Kin Domains concept and practical experience of Kovcheg ecovillage Kulyasova Antonina Centre for Independent Social Research

Kin Domains The concept was presented in the series of books of Vladimir Megre “Ringing Cedars of Russia” and raise the Anastasia movement First books appeared in the end of 1990-s First Kin Domains started in the beginning of 2000s It stimulated new strong wave of ecovillages Now there are hundreds of ecovillages and initiative projects based on this concept in Russia and in other contiries

Concept of Kin Domains Ecovillages consisting of individual homesteads Each family or individual has at least 1 hectare of land, developed as a self-sustainable ecosystem. The boundary of a kin’s domain is a living fence consisting of trees, bushes and shrubs. One-quarter to three-quarters of the area of the kin’s domain is covered with perennials: forest and fruit trees and bushes The idea of a kin's domain is an idea of a “little homeland” for many generations. The domain should be a “space of love”

Practical experience Kovcheg, Blagodat, Ladnoe, Rodnoe kin domains settlements was the first famous implementation of the concept in reality. They demonstrate different models of implementation of the idea. The main difference was approach to property, size of the land plot, common projects The main contradiction of the implementation of the concept is how to make communality (common infrastructural, economical, educational, social projects) on the base of very strong family and individual sense of ownership

Kovcheg experience Common property for land, owned by NGO Common infrastructure based on voluntary investments of members and usage according investment Educational and cultural projects for members Ecovillage school Protection and sustainable using of surrounding forests Natural bee keeping

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 6 Wood-working workshop Saw-mill workshop Dump-truck Grader Small excavator Big excavator Tractor Our community infrastructure (not all):

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 7

8 Door Kitchen table Musical instrument Inside the wood- working workshop

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 9 Community house (12x14 m) Constructed in 2002 School added in 2007

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 10

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 11 Ecovillage life is natural upbringing for children

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 12 School built in 2007

The logging is stopped near Kovcheg

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 14 Forest cleanup and thinning project

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 15 Ecovillage tractor with winch for selective logging

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 16 Natural bee keeping

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 17 The new bee family entering the bee-hive

kovcheg.ru/ Eco-village Kovcheg kovcheg.ru/ 18 Life is really happy (many celebrations including solstice celebrations)

Thank you for the attention!