This is a very logical question, I kept thinking, when will they ask me about it. What is the difference between an ecovillage and a village, and what does this fashionable ECO prefix mean in general? Asked in an article about the life of an eco-settler, answer.
I want to make a reservation right away, everything written here is my view of eco-settlements in Russia. I have been to some of them, our friends live in such settlements, and in general my wife and I have been working on this topic for many years. It is also worth understanding that the settlements are different, the people in them too, and I will have to generalize in order to talk about this topic in general. Basically, settlements are created after reading certain books as a result of inspiration by ideas, but I can say with confidence that those who have already lived on earth for several years have slightly changed their view of the original ideas..
Personally, I do not care who read what and when, it is more important to me, the deeds of a person, and not his words. I like the fact that in such settlements I get an environment of people who have similar views to me, which is quite difficult to achieve in a city. And I don't care if fanatics come across among them, where now in our world without them, they are everywhere and in the next entrance too. Since my wife and I have been rotating in this environment for a long time, we «know how to behave». I have not found a more appropriate expression to explain our adaptation position. Roughly speaking, it is much easier for us to adapt to such an environment than to an urban one. And we are much closer to the interests of such eco-settlement communities, where we can not be afraid to let our children out into the street, if only because no one will teach the child to drink and smoke. But we also do not build illusions, they are people, they are people everywhere, with all that it implies ... And it is completely unknown what will happen next, though this can be said about everything in our country 🙂
Differences between an ecovillage and a village
I'll try to answer the question point by point. In general, it all comes down to the fact that people in the settlement either already use IVF, or are only striving for such principles. Undoubtedly, the ecovillages abroad have gone far from the Russian ones, but our settlements are very few years old, they have recently begun to emerge. And since there is really no one to learn from (only abroad), the process will be long, with trial and error..
- Contingent. The settlers for the most part adhere to various principles, such as a healthy lifestyle, vegetarianism, spiritual development, eco-farming, so there will not be kebabs with drunken songs, as well as many other things that should not be, which is found in dachas and villages.
- People plan to live here all their lives, take root, which is quite different from a summer residence, but on the contrary, it looks like a village.
- As a rule, household chemicals are not used in settlements, and if used is one that is «eco». Many are experimenting with natural remedies, drawing on the experience of the villagers half a century ago. One example is washing dishes with mustard instead of ferry. I've been doing this for about 7 years now and I'm very happy, there was no ferry right next to it. There are other things to do with reducing chemistry in your life..
- Instead of conventional farming, permaculture is being mastered, that is, no nitrates and this kind of fertilizers. Basically, the progressive experience of the Austrian farmer Sepp Holzer is taken, as well as other developments of his contemporaries. The bottom line is to create an ecosystem that does not require constant efforts, which is exactly what many peasants and summer residents complain about. Many of the settlers are trying to create arboretums on their plots, planting rare plants or not found at all in our country, but having the opportunity to grow here.
- Many settlers plan to engage in beekeeping, horses, chickens and goats, it looks like a village, but not like a dacha and a cottage village.
- Houses are built whenever possible from eco-materials, as well as non-traditional technologies. Here you will find houses made of adobe, houses made of straw blocks, frame houses with adobe filler, and domed buildings.
- Striving for autonomy in terms of communications in order to gain some independence from the system. The ideal option is a self-sufficient plot, a self-sufficient settlement. But until this moment, many years will pass, and technologies must develop, and people become different..
- Also in the settlements there is a certain tendency to reject the benefits of civilization in the name of ecology. It manifests itself in very different ways, ranging from dugouts and horse riding, to technological houses of passive heating and electric vehicles. Since both options are extreme, then the standard is something in the middle.
- People are united by a common idea of creating a settlement, creating a society for themselves and their children. In some settlements, it all looks like a community.
- There are also all sorts of Slavic themes, but I try to look for those settlements where such things are at a minimum.
Perhaps I forgot something, but approximately these are the differences, plus or minus. Besides eco, another important difference is people and their goals in life. If the above interests are close to you, then it makes sense to look for a suitable settlement. If not, then it is not worth it at all. We set out our impressions of the two weeks spent with our friends in the article Why is it worth leaving to live in a village and an ecovillage.
I think that everyone understood that the ECO prefix is for the most part in aspirations, because non-environmentally friendly things are still used. For example, batteries that cause significant harm, which all settlers know about, but cannot help but use them, since there is no alternative. Or some elements in a house under construction, modern clothes and shoes. But for me, full IVF is a utopia..
I will not say that I share all the principles of current ecovillages, but there are much more pluses for me than minuses. Perhaps I would not mind creating something of my own, and a small group. That is, buy a certain amount of land, and settle with friends nearby, so that 5 families will eventually work out. But this option has several significant disadvantages:
- I don’t think I will be able to find a few families friends to move.
- If we quarrel, it will not be comfortable to live nearby, and even such a small number of people somewhat limits communication.
- My wife and I want and will travel, and it's not a fact that others will like our frequent absence.
- With such a small number of families, it will not be possible to pull a serious project like a road or electricity, which means that there remains only an option to live in a village.
Living village or dying out
Let's dwell on the last point of the disadvantages that you have to live in the village. I was asked this question in the comments. I would subdivide villages into endangered and living, each of the options has its own pros and cons. I honestly don't really like both.
Living village
- It is difficult to buy several plots at once, they are not sold in bulk. And if we buy one for ourselves, then it's not a fact that our friends will be able to join in the foreseeable future..
- Contingent with other interests. I don’t want to offend anyone, but I doubt that I will be able to find a common language with the villagers, considering that I am also a Muscovite. Remote work and the Internet, travel, healthy lifestyle and vegetarianism, anti-consumption - God forbid, one person from the whole village will get carried away with one thing. I would like a whole community.
- Many villages have a dull atmosphere, dirt and drunks.
Endangered village
- We once drove through these, looking for empty houses and plots. You will not find the ends, who is the owner and where no one knows where, which means you will not buy anything.
- Of the communications, only electricity remained (if the wires were not stolen), and it is easiest to implement it now. As a rule, there are no other communications and roads. What is the point then, because of electricity alone, to settle here.
P.S. And if I move away from all this altogether, then I would now live in some ordinary comfortable village with friends nearby, only so that this rent was and a village somewhere in a warm climate with minimal winter. It is very attractive as a temporary option 🙂
