Permaculture and back‐to‐the‐land migration: Pursuing self‐sufficiency in Czech rural areas

0574354 - SOÚ 2024 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Kolářová, Marta
Permaculture and back‐to‐the‐land migration: Pursuing self‐sufficiency in Czech rural areas.
Sociologia Ruralis. Roč. 63, č. 4 (2023), s. 865-885. ISSN 0038-0199. E-ISSN 1467-9523
Grant - others:AV ČR(CZ) StrategieAV21/15
Program: StrategieAV
Institutional support: RVO:68378025
Keywords : back-to-the-land * permaculture * urban-to-rural migration * self-sufficiency * eco-community * rural areas
OECD category: Sociology
Impact factor: 4.1, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/soru.12448

This article focuses on the contemporary back-to-the-land migration of permaculture practitioners in post-socialist (1989–) Czechia. It explores the ideals and practices of self-sufficiency among back-to-the-land migrants as they relate to their migration motives and post-migration life, including the fulfilment of a dream of self-sufficiency and local community integration. This article deals with individual in-rural migrant projects and the experiences of permaculturists who live in intentional eco-communities. It draws upon data from in-depth interviews with back-to-the-land migrants and analysis of documents and field notes. The article concludes that the self-sufficient vision, part of a ‘family homestead’ concept promoted by permaculture teachers, is difficult to achieve for rural newcomers who must reformulate their visions to match the lived reality. The post-migration life of this group is further complicated by disillusionment with local community relations and difficulties integrating within their migration destination because of their distinctive lifestyle. Czech back-to-the-land migration related to permaculture differs from its western version in its inclination towards nature-based spirituality and a specific land structure still influenced by the forced collectivisation of the communist era.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0344692