Zsolt Gilicze hosted four young people from Budapest for five-six days on his farm, which is situated between Hódmezővásárhely and Szentes, and which does not have electricity, the nearest asphalt road being three-four kilometres away.
Zsolt Gilicze established his agricultural enterprise in Hódmezővásárhely. He is an engine fitter by profession, as well as an agricultural mechanic and machine worker since 2000. “My family lived the traditional life of 'tanya' (traditional small Hungarian homestead) holders for generations. My great-great-grandfather, Pál Hódi, was born in 1839, and according to his telling and memoirs, a study immortalized this world”, said the young farmer. The base of the already self-sufficient farm was when he got his father's livestock, which mostly comprises of multiple-purpose (beef and dairy) Hungarian simmental cattle. Husbandry is complemented with cultivating mainly wheat, maize, sunflower, and vegetables. “I am farming on 25 hectares, both on open fields and gardens. I grow potato, red onion, and garlic too.” The Gilicze homestead between Szentes and Hódmezővásárhely is the centre of Zsolt's and his parents' farm. Here, no electricity can be found to this day, and one has to walk three to four kilometres to reach the nearest asphalt road. There are more than ten types of animals here, so the young urban guests had a lot of work. The function of the Gilicze homestead is the same as it was a century ago. It is not a permanent residence, but a scene and centre of farming exclusively. Here, only those things can be found which are absolutely necessary for farming. Everything is at its place, and all of it has its function. “The family is up to 90 percent self-sufficient, we only buy things which we cannot produce” - says Zsolt. He and his father take turns of staying out in the homestead, since it cannot be abandoned for even a minute. The participants of Rural Adventures Programme had a chance to taste the real romanticism of the “puszta” (the Hungarian steppe).
