Projects

We’re transforming an old, underutilized rural land and house into a living example of sustainable eco-tourism and regenerative living. Through dozens of parallel projects, from renewable energy and water management to co-working, food production, and maker spaces, we’re building a place where guests, locals, and nature all benefit.

home Projects

Heating and hot water

Warm water and a warm house are essential for comfortable living. We replaced our old fossil fuel based heating and hot water setup with a highly efficient wood gasifier and solar collector system. The new system covers the entire house and apartments, improves air quality, and drastically reduces wood handling while ending our reliance on gas and diesel.

Efficient Heating, Wood Gasifier, Solar Collector, Home Automation

heating, hot water, wood gasifier, solar collector, air quality, energy efficiency, sustainable living

Renewable energy

Starting from zero, we’ve begun building a renewable energy system to cover electricity and heating needs. Initial steps include solar collectors and a gasifier, to match the warmth demand, plus grid upgrades to handle future solar panels and batteries. Next: photovoltaic carport, heat storage, and exploring heat pumps.

renewable energy, solar collectors, gasifier, grid upgrades, photovoltaic carport, heat storage, heat pumps

Soil improvements

We inherited sandy, nutrient-poor soil, degraded by annual plowing and use of fertilizers. We’re regenerating it by adding organic matter and natural fertilizers. Grass cuttings stay on the ground, and sheep and goats graze to improve soil health. Future plans include rotational grazing and adding smaller animals for further regeneration.

Soil Improvement, Organic Matter, Natural Fertilizers, Grass Cuttings, Rotational Grazing, Sandy Soil, Poor Nutrient Soil, Regeneration, Animal Grazing, Sheep and Goats, Deep Regeneration

Soil improvement, Organic matter, Natural fertilizers, Grass cuttings, Sheep and goats grazing, Rotational grazing, Smaller animals

soil improvement, organic matter, natural fertilizers, grass cuttings, sheep and goats, rotational grazing, smaller animals, soil health, regeneration

soil-regeneration, organic-matter, natural-fertilizers, grass-cuttings, sheep-grazing, rotational-grazing, smaller-animals, soil-health, degraded-soil, nutrient-poor-soil

Electricity

We replaced unsafe old wiring with a completely new, modular system ready for three-phase power. Each apartment now has its own fuse box and power limiter, and the entire setup is designed for future solar panels, batteries, and other renewable energy additions.

new, wiring, modular system, solar panels, batteries, renewable energy

High speed fibre optics internet

Originally limited to low bit rate 4G, we upgraded to a 1 gigabit fibre optic connection, matching speeds found in large cities. This upgrade supports both guest needs and our own work. Next steps: expand WiFi coverage and create designated no-WiFi zones to encourage offline interaction.

Repair café project

We’re planning to launch a monthly repair café, inviting local engineers and residents to fix broken appliances together. Using the maker incubator’s tools, it aims to reduce waste and create a shared space where knowledge and stories are exchanged across generations.

repair cafe, community event, local engineers, appliance repair, knowledge exchange, maker incubator, waste reduction

Maker space project

Alongside the maker incubator, we plan to open the facilities for anyone who occasionally wants to create or repair something. The maker space, sometimes called a FabLab (fabrication lab), offers shared access to modern and traditional tools without needing to be part of a structured incubator program.

Maker Space, FabLab, Tools, Creativity, Repair, Shared Access, Modern and Traditional

Maker Space,FabLab,Tools,Incubator,Create,Repair

maker space, fabrication lab, tools, shared access

Food forest

Building on existing fruit trees like cherry, fig, plum, apple and kiwi we cleared 800m2 for new diverse plantings. The first trees, almond, red fig, hazel, stone pine, plum and olives are in place, supported by a yearly family planting event. Plans include drip irrigation and better fruit processing to make the most of every harvest.

fruit trees, cherry, fig, plum, planting event, drip irrigation, fruit processing, harvest, family event

Plumbing

We replaced outdated iron drinking water pipes and installed a new modular system supplying four apartments including kitchens and bathrooms. At the same time, we expanded the waste water system with separate lines for each apartment and added the option to collect shower water for future capturing, filtering and reusing.

plumbing,modular system,iron pipes,expanded waste water lines,shower water collection

plumbing, renovation, modernization, apartment complex

Maker incubator project

We’re setting up a professional maker incubator from scratch: combining digital tools like 3D printers and laser cutters with classic woodworking and metalworking equipment. The aim is to support local and visiting entrepreneurs to prototype, learn, and create, all from our rural location.

Maker Incubator, 3D Printers, Laser Cutters, Woodworking, Metalworking, Prototyping, Entrepreneurship, Rural Location

Maker Incubator, Rural Location, 3D Printers, Laser Cutters, Woodworking, Metalworking Equipment, Entrepreneurs, Prototyping, Learning, Creating

Market garden

Starting from plowed bare soil, we built a no-dig vegetable garden using self-made compost and forest soil. We now grow our own organic fruits and vegetables on 200m2 of beds, supported by drip irrigation and fencing. The next step: expanding to feed ourselves and our guests.

no-dig vegetable garden, self-made compost, organic fruits and vegetables, drip irrigation, fencing

Gardening, Organic Farming, No-dig Garden, Market Garden, Self-made Compost, Forest Soil, Drip Irrigation, Fencing, Vegetable Garden Expansion

Apartments project

From empty unfinished spaces, we have created four modern, fully equipped apartments with private kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and terraces. Two are already ready for guests, the other two will be finished by November. Future plans focus on indoor climate control, handcrafted furniture, smart lighting, coziness, and 'edible' design features.

apartments, modern, fully equipped, private kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, terraces, climate control, smart lighting, coziness, 'edible' design features.

Co-working space project

Starting from scratch, we created a professional co-working space open to guests and local residents alike. Equipped with high speed internet, desks, chairs, and a coffee machine, it’s ready for focused work or meetings. Future plans include outreach to local youth and deeper community integration.

co-working-space, professional workspace, high speed internet, desks, chairs, coffee machine, local youth outreach, community integration

Water storage

Water is essential for every life, the food forest and the market garden both rely in the water storage on the land during summer months. We restored two large water tanks, cleared an overgrown well for irrigation, and added distributed IBC tanks for fire safety. The system now includes new pumps, hoses and drip irrigation, with plans to add a third tank and automate watering using solar-powered equipment.

Home Projects, Water Storage, Controls, Right Slider

water storage, irrigation, pumps, drip irrigation, IBC tanks, fire safety, solar-powered equipment

Friends of Starbase18

Support our unique mix of ecotourism, permaculture, renewable energy, and maker education and get something real in return. Become a Friend of Starbase18 for just €20 per year and enjoy direct benefits, exclusive access, and help shape our projects.

Friends of Starbase18, Eco-Tourism, Permaculture, Renewable Energy, Maker Education, Support, Direct Benefits, Exclusive Access, Help Shape Projects, €20 per Year, Real Return

VET education

Building on extensive experience in vocational education and European projects, we aim to turn Starbase18 into a real-life educational living lab. Our goal: host Erasmus+ students, create international exchanges focused on sustainability, innovation and regenerative farming, and strengthen ties with VET schools across Europe.

Title