I Bought a Few Sheep and Moved to the Countryside: That’s How It All Began

For years, the Kajak.mk team has been sharing unique stories about local heroes in Macedonia—people whose small actions create a big impact on the development of tourism. Our goal is to inspire young people across the country, encourage them to think differently from their peers, and motivate them to embrace local values: production, tourism, and hospitality. Today, we introduce you to the story of Saše Kitanovski, one of our local heroes.Anyone who visits Saše Kitanovski’s native village immediately feels that a special world lives among these stone houses and green meadows. Saše, a florist and fresh-flower arranger, and an organizer of weddings and celebrations since 1994, decided to merge his lifelong hobby with the profession he loves deeply. But his story doesn’t begin only with flowers—it also begins with his love for animals.

“The city has its charm, but I missed the peace, the space, the life that exists in harmony with nature,” Saše says as he walks through his yard filled with animals and flowers. In 2016, he decided to make a major life shift. He bought Romanov sheep, a heifer, chicks, geese, rabbits, and began raising them in his mother’s birthplace—a village with only four or five residents. “The support from the people there was incredible. With their advice and sincere kindness, every obstacle became smaller,” he adds.The first steps were far from easy. The village had no infrastructure, and the conditions for the animals were modest. Still, every morning at seven o’clock, Saše began his day by feeding and caring for the animals, and by two in the afternoon he continued working in his flower shop, creating arrangements admired for their freshness and beauty. “I felt like I was living two lives—one with the animals and one with the flowers, and both brought me joy like nothing else,” Saše says with a smile.

The midpoint on his path toward this new vision was Kičevo, where he finally had space to build a new barn and move the animals. “It wasn’t easy—there wasn’t even a roof to protect us from the rain or the cold. But with the help of my father, my brother, my cousins, and my uncles, working with heart, we raised the barn in the middle of winter,” Saše recalls.

With his desire to blend his love for animals and floristry, the idea for the “Džambulec” Event Center was born. “I didn’t fully understand what I was stepping into, but I knew it was what I wanted most,” he says.

Over the course of eight months, the facility was built—today it stands as a symbol of harmony between nature, animals, and weddings. The first wedding took place in July 2024. The yard is filled with flowers grown for the flower shop, a brand that has existed for 30 years. From the animals, Saše produces cheese, milk, and eggs, all with the utmost care and love, without ever slaughtering them. “I see all the animals as friends. Children learn empathy, love, and care from them—not aggression,” he says.

The goal of the center is to expand with a daytime restaurant and accommodation facilities, where visitors will be able to meet the animals and take part in creating fresh-flower arrangements. The play area for children will be a place where the youngest visitors can learn about nature, bond with the animals, and create memories to carry with them.

“There is nothing more beautiful than the moment I walk into the barn and meet the newborn lambs, calves, goslings, and chicks. And every wedding is a unique story, crafted with love and attention, which makes each event magical,” Saše shares.

Today, Saše is completely surrounded by everything he loves—nature, animals, flowers, and weddings. Kičevo and his native village are true treasures, and Macedonia possesses riches that many other countries don’t: sincerity, tradition, natural beauty, and a love for life. “All it takes is genuine love and persistence to create what you truly desire,” Saše concludes warmly, with a smile.