I knew that Russia’s dacha movement was big, but I didn’t know how big. I knew it might be somehow linked to the Ringing Cedars series of books, but I didn’t know how. I knew that Russia, as Edgar Casey said, might be the hope of the world —
Through Russia, Cayce said “comes the hope of the world. Not in respect to what is sometimes termed Communism or Bolshevism — no! But freedom — freedom! That each man will live for his fellow man. The principle has been born there. It will take years for it to be crystallized; yet out of Russia comes again the hope of the world.”
— but this piece clinches it. And it reminds me: some friends of mine have just had their beautiful, 150 acre piece of property (that contains both permaculture gardens and sections allowed to grow wild) surrounded by newly bought, agri-business GMO farming. However, we hear that the buyer subdivides and sells land he buys after a few years of tenant farming, and that county’s regulations dictate that farmland can only be subdivided into 5-acre lots or larger. Hmmm. Dachas/ecovillages in the making?
Plus, if Russia’s example is taken, in order for the U.S. to shift over to non-GMO, non-industrialized agriculture, transforming federal government policy will have to be part of the equation.
Via SueM
Can Russia’s Garden Plot Model Feed the World Organically?
Excerpt:
In 2003 the Russian President signed into law a further “Private Garden Plot Act” enabling Russian citizens to receive free of charge from the state, plots of land in private inheritable ownership.
Sizes of the plots differ by region but are between one and three hectares each [1 hectare = 2.2 acres].
Produce grown on these plots is not subject to taxation. A further subsequent law to facilitate the acquisition of land for gardening was passed in June 2006 . . .
What other country raises so much of their food in such sustainable, organic, and non-GMO modes of production?
A.K. Besides government policy changes, let’s now take a closer look at ourselves and our priorities, what WE do in our “leisure” time, compared to Russians.
1 thought on “Feed-the-World Department: Russia’s Extraordinary Dacha Movement”
I’m with the Russians on this one! In America, unless a person fits into whatever social groups are available, you’re on your own meeting people and developing social relationships through more land-based means instead of society stuff. Being connected person to person is necessary and important in a world that is simply lived. In that world, we are all brothers and sisters – we look out for one another. No one is an enemy. The only laws are being authentic and being nonviolent. Thank you, Ann, for this article which gave me hope and joy. I always have those things anyway, but this was a really nice story. Loved it! Mari