KIN DOMAIN
Vedrica Forest Gardens, United States
2010 saw the Vedrica Manor Settlement Foundation form in Idaho, USA (Vedrica Forest Gardens).
Today our settlement consists of five families, and at this time we have five children born in the settlement and we are awaiting one more.
Vedrica’s vision is to co-create a community of people living in harmony and balance with each other and nature. Our dream was inspired by the book series "Ringing Cedars of Russia", which we advise everyone to read, especially
those who are going to join us.
We intend to create our settlement in order to live in harmony with nature. By living in this way, we awaken our human creative abilities and live with a divine purpose. We imagine how we nurture and saturate our settlement with
love. There are spaces of love with trees, ponds, flowers, and fruits.
There is everything in our land to fulfil our dream. We have grassy meadows, various types of trees, and a stream flowing through the land all year round. At night, we see the lights of space and hear the joyful sounds of nature.
What is Vedrica?
The name of our settlement is Vedrica. It comes from the word "Veda" which takes its roots into Sanskrit word wisdom and "ica" which is used as a suffix to many land masses such as Antarctica, Africa, America and therefore refers to
the land. To us Vedrica means wise land or land of wisdom. Our goal is to rediscover the wisdom of living in harmony with the land and all the of the creatures (including our neighbours) with whom we share the space instead of
using the land for our own individual purpose.
Why Idaho?
Idaho has the largest wilderness reserve in the nation. There are beautiful rivers, mountains, forests, and wildlife. Building codes tend to be more relaxed. Zoning allows us to have multiple residences on smaller parcels of land.
Water, air, and soil quality are conducive to a healthy domain life. Compared to many other states, water is much more available. We are allowed to collect and use precipitation, use water that is on the land and drill wells if
we so desire. We can also file for water rights from the creek though with the abundant water table and precipitation this may not be needed.
Are there any rules to the settlement?
Our settlement is inspired by the Ringing Cedars of Russia. We prefer that at least one adult member read the books and that the family basically agrees with the vision described in the books. While we don't "live by the book",
our neighbours and our impact on the land and all of its inhabitants when making decisions.
Vedrica Forest Gardens, USA
Copyright: vedrica.org
Settlement “Kangulovo”
Our kin domain settlement is located near the village of Kangulovo, 18 km away from the city of Neftekamsk in the Kaltasinsky district of the Republic of Bashkortostan.
In October 2001, readers of Vladimir Megre’s "Ringing Cedars of Russia" books gathered together at the music school in Neftekamsk. The meeting was attended by Fedor Evgen'evich Bikbatyrov, who at that time held the position of Chairman
of the Land Committee of Kaltasinsky District. After the meeting, the Kumushbaev family introduced Fedor Bikbatyrov to Alexey Nikolayev, Sergey Chiginev, Alexander Merzlyakov, and Salavat Yulaev. Fedor Bibatyrov had also read
the books, so he introduced them to the Head of the Kaltasinsky District Administration.
The Kaltasinsky District Administration has allocated a plot of land covering 110 hectares for the creation of kin domains.
In 2004, the agricultural land near Kangulovo was leased out for personal use.
In 2007, the lease was extended to 49 years, and permission for the construction of housing and outbuildings was granted. In 2012 an electrical line was constructed. Now we have light in the settlement, which has improved it considerably.
To date we have built 23 houses and 25 new bathhouses.
Every year the number of families choosing to spend the winter at the settlement increases. Many reside at the settlement from early spring to late autumn. They come whenever possible during this time: after work, during the weekend and
holidays. In order to construct a family homestead, one needs money, so many people choose to work in the city to fund this.
We have begun construction of a communal house over an area of 4 hectares in the center of the settlement. We will also build a school, craft workshops, an amphitheatre, and a playground. Along the perimeter we have planted a living fence
– a circle of cedar and lime saplings. This is the place where we spend our evenings, holidays, and hold meetings to discuss communal issues.
We have planted about 60 thousand seedlings on site: pine, spruce, birch, larch, fir, cedar, aspen, tie, maples, mountain ash, Manchurian walnut, poplar, linden, oak, chestnut, grey alder, silverberry, arborvitae, juniper. There are different varieties of shrubs: hawthorn, beriberis, acacia, syringa (lilac), viburnum, snowberry, and various species of rose.
For each kin domain we have planted orchard crops: apples, pears, plums, cherries, apricots, quince, bog bilberry, gooseberry, vitis, ribes, cherry plum, blueberries, cranberries, honeysuckles.
We grow food for our families, including cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, beets, potatoes, sweet peppers, garlic, onions, watermelons, radishes, and various types of spices.
We gather wild berries, mushrooms, and medicinal herbs which grow in the settlement grounds.
From 2004, 21 kids have been born into resident families. Six of them – five boys and one girl – were born in their kin domain.
Together we celebrate holidays, housewarmings, weddings, and births. We are often visited by travelling bards.
Together we can make our dreams come true.
Settlement „Kangulovo“,
the Republic of Bashkortostan
Save your image
I think there is a need for clarification: can kin domain settlements be called eco-villages? I have to get back to this question, because the actions of certain forces continue; they want to rename kin
domain settlements to “eco-villages” at all costs. It is often the case that kin domain creators themselves do not understand that a “kin domain” is a separate, independent, and self-sufficient method. I say “certain forces” but I can name them
if necessary.
Kin domains and eco-villages are two very different things; they have nothing to do with each other. Let’s see what is behind the definition “eco-village” and where it came from.
We can see what is behind the definition of “eco-village” in the Russian and English-language Internet. An extract: “There is general agreement that hippie have given rise to eco-village in the early 1960s. They went away from people, meditated, sang
songs, planted carrot.” [1] So by calling a kin domain settlement an eco-village, we took it as a basis of the hippie experience.
Here’s one more article from Internet that provides information on 10 of the most powerful eco-villages in the world. Auroville ranks first. [2] In the book “Who are we?” I was told about this eco-village. Let’s remember: The Indian government had
allocated land and money to the founder of the eco-village, Mirra Alfassa, also known as “Mother”. However, the members of the eco-village didn’t get land in private property. The land was allocated in 1968 and was planned to increase the number
of people up to 50,000, but at present population is about 2,000 people. Thus, the experiment had failed. Although there was a lot of advertising and talks about spirituality.
Auroville didn’t get development; it has no followers around the globe. At the same time in Russia, since 2001 they have formed more than 400 settlements with an estimated population of 37,000 families
. Can you see the difference? But the leadership of Auroville has gotten money and land for free. (As, indeed, some other so-called eco-villages.)
It’s been a long time since the creation of Auroville. In other words, eco-village movement is not developing further. If you call the kin domain creators of Russia and other countries “eco-settlers”, and if they will agree with you, you can submit
reports that show the rapid development of eco-villages throughout the world. And, as you might expect, you can imagine that this initiative was born not in Russia, but in the west. You can read a good article on this topic entitled “Kin Domain
or Eco-Village?”
Many readers of the “Ringing Cedars of Russia” series understand the difference of eco-villages and meaning behind the phrase “kin domain”. But others unfortunately do not attach any importance to it.
But let's figure out this situation: what happens to a person who didn’t read Megre’s book and he was told, “about 400 eco-villages have already been created in Russia.” People will be looking for the word “eco-village” and find the top 10, in which
Auroville ranks first. And if they want to get acquainted with the eco-village movement, where will they go? They will, of course, go to Auroville.
Thus, if we will call our kin domain settlement an eco-village, we need to adopt Auroville practices, because Auroville is in the first place of the world’s eco-villages rankings.
Let's go back to the “Kin domain” image created by Anastasia. Many wonderful words are associated with the word “Kin”. Homeland. Ancestry. Genealogy. Exactly this image inspired people. Imagination gave them the strength to see the bright future
and proceed to its creation. The image is energy, which raises man to a certain spiritual height. A man stands on this energy as a foundation. Everyone can refuse this image, and the image obediently leaves. Being without an energy foundation,
man will collapse if the past image is not instantly replaced by another equal force. But that's never happened before. Maybe we should be more cautious with that energy which raised us to a certain height and continues to rise?
So how do we answer the question “Is it an eco-village?” Let's figure it out together. I think we can answer something like this: “We care and respect for the nature around us. And what's more, we seek to improve the environment. But it’s not an eco-village,
it’s a kin domain settlement.”
We didn't mention eco-village on the official websites of www.vmegre.com/en or www.anastasia.ru, however, some people on the Internet have called it the eco-village, even
the settlement, in which my kin domain is located. And in the credits of the film entitled “eco-village” people thank Anastasia and I anyway: “Heartfelt thanks to... Anastasia and Vladimir Megre.”
In the recent years, official circles began to understand the power of a Russian-born movement. For example, there is a section on “kin domains” in the program of development of the Far East, approved by the President of the Russian Federation.
“People’s Front” (a movement in Russia that started in 2011 in order to provide Russia with new ideas, new suggestions, and new faces) announced competition for the best image of the future Russia. [4] There is information about the kin domain in
the video about the competition.
MSU (Lomonosov Moscow State University) hosted a conference of scientists and kin domain creators under the name “International scientific-practical conference - Role and conditions for development of the “kin domains” in the socio-economic transformation
of Russia”.
Let’s understand and save our image. Not only to protect, but also to help it develop!
Yours truly,
Vladimir Megre
See also:
1, 2. 10 most powerful eco-villages in the world. Available at: https://ok.ru/ekoduh/topic/67571809241971
3. An international portal The “Ringing Cedars”. Available at: https://anastasia.ru/articles/detail/2597/
4. The image of the country’s future. Available at: http://konkurs.molodezhka.onf.ru
5. Create your “vision of the country’s future”. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTc9K4FZZgA
6. An international portal The “Ringing Cedars”. Available at: https://anastasia.ru/media/3/31548/