From Our Hearts to Yours: A Plea to Sustain Our Eco-Spiritual Mission

Dear Friends and Kindred Spirits,

          We are reaching out to you - and to all compassionate souls - with a heartfelt appeal for support.

          You might be wondering: What do we do that merits community support? Since 2009, we have been organizing spiritual retreats and tours to the sacred Dolmen sites and eco-villages known as Family Homesteads (Kin's Domains). These are living examples of sustainable, joyful, and harmonious life in connection with Nature and the Self. You can see some photos and videos here: Kin's Domains of Russia  and here: Festivals of Vedic Russia . 

          In 2016, we expanded our efforts by launching ecominded.net, offering eco-friendly products from Russian Family Homesteads to those seeking a more natural, self-reliant lifestyle. We also regularly publish inspiring and educational content on our blog: Eco-minded Blog.

          Unfortunately, we are now facing serious financial hardship. We are burdened with debts exceeding 4 million rubles (about €42,400), incurring over 100,000 rubles in monthly interest alone - this consumes almost all of our income from both the shop and the tours.

          Until 2019, our Dolmen tours provided sufficient income to support ourselves without the need for loans. As you’ll see from the feedback page, we used to host several groups each year, with 5–7 participants per tour. Then came the pandemic, followed by the conflict in Ukraine and international sanctions - devastating our tourism-based income. Even now, as some travelers return, the numbers are just a fraction of what they once were.

          To make things even more challenging, in 2021 we began building our Dream Home after years of living in rented apartments. This project, too, requires resources we are struggling to gather. You can read our story here: Dream Home in Progress.

How you can help:

          * Place an order in our online store: ecominded.net

          * Book a space in our 2025 Dolmen Tour: Dolmen Tour Info

          * Make a donation to support the Smirnov family: Donation Page  “It’s not how much you give, but how much love you put into giving.”

          * Spread the word - share our story, our tours, and our eco-shop with friends and like-minded people. You can also share this article - Someone out there may feel called to help!

          With deep gratitude,
          The Smirnov Family

             * If you like this article please help keep us going, no matter the amount, your donation makes a difference!