An impression...
Villages cluster along both banks of the river Syass
on its way NW towards Lake Ladoga, the largest inland
lake in Europe. Our own village, just 10 km from the
lake, is however a little different. For a start, it is
smaller than the others, with just four houses, a farm,
a garden workshop, a few farm buildings and a banya
(Russian sauna.). There also appears to be much more
common activity than in the neighboring villages. Another
feature is that about half of the 35-40 people who live
here are developmentally disabled or, in need of special
understanding. If you happen to be taking a stroll
through the village, they may come up to you and ask
where you are from. They might also ask about your
family. Before very long it can be surprising how much
they have already found out about you...
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Svetlana is looking for a new Head Gardener!
We have a well established biodynamic garden that is
looking for an individual or a couple to lead and
organize the gardening efforts. There is an incredible
amount of freedom to expand on past initiatives and begin
your own. The garden enlists lots of helping hands in the
summer and has become more beautiful, bountiful and
self-sufficient each year. The garden provides the
village with food as well as a source of income, and
cooperates with the rest of the farm as an important
therapeutic tool.
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Award-winning composer and
filmmaker Gunnar Madsen has made a 45 minute film
portraying the people of Svetlana and their 'harvest of a
million potatoes' in the fall of 2000.
Synopsis
Ninety miles east of St. Petersburg in Russia, a small
community of people is growing its own organic food and
attracting a lot of attention from the neighbors and the
government. The attention comes partly because their farm
is successful, but mainly because nearly half of the
residents of this community are developmentally disabled.
These disabled people had been considered incapable of
taking care of themselves before coming here. Now, living
together with dedicated volunteers from Russia and around
the world, they are working members of a remarkable
pioneering community...
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Contact us...
If you are interested in applying to come live and
work in Svetlana, we would like to hear from you.
Co-workers are provided room and board and a modest
monthly stipend to cover personal expenses, and time off
to travel and visit nearby St. Petersburg and the
surrounding areas. Please contact Sarah H. in Svetlana
for more details, including in your first letter or email
your interest in coming, the approximate dates
you’d be able to stay, and any other relevant
information or questions :
RUSSIA, 187439 Leningrad County
Volchov District, Aleksino Village
Camphill Village Svetlana c/o Sarah Hagnauer
dsvet1@yandex.ru
Mobile: +7 921 9821 335
Tel (not always in service): +7 813 6338 760
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