 |
In Estonia (Võru County), in the village of Mauri, there is a large kin's settlement. On an area of 43 hectares, 15 plots for kin’s domains have been allocated, the size of each is 1-2 hectares. 10 families have already built their domains or are in the process of construction. On the common area of the settlement, unoccupied by domains, there is a common meeting house, a square for events, a park, and ponds.
The community organization "Mauri Põliskodud" is responsible for the management of the village. The mission of this organization:
- exchange of information with municipalities and the state
- management of common areas, their modernization, construction, cleaning, and any other issues
- property management in the event that a resident leaves the settlement (such precedents have not yet been, but an action plan has been developed)
- organization of general meetings for any issues of improvement and development of the settlement. Regular meetings are held every two months. Extraordinary meetings are called if there are urgent questions or if settlers need to interview a family that wants to join the settlement
- informing residents about all decisions, innovations, and events. For this, a bulletin board is installed in the central square.
“The main goal of our settlement is to strive for the greatest possible self-sufficiency and independence, and to offer sustainable and viable solutions to various social and global problems,” the residents of Mauri explain, “We all revere the Land as the main source of wealth and prosperity. With our experience, we want to show the advantages of natural and more efficient land use over today's unsustainable large-scale agricultural production.” The settlement uses only green energy sources: sun, wind, and water. They ensure the independence of Mauri residents from the power grids of nearby communities.
 |
On weekends in Mauri, creative meetings are held in the fresh air, where friends and acquaintances of the settlers come. At these gatherings, they sing, dance, drink herbal tea, and talk. Sometimes there are creative workshops on house building, where guests can learn how to build environmentally friendly houses. Often residents teach crafts that they have mastered themselves. So, for example, they teach ancient pottery, in which the products are fired in pits dug in the forest. This is a three-day master class, in the end of which each participant receives dishes or decorative clay products made by his own hands.
5 plots in Mauri are still waiting for their owners. Those who want to join the settlement must pass an interview with the residents' council, get the approval of future neighbors, and pay a one-time membership fee of 15,000 euros. If future settlers do not have such an amount, they are given the opportunity to pay the contribution in installments over 4 years.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
