice lakes, where waterfalls are a common sight in people’s backyards.
• Border with Bosnia & Hercegovina is 35 mins away, where one can find the best rafting center in the region; whitewater rafting & canoeing on Una river
• Adriatic coast (the northern part with Istria region and Dalmatian coast with Zadar) is to be found a bit over 2hrs drive from the property (160km/100miles)
•  Gorski Kotar, the region perfect for skiing & hiking, the green lungs of Croatia or the Croatian Switzerland, is just 2 hrs away, with NP Risnjak 
•  NP Velebit on 1:45mins of drive can pleasantly surprise travelers with hiking options and with Kuterevo – home to the first Bear Orphanage in Croatia, providing shelter to young, abandoned bears.

In addition, there is a world of possibilities to do:

• hiking, trekking, horseback riding, cycling (11okm/70miles of trails)
• visiting 4 different rivers, lakes, underground caves, the largest underground airport and military base of ex Yugoslavia
• kayaking, canoeing, swimming, fishing, rafting
• photo safari (brown bears, lynxes, wolves, foxes, deer, rabbits, wild boars, quails, pheasants, etc.)
• Nordic walking (18 trails in Karlovac county)
• paintball, archery, zipline, quad adventure, adrenalin park

RISK & CHALLENGES

The biggest risk is finishing the project by August 2021. This year has taught the whole world not to plan much, but I have been waiting for this to happen for so long and all I have left now is time and hope. You being the hope. The covid virus can ruin the plan as well, but this type of accommodation and service will work perfectly in the upcoming years. Even if we don’t do this on time, the retreat will be open.

Delivering rewards: some rewards will be delivered in 2 phases, such as planting trees. The first part is the certificate and loyalty card that will come as soon as possible in digital shape to the backer email address. The exact planting of trees will be in autumn as that is the best time to do so. That being said, the other part of the rewards, such as the photo of the tree or the birdhouse for ex. will be delivered later, again in digital shape so we avoid impact on the environment. Other rewards such as accommodation in treehouses will be possible from the moment we open the retreat, starting August or September. The backers will be welcome to come and use their rewards and see some on the property. We just need to build it. “Build it and they will come. “

Other Ways You Can Help

We need you. This forest needs you. The world needs you. 

Join the campaign, help in any way, share it, and promote us on:

 FACEBOOK     https://www.facebook.com/treelements

INSTAGRAM    https://www.instagram.com/tree.elements/

And last but not least…

THANK YOU.   For believing in the kindest eco-retreat in the world.

Power to the forest. And the people.