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Dacha Movement and Agroforestry: Sustainable Practices in Russia

Explore the traditional Russian peasant economy and the small-scale, sustainable growing practices of the Dacha Movement. Learn about subsistence growing, cultural dimensions, and the spiritual connection to the Earth. Discover the Ringing Cedars Series, Vladimir Megre's impact, and the rise of eco-villages in Russia. Dive into agroforestry wisdom from Karl Turmer and the integration of forestry and agriculture. Uncover the potential for spiritual, economic, and environmental benefits in micro-scale cultivation. Images from www.RingingCedars.com, Columbia, Missouri, U.S.A.

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Dacha Movement and Agroforestry: Sustainable Practices in Russia

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  1. SMALLISBEAUTIFUL Eco-faming and Agroforestry for Self-reliance: Small-scale, Sustainable Growing Practices in Russia

  2. Russian Agricultural Tradition • peasant economy • small-size; family labor • peasant-owned land • non-capitalistic motivation • subsistence growing • cultural / spiritual dimension Alexander Chayanov

  3. Dacha Movement • in WWII to fight food shortages • 50% of urbanites own a dacha • 35 million families (70% of population) • 8 million ha (20 million ac) • 40% of Russia’s agricultural output

  4. Small size, huge importance • 92% of potatoes • 77% of vegetables • 87% of berries & fruit • 60% of meat • 49% of milk • plus hunting, gathering and fishing

  5. A typical dacha

  6. Land, capital and labor • LAND: median size 0.05-0.06 ha • CAPITAL: low-put • LABOR: 18 hrs / week • 555 hrs / growing season • travel (90% gardeners) – 1.5 - 4 hrs • plus hunting, gathering and fishing

  7. Crops & growing methods • potatoes & other vegetables & greens • fruit, small fruit & berries • cattle, milk, chicken, eggs • organic methods • manual, machinery-free labor • innovation & know-how

  8. Subsistence, market & spiritual • subsistence first • $1,000 worth of labor to produce $140 worth of produce • “dacha makes no economic sense” • connection to the Earth

  9. The Ringing Cedars Series • 8 books • 10 million copies sold in Russian • in 20 languages • Back-to-the-Earth movement Vladimir Megre

  10. The Ringing Cedars: Russian

  11. The Ringing Cedars

  12. Small homesteads, big aspirations • land-based diversified enterprise • trees & NTFP • spiritual connection to the Earth

  13. Spiritual? What’s that? “managing forests to protect the range of spiritual needs and values” Government of the United States of America, 1995 (Santiago Declaration – criteria and indicators for sustainable management of boreal forests)

  14. An eternal garden

  15. 19-century permaculure • the estate / apple orchard protected by Pinus sibirica windbreaks • maintenance-free for 100 yrs

  16. Déja vu? Russian XIX century estatewww.CenterForAgroforestry.org Intentional? Integrated? Intensive? Interactive?

  17. Karl Turmer (1824-1900) • “There exists a harmonious relationship between forestry and agriculture. If forestry is regarded as separate from agriculture, this harmony is disrupted.” [succession] • “The basic principle of agroforestry is simple: more grain, more timber, more income.” • Planted over 10,000 ac of forest & agroforestry trials in central Russia

  18. Kin estates

  19. “A new revolution…” “Over the last few years Russia, Byelorussia, and Ukraine experience a real eco-village boom: thousands of families are building their kin estates…” — Vesti Weekly, February 24, 2005

  20. Supreme Mufti of Russia “I love the Ringing Cedars books. I read them and derive a lot for myself…” —Talgat Tajuddin

  21. Dr. Viktor Medikov “I am building my own kin estate in an eco-village 20 miles from here…” Dr. Viktor Medikov at The Ringing Cedars Movement conference, Vladimir, June 5, 2004

  22. “Russia’s new national idea” “The Ringing Cedars will shape Russia’s future.” — Viktor Medikov, Member of Parliament, author of Putin, Megre and Russia’s Future

  23. The movement 200+ delegates. 48 regions. The Ringing Cedars Movement conference, Vladimir, June 5, 2004

  24. Re-settling villages — Eco-village “Grishino”, north of St. Petersburg

  25. New eco-villages

  26. Eco-building for eco-villages

  27. Growing food

  28. New communities

  29. Pine nut products • created mass demand in Russia and beyond

  30. New sprouts

  31. Sharash-kin estate

  32. Implications for the U.S. • gardening - $18 billion industry • know-how & potential for agroforestry adoption in micro-scale cultivation • landowners may adopt practices for spiritual or religious reasons, in addition to economic, social, environmental, or cultural considerations

  33. Images courtesy of: www.RingingCedars.com Columbia, Missouri, U.S.A.

  34. Don’t miss your turn!!

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