Latvians resumed dining on outdoor terraces on 7 May, blessed by glorious sunny weather.

There’s a lot of talk about reducing our ecological footprint and finding harmony with the environment. Meet some passionate people who are living a truly green lifestyle at an innovative Latvian farm.

If life seems too rushed and virtual these days, meet a man who spends years chipping at rocks to express some very sane insights.

When families crack under the strain of unemployment and addiction, it’s the children who suffer most. For almost 30 years, one courageous woman has been giving a helping hand to Latvian kids in dire straits.

This year, Riga’s oldest park, Viesturdārzs, celebrates its 300th anniversary. A scholar with green thumbs is researching its eventful life and sharing the stories with the latest technology.

Come the spring, and Latvians head en masse to their country homes for fresh air and birdsong. But one enterprising hotelier is creating natural delights in the heart of Riga.

Many Latvians lost their lives or suffered years of exile under the occupying regimes of the 20th century. Meet one woman who has transformed her personal tragedy into a celebration of her nation’s handicrafts heritage.

While Latvian culture is deeply connected with the countryside, for decades rural dwellers have been heading to the big smoke for educations and careers. But one woman has gone in the other direction, creating an oasis of creativity amidst the forests of Kurzeme.

Whatever the occasion, Latvians find it easiest to express their feelings by giving flowers. Meet a man whose research into the pretty things has made a world-class contribution to science.

This year marks the 400th anniversary of northern Latvia joining Sweden for a century, a period remembered for prosperity and progress. Today, an intrepid Swede who has settled in Latvia is on a mission to explore the military heritage of that era.