From Sydney to Zrze: We Chose Farm Life Over the City

Raising farm animals is a responsibility, not just a pleasure. However, to truly enjoy life, we must fulfill the duties that make us happy. You’ll likely agree with this perspective after reading the story of brothers Mihail and Kristijan — born in Skopje and raised in Sydney, Australia — who decided to start their own farm in the village of Zrze, a place they call a natural paradise on Earth.

The team at Kajak.mk has expanded its list of local heroes — individuals who do small things with great impact on the development of tourism — by adding Mihail and Kristijan. Their inspiring story will serve as motivation for many young people to take the first step toward building something that brings them true happiness.

Kristijan, who shared their life story and the motivation behind dedicating themselves to raising free-range chickens, says they chose the village of Zrze because their mother Ruzica is originally from there — a place known for its purity and being surrounded by stunning nature.

The idea to start their own farm, where they would raise free-range chickens, came after they decided they needed a healthier and more peaceful way of living — what many would simply call “life in the village.” Their goal was to return to the original way of life their ancestors once lived: a slower pace, healthy local food, clean mountain air, spring water, and less crowding.

They say that the village of Zrze is very clean and surrounded by beautiful nature, but they also add that it is home to the stunning Monastery of St. Transfiguration (Sv. Preobrazhenie), a popular attraction among tourists — which means great potential for development.

Today, their farm is home to chickens, quails, and ducks, and they’re currently working on building gardens where they will grow vegetables for their own use and for animal feed. In addition to raising chickens and quails, they’ll soon begin producing homemade noodles, which they say will be available for purchase directly from the farm — and soon also through delivery to Skopje.

Kristijan says that the day on the farm starts early at dawn. During the summer, they let the chickens out to graze on the pastures in the village of Zrze. Meanwhile, they prepare food and water for all the animals. Depending on the daily tasks, they engage in construction activities, research new methods to improve the overall quality of the farm’s operations and products, create content and communicate on social media, plan for the future, and handle many other things. In the evening, they lock the chickens into their warm shelters so they can rest for the next day. They love staying busy all the time because, as Kristijan believes, that’s the only way to grow and progress.

The two brothers are considering several future projects. They plan to introduce open days for tourists, where guests can enjoy a homemade, healthy breakfast, breathe fresh air, and soak in the beautiful nature.

Both say they will continue to grow because, for them, this is a life mission. Producing healthy food for themselves and their consumers, supporting the local community, and inspiring young people and future generations are their guiding principles in life.

You can follow their activities on social media — Facebook and Instagram — from pricing to orders. Kristijan says they focus most on Instagram, where good communication can be established.

Their Instagram profile is: @farmazrze