...we are in this world to help eacother, right? so why dont we do that?!


''Telluris-Medin'' was established in 2007 as the only company in Europe and the world that has incorporated elements of the famous ancient Chinese medicine into the gastronomy through consumption of Lumbricus rubellus, the Californian Red Worm, and has promoted the already known and the new delicacies made of snails Helix Aspersa Muller or the Mediterranean snail. (french ''ESCARGOT'')

One of the company's basic activities is the huge production of humus of the Californian Red Worm, a highly nutritious organic fertilizer, which is used to treat all kinds of field crops and to enable pure ecological growth and development of plants from the very roots, therefore representing an irreplaceable basis for the maximum growth and healthy fruits. To be competitive on the market, we have produced three brands of fertilizer, brand A, B and C.

The second basic activity – farming of snails Helix Aspersa Muller takes place in the town of Briševo , only 5 km away from Zadar,Croatia, on a farm totaling 20,000 m2 in size. The entire production is divided on our two farms, Murvica and Briševo amounts to approx. 10.000 T per year, whereas, together with all our subcontractors, we are able to produce up to 50.000 T per year..and continually growing.



With such a capacity we are proud to say that we are the largest producers of humus made by the Californian Red Worms in the region of South Eastern Europe . Humus produced by earthworm ''action” ranks among highly regarded organic fertilizers for all types of agricultural production, especially for the ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTION.

On the same farm we have also organized pure, ecological farming of the snail species Helix Aspersa Muller (Mediterranean snail) with a harvest capacity of 20 tons per year.

Through cooperation with many companies all over Croatia , as well as Bosnia , Serbia , Montenegro , Albania , etc.Telluris-Medin can offer many other ecological food products.

Our cooperation with the snail farming companies from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina commenced in mid-2008, and the world cooperation with Turkey, Greece, Albania and Macedonia several months later. We can say that the total quantity of snails intended for the rich markets with cooperating members amounts to more than 250 tons a year.

Another novelty that ''Telluris-Medin'' prepares for 2010 is the production of wine – the famous autochthonous sort - POŠIP, and aromatized plum and herb brandy with an exotic edition called Lumbricus Rubellus, that will appear at the market along with our unbelievable range of foodstuffs labeled as LIMITED EDITION and combined exclusively with delicacies of the company ''Telluris-Medin''. We decided to realize this partnership with the famous winemaker Nikša Tomašić from Smokvice, whose blend of quality wine and brandy and the unique idea of Lumbricus Rubellus in the gastronomy have created a high-quality, nutritional and exclusive product that exists nowhere in the world but in Zadar.

At the beginning of 2008 we signed the contract on exclusive representation and transfer of snail farming technology in the full biological circle for the Republic of Croatia with the International Institute for Heliciculture from Cherasco in Italy. The location of farms was carefully chosen, not only because of the perfect insolation, healthy soil and fresh water, but also because of the ecology, indescribable vistas and the untouched nature. The breeding site was designed as a model farm where apart from its basic activity, there will also be an agricultural farmstead comprising the eco-ethno tourism and planning of the on-site education that has already been going on for some time now. On the farm potential farmers, cooperating members, naturalists, pupils, preschoolers and students can see and learn everything about farming of snails, earthworms and production of humus in all stages of the biological cycle.

The company ''Telluris-Medin'', as the cooperating member of many eminent companies from different parts of the world for heliciculture and vermicompost, ensures to all its cooperating members the acquisition of the necessary materials for the construction of professional farms. It guarantees the purchase of the entire production, remains at disposal for all the necessary information as well as provides assistance regarding all aspects of starting the humus and snail production.
In a very unusual and unique way we are promoting the ecological, country, health and gastronomic tourism and agriculture with all their possibilities and trends.

The first public presentation of delicacies made of Californian earthworms in the world was held at the farmstead in Murvica, on 31 May 2009. Along with all Croatian media the most eminent world broadcasting companies such as BBC, New York Times, Channel 4 and NBC reported about it. A BBC journalist pointed out in his report that Zadar now had its third attraction besides the Solar Circle and the Sea Organ.

At the International Fair of Innovations INNOVA 2009 the company ''Telluris-Medin'' won the bronze medal for the idea Lumbricus Rubellus in everyday diet, which has surely ranked us among the greatest in the world and opened the doors of the foreign markets widely, since the direct influence of such a diet has been proven on human health.

The Montana State University, Institute for Research in Cancer Omaha, Taiwan University, Allergy Research Group California were the first to recognize the revolution of the earthworms and their crucial significance in the fight against cancer cells and many other diseases. For some time now the reputable world institutions have been aware of the good medicinal properties of earthworms against all kinds of carcinoma, especially of pancreas cancer.

Snail farming

Snail farming is becoming a more and more interesting, attractive and lucrative business. With relatively small investments and almost no physical toil the application of the technology developed by the world-known and respected International institute for heliciculture from Cherasco (Italy) guarantees successful production, safe market and good profits. One should only make a decision, follow the instructions, have plenty of patience and success is guaranteed!
The French are known for their great passion towards snail culinary specialties. They have a long tradition of snail cuisine that is splendidly combined with the already developed and well designed tourist offer.

The initial investments for a farm of 2,000 m2 in size are between EUR 5,000-6,000, and the investment return i.e. profit is achieved only after the second year, which means after the first snail harvest. It amounts to 50 or 60 percent. The real picture of the business can be obtained after the third year, when the profits are achieved with minimum investments.

Country and medical tourism

The concept of the agricultural, purely organic farmstead Murvica/Briševo that was built in compliance with all strict, high European standards regarding the environment, strives entirely towards clean ecology, human health and quality of living.

Besides the excellent exterior design enriched with medicinal herbs and aromatic plants, a decorative fountain with benches, a tavern with a terrace, a relaxing atmosphere and the coexistence of plants, animals and man, we also have a closed-type food bar for announced guest groups serving an incredibly exotic and unique offer in Croatia that only the County of Zadar can boast of.

Aside from the wide gastronomic palette of snails that will be included into many culinary specialties, a part of the offer will certainly include the rare but indescribably healthy recipes with the Californian Red Worm that follow the guidelines of the ancient Chinese medicine.

In a soothing natural setting of the homestead that is very close to the city and yet in touch with the blessings of nature, the followers of healthy living, exoticism and tranquility, the agriculturalists, pupils and their teachers, all others eager for good company far away from stressful situations, even the lonely, sad, abandoned and misunderstood people can find their peace.

In the near future the company ''Telluris-Medin'' is planning, as the first in the world, to build a glazed underground restaurant, where our dear adventurous guests will be able not only to enjoy the autochthonous food and products made by the people of Murvice, Briševo and Poličnik, and the snail and earthworm delicacies, but also to observe the variety of life under ground and the amazingly interesting life of reptiles, insects and segmented worms. The farm in Briševo will also revive the historical spirit of the neighbouring towns by setting up a museum displaying national costumes, old agricultural tools and scenes from the villagers’ life as it used to be. This preservation project, the first of its kind in this area, has been inspired by the remains of the old church lying on that same place.


ENTOMOPHAGY – for the first time in this part of Europe and the world

Although nutrition consisting of insects, earthworms and worms is expressively shocking and repulsive to some people, these creatures are the pillar of a healthy diet in many countries of the world. Today some 1,200 edible insects and segmented worms are known. Many kinds of butterflies, caterpillars, worms and other insects are a true melody of tastes. The most thrilling thing about them is their high nutritional value, an incredible amount of proteins that is very hard to find in any other kinds of animals.

Worms, precisely earthworms, are high-quality foodstuffs rich in nutrients, but also healing substances that can cure a whole range of diseases. The branch of gastronomy known as entomophagy values insects due to their large share of proteins, and a small portion of fats.

In Mexico the street kitchens and fast food restaurants are brimming with a rich offer of live insects and segmented worms that are waiting for an inventive cook to throw them into a pan and turn them into a superior culinary delight right in front of the customers’ eyes.

Mostly, these creatures are integrated into tacos or are a part of the chilly. In Africa the mopane worm is very frequently on the menu of family lunches.
In order to make the insects as tasty as possible, the cooks squeeze out their intestines, boil them in salty water and dry them in the sun for days.

Ordinary earthworms are very rich in proteins and Omega 3 fatty acids. Earthworms are one of the most integral foodstuffs existing in nature. Their quality is so good that they are considered an irreplaceable source of proteins, vitamins, calcium and fibers, which makes them the most fundamental natural source of essential substances so vital for the human organism.
Insect larvae are also on the menus of many countries including South America, where entomophagy is a vital part of the gastronomic offer.
Japan and some Pacific islands have very high regard of segmented worms, larvae and arthropods. They even mix them with soy and put them into many healthy juices.

New revolutionary drugs

The research on the importance of earthworms in human nutrition and on their unbelievable medicinal properties has been specially highlighted by the Montana State University, the Institute for Research in Cancer Omaha, the Taiwan University and the Allergy Research Group California. The first expert, who discovered the enzyme functions of the earthworm extract and won the UN Conference Science Award is Shan Hongren. In the early 1980-ties the Japanese scientists confirmed this observation when they isolated six earthworm proteolytic-enzymes and gave them a common name lumbrokinase. They are especially effective against cancer, vascular diseases and the cerebral stroke.
In 1997 the first earthworm-based product called plasmin was made. It received the approval of the Chinese government as a new and revolutionary medicine.

Earthworms have managed to survive for millions of years despite the constant threat of extinction by microbial pathogens. If we could only begin to understand their remarkable capacities, we might design similar strategies to assist our own survival. They showed their capability to “clean up” the battlefield after having killed “foreign” invaders.

Earthworms have cells that look unbelievably like human natural killer cells and neutrophils. They have a long history of use in folk medicine too.

In ancient Burma and Laos, smallpox victims bathed in water where earthworms had been soaked. Worms were boiled in water with salt and onions and this broth was given to women with postpartum weakness or nursing difficulties.

In Iran earthworms were used for treatment of sty and the American Cherokee Indians used them to remove thorns. According to the old Chinese medicine, earthworms could heal hemiplegia, a condition in which half of a body is paralyzed, fever, even blood clots.

The eminent institutions of the Republic of Croatia and numerous experts have visited the ''Telluris-Medin''d.o.o estate on many occasions to see for themselves or to get insights into the pure ecology and the medical side of this project. They have given the best possible marks and expressed the most positive attitudes about the project, they even left in surprise that such a thing is possible in Croatia.

One of the most integral foodstuffs

A special group of red worms (earthworms), Latin name Lumbricus rubellus, from the class of about 3,000 species, is known for finding its habitat in the mature manure of domestic animals. This is how the very productive species called CALIFORNIAN RED WORM has been bread and selected in California.

Today this species is considered to be the ONLY that successfully produces quality organic manure called HUMUS. Humus belongs to the ecological, natural fertilizers for growing of all kinds of plants, as it DOES NOT contain pathogenic and parasite bacteria, nor fungi. It is very rich in saprophytic bacteria that revive the microbiological life in the soil, so necessary for the plant growth.

Humus produced by earthworm ''action” ranks among highly regarded organic fertilizers for all types of agricultural production, especially for the ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTION.
A very interesting book written by Sir Charles Darwin in 1883 called ''The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms” gives a detailed account of the ability of the Californian Red Worms to digest everything that gets in their way. The great British biologist compared digestive juices of an earthworm with the secretion from the human pancreas. The very capacity to absorb FIBRIN has encouraged scientists to carry out analyses a century later.

There is a lot of evidence showing that taking of digestive enzymes is a significant part of the overall anti-tumour programme. This position was taken by Nicholas J.Gonzalez, MD, New York City, whose study of anti-tumour pancreas enzymes is presently being analyzed by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The actual clinical experiment of his regime enjoys support of the oncologic community (Chowka 2002). There is also encouraging news from the University of Nebraska. The study on animals by Dr. Gonzalez in the magazine 'Pancreas” shows that the orally taken enzymes developed by Dr. Gonzalez and his colleagues have been a real step forward towards promoting health and anti-tumour effects. .

If you decide to taste earthworms, just go ahead! When earthworms are prepared first they must be well cleaned and boiled so as to excrete everything they have so far eaten in nature. It takes them 24 hours to get out of the system everything they have eaten, and this is why earthworms must be taken out and put into the water one day before you decide to create a perfectly tasty and healthy delicacy. The water must be of room temperature and regularly changed so as to provide enough oxygen for the earthworms to survive up to the moment of cooking.
For the preparation of any healthy recipe and preservation of the enzymes, it is necessary to “shock” the earthworms – to put them alive into the boiling water and cook them three times for just a few minutes. The rest is up to the cook’s imagination and the ingredients of meals designed for a healthy and long life.
It is interesting to mention that hamburgers consist of 18% of proteins and 18% of fat, whereas larvae and earthworms contain 65% protein and 15% fat.

Due to their quality earthworms are an excellent substitute for meat since they taste like beef. However, it is not recommendable to just go into the nearest woods and start collecting them for the next meal because earthworms living in nature have been exposed to parasites and pesticides.

Chemistry worthy of GOLD

The habit of using earthworms as a therapeutic medicine for various diseases began several thousands of years ago in China and other parts of the Far East. However, the practical pharmacological studies have not been carried out, except on lumbrofebrin as an antifebrile.

It was also found that the earthworm powder contains two kinds of inhibitory substances for the platelet aggregation induced by collagen and ADP. One of these inhibitors of platelet aggregation was identified with adenosine. However, the other was a new substance of MW 260.

An account of the earthworm being used as a drug ''Di Lung'' appeared in the oldest known Chinese book, Shen Nong Ben Cao, published between the first and the third century, especially in the section referring to treatment of cerebral apoplexy. The earthworm tonic containing a combination of aromatic and medicinal herbs has been used for thousands of years in South Asia to stimulate the central nervous system, functions of the stomach, liver and the whole gastrointestinal tract.


In China, Korea and Vietnam earthworms have for thousands of years been used in medicine under the name of ''EARTH DRAGONS''. Furthermore, the earthworm is the primary ingredient in the traditional Vietnamese remedy also known as the miracle medicine that can save lives in 60 minutes. Several Vietnamese studies have proven the safety and effectiveness of earthworms in strengthening of the immunity and the cardiovascular systems. Since it originates from the soil, the earthworm has highly valuable nutritional contents and anti-oxidant properties. The Californian Red Worms are also useful for releasing of body acupuncture meridians and channels, because they enhance the circulation and help with numbness of extremities.

Analysis of the Allergy research group California

Although it is a known fact that the human alpha2 - macroglobulin (alpha2M) inhibits most proteases, the effect of alpha2M has not been investigated on earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes (EFEs) from Lumbricus rubellus, which could be transported from intestine epithelium into blood as an intact molecule (Fan et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1526 (2001) 286).

The activity of earthworm fibrinolytic III-1 (EFE-III-1) decreased by 65% when incubated with alpha2M, while it declined to 30% in plasma under the same conditions. The first order rate of the inactivation of EFE-III-1 with alpha2M was similar to that of the fast phase with plasma, indicating that alpha2M may be the inhibitor initially binding to the enzyme in blood. SDS-PAGE showed that incubation of EFE-III-1 with alpha2M a released fragment (~90 kDa), followed by formation of a high molecular weight complex (~700 kDa).

There was a linear relationship between the apparent inhibition rate constant (k1) and [alpha2M], by double reciprocal plot. It was suggested, as described by Tsou (Acta Biochem. Biophys. Sinica 5 (1965) 398) and Tian (Biochem. J. 21 (1982) 1028), that the mechanism of alpha2M/EFE-III-1 interaction might coincide with the complex irreversible inhibition. Experiments in both the inactivation and the intrinsic fluorescence showed that alpha2M bound to the enzyme mole by mole. The intrinsic fluorescence of alpha2M was enhanced with an observable blue shift in emission maxima, suggesting that alpha2M was one of the important inhibitors to EFE when it absorbed into blood.

In order to investigate whether earthworm fibrinolytic enzyme III-1 (EFE-III-1) isolated from Lumbricus rubellus is capable of transporting into blood through intestinal epithelium and keeping its biological function in circulation, we have raised an antibody against EFE-III-1. The immunological results showed that 10–15% of intact EFE-III-1 was absorbed by the intestinal epithelium with the incubation chamber method [Vilhardt and Lundin, Acta Physiol. Scand. 126 (1986) 601–607]. The enzyme could be detected in the intestinal epithelial cells by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, immunoreactive intact EFE-III-1 was found in serum or plasma after intraperitoneal injection of rats. Approx. 10% of the full-size enzyme could transport through the intestinal epithelium. The maximum remaining activity in blood could be assayed around 60 min after the intraperitoneal injection.

ANIMA ART

Here our goals are the same, but the horizons differ. For many people earthworms and snails are just small, invisible animals one would rarely pay attention to. They live a quiet life, serve us even more quietly, and die with dignity serving the mankind even then.

There is a series of reasons why start farming these indescribably hardworking animals that we have many times stressed and promoted so far. They range from humus to the ecological promotion of healthy food and products, from the large demand on rich markets, nutritional values, pharmaceutical industry and medicinal properties to the most unusual delicacies and gastronomic recipes.

This is by far not all when the company ''Telluris-Medin'' is concerned. On 7 November 2009 we surpass the boundaries, challenged the taboos, disturbed the muses and united poetry, photography and nature. We named this vision the ANIMA ART because for the first time in Croatia, Europe and the region, live worms and snails have been used on artistic photographs.

The mission and goal of the enterprise is to take care of the physical and mental health of the man, the general philanthropy. In this way the circle is gradually closing so that after treating plants with the highly nutritional eco-humus, and gastro-worms and snails we glorify nature through avant-garde art, joining emotion into a personal expression of poetry.

Our personal corner

This company has been built exclusively on the idea and vision of philanthropy. The first step after its opening was to help others. The cliché – a good turn deserves another – has become the motto of our work, functioning, communication with business partners, of our life.

With each next positive move, each warm helping hand, we were getting closer to our targeted goal. Since all our meetings with foreign business partners are organized at h high level and are very well prepared, we are perceived as a serious partner that can be relied on.

Each success was celebrated by helping people in need. Building of homes for people of lower social standing, providing the service of writing requests to particular municipalities, giving away clothes, helping in food and money, sponsorships, solving of acute problems, are only some of the steps towards human wellbeing that is the foundation of success of this company.

It has been over a year since we started defining our activities and the development course of this project.

Together with a small group of enthusiasts I have reached a sudden and spontaneous decision to take a completely new step in Croatia and the world.

At my estate in Murvica I presented the healthiest possible food based on the ancient Chinese medicine, numerous recipes containing snails, as well as on something yet unseen and unconsumed in our region, in Europe and the world - recipes with earthworms.

Aside from the rich gastronomic palette of snails that are incorporated into many culinary specialties, this offer will certainly include the rare and indescribably healthy recipes containing the Californian Red Worm and following the guidelines of the ancient Chinese medicine.
The final project is my book that will portray my career of a lonesome woman confronted with the problems in the business world, striving to succeed by changing her interests from journalism to agriculture and entrepreneurship.
The crown of the book will be the selected, ecologically untouched, top-quality healthy gastronomic offer of snails, earthworms and other unusual but edible foodstuffs that can help us fight all kinds of diseases and that will be offered for tasting at the farmstead.

My many travels all over Europe, the Middle East and other countries have enriched me both on the personal and professional level. They have also prepared me for the European and other demanding markets and their requirements. The company started from the scratch, I was learning from my own personal experience, day after day. Many obstacles had to be conquered, but in the end it was all worth it, because I was awarded with success.

My team coped with every seemingly hopeless situation by putting all heads together. Success is a very simple process, although it does not happen over night. It does come naturally when certain principles are applied in one’s own life, such as setting the right goals, seeking knowledge, accepting changes, control over the finances, time management, communication with the winners, and the art of proper living.

Success requires surpassing of previously set goals. Therefore all business meetings have to be well organized in accordance with the high quality standards.

''Telluris-Medin'' has completely mastered one of the main rules of business, which is to search for exactly what is missing at the market!
In this area we have achieved miracles and such success that has left large foreign companies absolutely impressed.

Since the company ''Telluris-Medin'' d.o.o has invested substantial means to start-up a business we are pioneering in, and since we have been very famous around the world from our very beginnings, we break all boundaries in order to increase the level of our business activities each year and to catch up with the most renowned companies of the world. Considering the fact that the company’s policy is to be the best in everything, we believe that our ambitious projects will bring us to the top.

With this working method we aim at securing as many jobs as possible, providing a good standard, and finally promoting Croatia and the indisputably high quality of Croatian products in the world.

As a company engaged with heliciculture, lumbriculture, ecological farming, innovations, health and country tourism, organizing of promotional get-togethers, receptions and celebrations, advertising of agricultural products and foodstuffs, and the beauties of our country, its potentials, possibilities of the villages and small towns, we are significantly contributing to the promotion of undeniable qualities, attractions and the uniqueness of the City of Zadar in the world.