Zajezka

Zajezova lies approximately 15 km southwest of Zvolen in the middle of mountains called Javorie. For centuries the inhabitants of this small mountain valley have lived off the local fertile soil. In the second half of the 20^th century young people began leaving the area with a vision of a better life in towns. At the beginning of the nineties mostly the elderly remained. From the original 600 inhabitants the number decreased to 190 in the year 2000.

Zajezova was “discovered” after 1989 by enthusiasts of traditional culture who established ”The School of Folk Culture” (Skola ludovej kultúry) here. Its aim was mainly to reintroduce the traditional crafts of our predecessors to the youth. "Zaježka" became popular very quickly and hundreds of people visited its many workshops and summer camps. These activities also brought us here for the first time – young people, at that time, who decided to found an organisation called "Pospolitosť pre harmonický život" („Society for Harmonious Living“).

We are inspired by the simple, modest and self-sufficient life-style of our predecessors, but we are not trying to enforce a return to the way of life of 100 or more years ago. On the contrary – by experimenting with our own fates we are searching for a way of life in full value, but not at the expense of nature, other people, or our own personal development. These are the problems and questions in which every modern-thinking person is interested.

We decided to buy a local farmhouse in Zajezova called Sekier, and make it available to those who want to try the frugal and natural life in the mountains.

When the functioning of the initial School of Folk Culture stopped, we took over some of its activities – mainly the weekend and summer courses focused on traditional crafts, but not only these. We founded and maintain a collection of separated waste from the surrounding villages, and we reconstructed a number of traditional houses. We still support alternative methods of education and nature conservation. Apart from Sekier we also organise the weekend activities and camps at another farmhouse called Polomy. We are reconstructing this house step by step, so that it is more convenient for larger groups of people. In 2004 our organisation became a member of a worldwide network of similar projects - Global Ecovillage Network.

...a bit more longer and a bit more offical information

Society for Harmonious Living
Educational activities - courses
Project "Sekier"
The support of the village development
Collection of the sorted waste in the region
Folk and alternative architecture
Organic agriculture
Social work project

Society for Harmonious Living (PHZ)
Since 1994 the PHZ supports the efforts of individuals and groups, who not only by discussion but also with their own way of living, search for the meaning of the phrase “sustainable life”. It's activities are based on the idea “think globally, act locally” in two complementing areas. We try to awaken mainly in young people the interest in deeper experience of life, nature and society. We have created a space, into which people can come and break their established routines and live differently for a few days, few years. The second area of the PHZ's interest is an effort of establishing a new community in the area, which was once only being abandoned. Our efforts are aimed at building this community on sustainable basis. In all the target groups we try to awaken the interest in social and environmental problems of the contemporary world as well as in finding possible solutions for those problems.

Educational activities - courses
The PHZ and its activists organize every year around 20 weekend and 3-5 weekly residential courses. The participants have an opportunity to learn one of the traditional crafts (pottery, weaving, etc.), experiment with traditional or alternative building and agricultural technologies (for example building houses from clay, thatched roofs, scything, etc.), learn and discuss the environmental and social issues and also help nature and society (for example with clearing unwanted waste sites or saving cultural heritage). Most of the events take place in our educational centre VVS Polomy, some also on Sekier or in other parts of Zajezova. It is mostly young people (age 15-30), who take part in those events; we also try to attract other groups, for example parents with children. In future we would like to organize events for children and for socially underprivileged groups of people (see Social work project).

Programme of activities
More information about Polomy

Project Sekier
PHZ created on the historical farm in the part of Zajezova called Sekier the conditions for people, who would like to try life closer to nature or would like to work in agriculture or one of the crafts long term. In this farmhouse, adapted for the purpose, to this day lived around 60 people, most of them stayed for at least a year. The residents of Sekier actively partake in our programmes and the renewal of the village. Some of them later started living in Zajezova and surroundings, using the skills they gained on Sekier. The house is also opened to frequent visitors – they are provided with lodging and board in exchange for help in the running of the house and in agriculture. We have hundreds of visitors every year.

More information about Sekier and the possibility to live there or visit

The support of the village development
During the last 10 years a new group of settlers formed itself in Zajezova and surroundings. Some have decided to settle in the area as a result of our previous activities. PHZ formally covers some of their initiatives. We run the so-called Foodbank - we purchase food in wholesale packaging (flour, wheat, pulses, sugar, oil, etc.) taking into account the ecological implications and local resources. The whole system is cost-effective, environmentally friendly and its function is based on mutual trust. We were running LETS for 5 years but it is not functional anymore as at this time most of the work and products exchanges are informal, especially between people who live here for years. This is only part of the collective activities, as most of them often happen on non-formal bases.

Collection of the sorted waste in the region
In cooperation with the local government the PHZ started in 1994 the "Clean Javorie" project. Its aim being the implementation of responsible waste management in the region. Part of the project is the management of the Recycling Centre for villages Pliesovce, Sasa, Babina a Bzovska Lehotka (approx. 3500 residents). Each year we manage to rescue tons of waste from being thrown on the skip. The residents sort the waste into the basic categories (paper, glass, plastic, etc.), our employees transport it into the Centre and re-sort it, preparing the waste for further transport and processing. The employees are our activists, young men, who are conscientious objectors and instead of being in the Army serve in the community and also local citizens. Since 2001 the Centre is fully financed by the citizens it serves and since 2005 it is independent project. Each year we organize a few weekend residencies "Civilization from the other point of view". Their participants help us with the work in the Recycling Centre. We would like as many people as possible to have the hand-on experience of the problem caused by waste and consumerism.

Folk and alternative architecture
During its existence the PHZ reconstructed a number of traditional folk buildings - mows, two wooden houses, agrarian stone house (so called Slamienka). The original building technologies were used in the renovations, in making the thatched roofs - either made of hay or shingle, clay wall coverings, wooden beams. The work was in the most part accomplished by volunteers. Apart from the traditional methods we also collect and test alternative building technologies based on locally available traditional natural materials (thatched and reed roofs, clay walls, walls from straw parcels, etc.) The findings and experience is consequently used in the reconstruction of buildings belonging to the organization and also in building new houses for settlers in Zajezova.

Organic agriculture
We are experimenting with the natural (organic) processes of agriculture. We are simultaneously reviving some traditional agricultural methods. Most of the settlers try to be self-sufficient with vegetables and fruits, it is of course without the use of chemicals and it presupposes a gentle approach to nature. Experiments with different alternative technologies are carried out individually, we exchange the know-how and help each other.

Social work project
We offer the possibility of weekend or longer programmes including games, teaching simple crafts, hikes, music, singing, dance and for some groups discussions on various themes. There are concessions for socially or otherwise disadvantaged groups. Among those are at present children from Children's homes, Emergency centres, etc.
Our initiatives are unfortunately slightly impeded by the state of VVS Polomy. Although the house has been reconstructed, the work couldn't yet be finalized for financial reasons and so the conditions could be a little demanding, especially for children.

Basic information