Vegetarian communes
A real old list (from about 2000)
Please note that, in compiling this list, I will make no effort to select entries based on "purity of faith". If a commune is not vegetarian in the technical sense of the word I may still list it here if the organization in question is motivated by same sentiments that result in vegetarianism.
WILL SOMEONE REVIEW THE VEGETARIAN COMMUNE SCENE, THEIR INTERNET PRESENCE IN ENGLISH, THEIR CONTACT DETAILS, AND SEND IT TO ME TO UPDATE THE PAGE?
Tyberkul' - Russia, Siberia, Krasnoyarsk region, Kuraginsky district (Southern Siberia?). The largest Russian settlement of this king (over 2000 persons). Founded by religious teacher Vissarion in the early 90's. This vegetarian eco-settlement is viewed by many as a cult.
Kitezh - Russia, Aginski-Buryatski Autonomous Region, Baryatinski district. The Kitezh community consists of eight core families with adopted children and orphanages. It also has teachers and volunteers. Any healthy person who is willing to work is welcomed there..
Nevo-Ecoville - Russia, Karelia, Sortaval'ski district. 15 live there year-round growing seeds and seedlings, doing architectural designs and construction, trying to fish-raising and scientific research.
Ecological Rehabilitation Service - Russia, Kaluga region, Tarusski district. Their focus is cleanup and rehabilitation of polluted land. There have been several attempts to create "nature-restoring social systems" in various districts. Presently they are restoring soil fertility of the 26 hectare field and developing their own agricultural technologies. Courses for would-be eco-settlers are offered.
Grishino - http://www.grishino.ecology.net.ru/2/page2.htm
The Grishino community is 300 km Northeast of St. Petersburg. During the summer from 20 to 40 people are living, working, meditating, dancing and laughing together there. Grishino community is building new rooms for guests and new dining room/meeting place now and is inviting volunteers to come and work with on exchange for food and lodging. We speak Russian and English, some of us can speak German and French, and we are inviting our European and American brothers and sisters to come and get the real Russian experience. Everyday hot shower, Russian sauna, vegetarian meals with organic vegetables from our garden, spring water and free swimming in the river are provided. For the summer 2001 we are planing to have: The Dances of Universal Peace leader training with Narayan Waldman, USA (end of June); Grishino Experience program, Family camp, Man and Woman workshop (in July); TAO T'AI CHI-TSUAN' retreat camp with Andrey Serednyakov, Russia (beginning ofAugust). Now we are working with the project of a family school in Grishino, that families with children would be able to move to live in the eco-village all year around. Our inspiring vision is to build a beautiful Universal Temple in traditional Russian architecture style in the middle of the wild flowers field. In this temple we will meditate, pray, sing and dance together. We invite you to join or support us in making our dream come true. Please, contact us for further information.
Vasudeva Kirbiatiev
Basseinaya ul. 59-106/
196135 St. Petersburg
Russia
Tel & Fax +7 812 594 0696
Email: vasudeva@mail.spb.orgGrishino Community
187743, p/o Soginitsi, der. Grishino of Leningrad Oblast
196135, St. Petersburg, Ul. Basseinaya, 59, kv. 106
Russia
Phone: +7 812 594 0696
Fax: +7 812 594 0696
Email: vasudeva@mail.spb.org
Ecovillage Druzhnaya - Belorussia. The village was built by German and Belorussian NGOs "Houses not Chernobyl" and "Ecodom". It has 30 frame houses filled with the clay-straw and clay-woodchip mix. It also has the first in the former Soviet Union house made of straw blocks. (This technology was awarded the Second World Prize for Sustainable Energetics in 2000). This village was established in 1994. On August 18, 2000 the first wind power generator of 250kW output (Nordex N29) was put in service.
Salganda - Russia, Altai republic, Choyskiy district. An actively developing settlement. Eight private persons and three legal entities (Farming enterprises Vita, Krestyanin, and Fitos). School of Ecology, Crafts, and Arts. Biointensive farming, gardening, etc.
Zavadova Polyana (Mezmay) - Russia, Krasnodar region, Apsheronskiy district. Founded by two former Rostov residents, journalist Gennady Zavada and his son Timur, who moved to Mezmay several years ago. His estate covers about one hectare on the side of the hill and has apples, pears, prum-trees, cherry-plum, hornbeam and other fruit trees. He also has 5 or 6 wooden houses. The rest of the field is just a lawn. Zavadova Polyana is a division of the North Caucasian Section of teh International Ecological Fund. Ecological conferences and other events related to ecology are held there, festivals of authors song are held there. They are also trying to expand into eco-tourism. There are also plans to establish an arboretum. Zavadov's estate can be called an eco-settlement even it borders with an ordinary village.
Safonovo - Russia, Chelyabinsk region, Krasnoarmeyskiy rayon. Belongs to the "Otchiy Dom" ("Native Home") movement. Plots of land are available for sale, plus a 200 hectare field near teh village. About 10 families bought themselves houses together with plots of land, or took new plots to establish their estates (15 sotkas owned plut 85 sotkas in long-term rent). The aim of the population is the creation of farming homesteads.
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* Sotka is 1/100 of a hectare. Land is usually measured in these funny little units.
Raskity - Rostov region, Neklinovskiy rayon. Construction and settlement is under way.
Sotvoreniye ("Creation") - Russia, Vladimir region, Leninskiy rayon. Presently at the paperwork stage. The Culture Fund of the City of Vladimir was given 80 hectares of land for the establishment of an eco-settlement according to the ideas expressed in V. Megre's Anastasia. The decision on the award of land was cleared with the Council of People's Deputies of Vladimir, the City Administration, and the Archetecture Department. No news as of January 2001.
Rodnoye - Russia, Vladimir region, Il'inskiy rayon. Two fields, 33 and 77 hectares, one house is under construction.
Kovcheg ("the Ark") - Russia, Kaluga region, Maloyaroslavetskiy rayon. This is one of the projects of Moscow-based "Rodina" ("Motherland"). A draft decision has been made to allocate 100 hectares for this settlement on the long-term rent basis, with 15 "sotka" plots being privatized after houses are constructed. Electrical line ends about 1km from the settlement. About 10km from highway by a rather beaten up road. The last 2-3 km can be used only in dry weather.
Polovinka - Russia, Sverdlovsk region, Nizhne-Ser'ginskiy rayon. A project by the "Strannik" fund ("Pilgrim" or "Wayfarer"). The land committee resists the award or land to this organization.
Rodina-2 - Russia, Vladimir region, Sergiyevo-Posadskiy rayon. Another project by Moscow-bases "Rodina". 200 hectares that are owned by farmers (not the collective farm, which is much better). The cost is up to $15 per sotka, there is a possibility to offer land at a lower cost.
Kopytovo - Russia, Chelyabinsk region, Etkul'skiy rayon. Under development. Houses and land are available for sale in the village. Plots of lands are limited to 15 sotkas. Free land is available near the village. The total area is about 300 hectares, of which 45 are presently unoccupies. There are several families who want to take this land to establish family estates. A farming family in the village read books by Vladimir Megre and support his idea of family settlements, and are ready to provide support.
Alexandrovka - Russia, Chelyabinsk Region, Katav-Ivanovskiy rayon. An "Otchi Dom" ("Native Home") project. An abandoned village with five persons living there permanently. Several houses are used as summer cottages. Lots of little plots of land with houses falling apart. A 50 hectare field borders the village. Another 200 hectare fields nearly is used by a collective farm that is trying to get rid of it because it is too far from the farm. Several families want to settle this land. No electricity.
