steveastro

I live in a very rural village in Bulgaria. I say 'very rural' in comparison to a rural village in the UK. The village I live in has around 120 residents which drops by the week. The sound of the church bell that rings through the village is again the sound that means the village is short another resident. The next day there is a funeral.

From what I have read and heard, the village was a well populated, busy farming community not so many years ago when is was under communist rule. Many may think that the country is better off now communism no longer exists, but in fact, the older generations miss those days. Back then, there was not a lot of money, but everyone had employment, a house and just enough to manage financially.

This is not the case today.

With village farming quietly fading along with its residents, rural villages really are failing. Youngsters go to school in the more modern towns where there is employment, restaurants, night clubs and transport. Many youngsters move to the towns, cities and other countries in search of a better life, rather than running a many generation old failing farm.

Because of this, when their elderly family draw their last breath, the family house is then left to the whole family and the money made from the 'eventual' sale of the house is split many ways.

As there are so many to share the money between, on times the price of an empty village house can on times be very expensive 'for a Bulgarian, mud brick house'. And here "I think" the problem starts.

If an empty house is on the market today for 15000 lev and it does not sell fast, in 15 years time, when the house then looks like the one in the below images, families still want 15000 lev.

This is why 'in my opinion' rural villages in Bulgaria are failing.

Hope you like the images of a house in my village.

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

alx Loc: NJ

Thank you for both the photos and the observations.

Bill_de Loc: US

If this is the case ...

[i}"Youngsters go to school in the more modern towns where there is employment, restaurants, night clubs and transport. "[/i]

... it seems like the country is better off.

I remember reading years back that young people move to the cities to make money so they can eventually afford to retire to the country.

Your pictures do tell a story. Well done.

--

steveastro

Thanks for your comment. The situation here at the moment is that when the older ones pass, the farms (sometimes just a hand full of sheep) finish. There is no life in the villages anymore. The youngest here at the moment is 25, next to him most are middle aged.

Again, thank you for your lovely comment.

Black Elk Peak

Very poignant. Your words, coupled with the pictures, tell a moving story. Great job. Hope the situation improves but it sounds like a difficult course to overcome.

Vaughan K.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice photos and interesting commentary. I hope you are simply lamenting the demise of the villages and not making a case for communism.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Great images!!!!
This is the case not only in Bulgaria, here in the U.S. as well

SonyBug

I think the point he made is that the "old system" did not hurt everyone equally. Some people had little, but now they have nothing.

Don W-37 Loc: Bangkok, Thailand

Hi Steve,
Thanks for posting the excellent photos and the interesting explanation. I haven't been to Bulgaria, but saw similar situations in the Czech Republic some years ago. I have mixed feelings - partly sad to see a way of life disappearing, but I understand the young people's desire for an easier life. Change is inevitable - in 1900 about 40% of Americans worked in agriculture and each farmer grew enough to feed about 5 people. Today only about 2% of Americans work in agriculture, and each farmer grows enough food to feed 75 - 100 or more people. Most farms owned by big agribusiness corporations. Best of luck to you. Keep posting, and welcome to the UHH Forum!
Cheers,
Don

Properframe Loc: US Virginia

As an Agrarian lifestyle is difficult and does not fit the desires of the educated youth they will move to other areas. It is a world wide occurrence among developed and developing nations. The difficulty will come later when the youth begin to dislike the urban lifestyle and wish to return. It will all be gone and the minimal infrastructure necessary will not be in place to start again if they wanted.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I live in farm country and the farmers do very well. Some time the farmers get paid not to grow some things as not to flood the market.

Waterfall9

This really nice wake up call of photographs reminds me its all about space and resources. Keep the farm! There are only enough resources for a few to have the easy life among the billions who are beginning to migrate and immigrate to the easier life out of desperation.

repleo Loc: Boston

All of my ancestors going back at least 200 years were small farmers in the West of Ireland. Over the decades, many families vanished from the area through famine, emigration or in search of a better life in the towns. However, all of my ancesters holdings are still occupied by their direct descendents. They live on the farms, but do not work the land themselves. They rent the land to bigger farmers and make their livings with regular jobs and small businesses. They all have good lives with nice houses, active social lives and optimistic communities. Farming is a hard life. The work never ends, but it has its rewards.

bob7fred

The small rural family farm is also disappearing, for many years. As you say, kids move away for better jobs. Better? Barns begin to decay, people can’t afford repairs, and the barn is sold for the wood - barn wood is a hot commodity in the US for furniture and house trim. Cities spread and developers buy the farms for city style housing.