Is one Hectare or 2.5 acres- enough for everybody? By Steven Amey
One common issue regarding Kin Domains that repeatedly comes up is the basic minimum size of a kin domain. It is suggested in the Ringing Cedars series that for Russia’s climate one hectare and no less is required for proper long-term self-sustainability of each domain family. Some argue that in other climates where there exists degraded and harsher environmental conditions, that more land is needed? On the opposite spectrum there are those who suppose that those living in climate with a sustained year round growing season that perhaps, less than one hectare is required? And to further add to the debate there are those who state that any less than one hectare does not allow for complete self-sufficiency. What are your thoughts on these matters? Where do you stand? Why? Does anyone have some facts and figures do help define this matter?
The size of the plot, as already mentioned, largely depends on the climatic circumstances and soil quality, as well as settlers necessities. For example, I do not wish to grow the whole food for me alone, so I rather leave the land to my neighbour, who is a tremendous gardener, and whose wish is to do gardening as his main occupation. I can get quality food then from him. Or, if I'm about to have only 2 kids, but my neighbour is having 5, then I would rather give the land for him, because he has more mouths to feed than I do. Another reason why the plot should not necessarily be one hectare, is also the way the community is organised - if the settlers decide to have common gardens for grain, potatoes and other vegetables - as a basis for the community food production, then the individual plots can be smaller as well. It can be that part of the plot - the forest - is a common forest.
But it is also true, that the whole settlement and each plot must be a self sufficient ecosystem. And this is the most important task to fulfil.
I strongly disagree with the point about that less land should be given to people in the community if they have a large portion of land that they farm communally.
This is exactly the situation that leads to people being unable to provide for their own self sufficiency. That is the very mess we are in today. Your last statement seems a contradiction.
If a village is comprised of land that does not allow for each resident or family to be self sufficient then the entire community is dependant on the common shared farmland, and if that land is not successful, it can be a disaster for the entire village.
However, if each family has sufficient land then each person can provide not only for themselves, but can also aid their neighbors should the need arise. And of course the common land provides additional back-up for the entire community.
