Artisans Seeking Shelter: Craftspeople Moving to the Countryside and (New) Local Communities

Abstract

New ecovillage communities, and individuals who simply move from the towns to the countryside in Estonia, are inspired by a desire to be involved in heritage preservation, local customs, and traditional skills. Ecovillages are keen to attract people who are skilled in various traditional handicrafts, while craftspeople, in turn, may encounter fewer problems finding the facilities and raw materials needed to practice their crafts on moving to the countryside. The present paper focuses on activities in five new rural communities from the perspective of craftspeople. We asked them to describe their initial incentives for establishing and joining the respective communities, and the directions of their joint activities. We documented a significant diversity among the five communities. Some were self-evolved, while others had been deliberately established. Some communities had local roots, while others were spearheaded from elsewhere. Some of the communities sought idyllic landscapes and indigenous culture, social life, and friendship, while others valued the region's economic potential. We found highly skilled niche producers in excellently equipped workshops who were involved in so-called content-focused activities in various manor estate buildings renovated with the help of European Union funds, as well as those starting from scratch on principle. Community representatives included those striving for the greatest possible economic independence and minimal ecological footprint, as well as those looking for opportunities to recreate the kind of farming life typical of last century, based on work carried out by people and horses — and, across almost all groups, people with a keen interest in a wide variety of handicraft skills from the past. We also observed other, personal motivations and experiences among our respondents — for example, how they had been invited there, what supported their move, and what they found problematic. We were interested in the present state of affairs: how the community contributes to their new skills and practices; how the new community and other local inhabitants manage communication networks; and how they see themselves and their way of life in their new home. We were keen to find out whether the symbiosis of local nature, old values and skills, and innovative and fresh practical solutions will prove sustainable in the long term.