This is the land.A 14-hectare headland reaching into Cieceres Lake — Brocēni, Latvia.
A family eco-retreat of hempcrete cottages on 14 hectares by Cieceres Lake — built slowly, transparently, with the people who believe in it.
The land near Cieceres Lake has been in the Sērmola family for generations. Ilvers and Ilze are turning it into a low-impact retreat — cottages made of hempcrete, set among forest, water and meadow — without banks, and without losing the soul of the place.
The 14 ha by Cieceres Lake — Dienvidu iela 2, Brocēni · 56.6675, 22.5605
From plan to place — our own cottage renders and real architectural drawings.
A hemp-and-lime building material that does what concrete can't: it breathes, insulates, and stores carbon as it cures — putting the retreat at the leading edge of Europe's Green Deal. We build it by hand ourselves, which keeps costs down and the story honest.
The walls lock away CO₂ as they set — a genuinely low-carbon build, not greenwashing.
Superior insulation and breathability — comfortable year-round, lower running costs.
Sustainable materials and rural eco-tourism open the door to EU and Latvian grant support.
No banks, no pressure. Choose the relationship that fits — from a share of the profit to simply pre-buying the holidays you'll take here. Every arrangement is set up with a Latvian lawyer, with permits in place first.
Back the build and share in roughly 20% of the profit — not a loan. Optionally secured by a 1-hectare land pledge.
A stake in the development through a joint venture, entering phase by phase with clear steps at each stage.
Pre-buy nights each year, or co-own a cottage with a few others — the transparent alternative to classic timeshare.
A comparable regional eco-site, Silalīči, reportedly earns around €120k a year with fewer and less sustainable cottages. Figures are indicative and being validated — honesty over hype.
Hives on the property — tours, tastings, and honey to take home.
Black Folk PotteryHands-on workshops with our friends at Black Folk Pottery, in an ancient Latvian craft.
Kuģītis Zezer · zezer.lvLake cruises — and a floating pizzeria — with our friends from Kuģītis Zezer, docked right here on Cieceres Lake.
Cieceres ezers · CC BY-SAForest trails, a cycling road, the lake watchtower, and the Saldus ice hall for winter.
Real Zezer boat & lake photos shown courtesy of our friends and Wikimedia Commons. Still to add: a photo from the beekeeper friend (the bees image is a placeholder for now).
Ilvers & Ilze — the family behind Secret Trees GardensPhase 1 is €50,000 to hand-build our first hempcrete cottage and open the site to its first guests — the point where the profit (and your share) begins. Come see the land, read the full plan, and choose how you'd like to take part.