Russian permies

It’s always interesting to see what others are doing. The Russian permie movement is a bit different from the western approach.

In a way, it was always there. It was common for city dwellers to spend their summers in their country dachas, growing food, preserving it, and taking it back to the city to use through the winters.

Dachas are any form of residence, often very simple, with a garden, in the country. Rather than just a summer retreat, it has cultural and even economic significance.

After the publication of the books by Vladimir Megre focusing on the life and messages from the Siberia woman Anastasia, it took on a new momentum.

Unusable farmland that has been over used and left vacant is being given to families in perpetuity as long as they improve the land. These are known as kins domains.

Because the domains are in perpetuity, great care is taken to nurture the land for the next generation.

Often the land is remote and inhospitable, but people are still setting up eco villages where some remain all year round, while others retain their city jobs as they build their home and establish a thriving garden.

It is often a total system, with their own education, health and support systems. Crime is non existent and everyone looks out for everyone else, while retaining their independence of their own domain.

Excess produce is sold, both nationally and internationally. It’s much sought after as it’s clean food.

It is such an attractive idea, foreigners have applied. However, it is reserved for Russian nationals.

Vladimir Megre’s website can be viewed in many languages. This post talks about natural fences around the domain - https://vmegre.com/en/kin-domain/

Here’s one focusing on children’s education.
https://vmegre.com/en/events/41948/

There are eco villages around the world, but they all require people to have the where-with-all to finance the purchase of land. It would be so good to see other countries adopt this idea. I know there are farms in Australia that have been abandoned. I’m guessing this is not restricted to Australia.

A win-win situation, supporting poor families who are keen to be self-sufficient, while restoring the land. At no cost to governments.

Total independence, total freedom, care for each other and the land.

If it can happen in Russia, with their harsh winters, it can happen almost anywhere.

It is always interesting to see what others are doing.  That regenerative approach to couple human and land health makes common sense to me in many ways.  The western answer for " making sense" is often not unraveling a powerful central beaurocracy, but simply subverting it and dealing with the consequences of that action. If they don't want us to make logical, healthy choices for our lives and threaten punitive actions for that then let them. How could we do otherwise and still call ourselves free. That takes strength. I believe our strength as community or larger society is fortified through the health of the land and weakend by its disregard or appreciated simply for its value as property. The fruit that comes into the city is a touchstone to the land let alone having ones own plot to care for. What a great thing to have both lifestyles intertwined.

There's another person who comes on here and talks about the Russian permaculture system, I think his name is Yuri Smernov?  He has posted some cool videos too.