Field ethnographic study of eco-villages: the case of Az Grad, Omsk region

During the recent seven years the field ethnographic study of the Az Grad ecovillage has been carried out. It is located 30 km from the city of Omsk. Az Grad (ino-town, town, ecovillage) is basically a personal initiative of Omsk businessman Andrey A. Nikitenko. The idea of the project arose in 2008; construction began in 2012. Today, Az Grad is the greatest project of ecovillage construction in the Omsk Region. There is no access to natural water sources in the ecovillage, but an extensive network of ponds and canals has been created in accordance with the permaculture doctrine of the well-known Austrian farmer Sepp Holzer. The main purpose and mission of the ecovillage is to transform the surrounding landscape and create conditions for harmonious interaction with the environment. The ideology is based on neotraditionalistic values of conversion to nature and ancestral heritage. Ecovillage development plans generate an ideal model of comfortable living and environmentally friendly interaction with nature: open areas, natural farming and sewerage systems, free contact with animals. The ecovillage name is associated with the well-known myth about the ancient great city of Asgard Iriyskiy, which ostensibly existed on the site of Omsk for many millennia. The specifics of Az Grad are educational tourism; seminars and workshops on carpentry, furnace, blacksmithing are regularly practices. Holidays are timed to calendar dates - solstice and equinox days. The anniversary of the ecovillage foundation - the Town Day - is also celebrated annually. The new rituals have a pronounced inventive character.