Slovenia: Poljšica, the place where youth and the elderly are equals – European Commons and OECMs Article by Diana Neacsu in dialogue with Štefan Kuhar and Tomaž Bregant
The Agrarian Community of Poljšica: A Legacy of Shared Responsibility and Resilience
In the rolling hills of Slovenia, nestled near the town of Bled, lies Poljšica—a small agrarian community where land is managed not just by individual farms but by a collective commitment to tradition, sustainability, and community welfare. The Agrarian Community of Poljšica (AC Poljšica) connects 41 shareholders from the village of Poljšica, who together steward 48 hectares of pastureland and 24 hectares of forest. More than just shared resources, this land embodies a centuries-old legacy of cooperation and mutual support, symbolizing a bond between its people and the natural world around them.
Photo: Youth learning the farming skills of their ancestors in Triglav – the Slovenian border with Austria. Courtesy of Tomaž Bregant
Traditions that help navigate climate change & enhance wellbeing
Poljšica’s common land is divided into 113 shares, held by individuals from varied backgrounds—some with just one share, others with as many as six. Every year from May to mid-October, the fields come alive with the sounds of grazing cattle and horses as families bring their animals to feed on the shared pastures. Each year, about 40 cattle and 10 horses rely on these grasslands, which become a hub of agricultural activity and community exchange during the grazing season. “The pastures aren’t just land,” shares one member. “They’re the thread that keeps us connected to each other and our past.”
The challenges facing this community are not trivial. The thin soil of Poljšica’s pastures and increasingly unpredictable climate have brought new struggles, especially in the form of droughts that threaten fodder supplies. The community has worked together to address this, expanding their cultivation areas and making careful use of limited water resources to ensure enough feed during lean seasons. “Climate change has become a real challenge,” says one member. “But knowing that here we tackle it together gives us the energy to persevere.”
The Poljšica common also plays a significant role beyond agriculture. Their model provides public access to private land, offering visitors – not just commoners – recreational space and natural resources like landmarks and clean water. The small football playground, built by a third party on a plot of land leased from Poljšica is particularly appealing to youth of all ages, within and outside the common, shares Tomaž smiling widely.
As access to nature dwindles in many parts of the world, Poljšica’s open commons provide a vital public service, an oasis where nature and tradition coexist.
Equal but differently invested
Yet, the community is not immune to the changing tides of society. As the management of the AC doesnt bring personal financial benefits (all yelds go towards the common), the members’ interest in playing an active role is declining! Youth, as well as more senior members of the common, can find more lucrative options.
Younger generations in particular pursue opportunities outside agriculture and common management, leaving a smaller, ageing group to manage the land. This shift has created disparities in engagement, with a dedicated core of members bearing the brunt of responsibilities while others remain less involved. “We all share this land, but not everyone feels the same urgency to participate,” explains a member of the management board. “It’s a different world today, and maintaining the spirit of cooperation can be hard.”
Bureaucratic hurdles, particularly around land inheritance, add to these challenges. The transfer of shares can take years due to slow court proceedings, complicating Poljšica’s operations. Still, the community has adapted, becoming one of the first to formalize its standing under Slovenia’s Agricultural Communities Act in 2018. This step fortified their structure, securing legal recognition and a pathway for sustainability.
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home/clients/18b560f8b12313cb43fc9daafbe0fef9/sites/ruralcommons.eu/wp-content/plugins/elementor/includes/base/widget-base.php on line 223
Warning: Undefined array key -1 in /home/clients/18b560f8b12313cb43fc9daafbe0fef9/sites/ruralcommons.eu/wp-content/plugins/elementor/includes/base/controls-stack.php on line 695
A storied past and a resilient present
Poljšica’s history is complex. After World War II, the community’s lands were nationalized under the communist government. It wasn’t until the 1990s that they were returned, but not collectively; instead, the land went to individual beneficiaries, creating layers of bureaucracy and delay. “It was a complicated, unnecessarily long process,” recalls Tomaž, a commoner. “But it helped us build resilience and it strengthen our sense of community.”
One key piece of this heritage is the word “srenja,” a term dating back to medieval times that embodies the spirit of communal landholding. Originally derived from the German “Gemeinde,” srenja speaks to the idea of a shared responsibility—a philosophy deeply embedded in Poljšica’s culture. For the community members, this word symbolizes a way of life that values collective stewardship over individual gain. “Srenja is who we are,” reflects one commoner. “It’s what keeps us coming back to the land, generation after generation.”
Photo: Life in the common. Courtesy of Tomaž Bregant.
The future of Poljšica: staying adaptable, together
Looking ahead, Poljšica faces both familiar and new challenges. Declining engagement from younger members worries some, as they see fewer young people interested in farming or community leadership. Still, Poljšica has adapted by keeping participation open to all members, and by finding ways to compensate for the decline in interest from younger generations. Each season, they employ a local pensioner to manage invasive species and keep the pastures healthy—a small but meaningful way to engage the community.
Income from timber, land rentals, and government subsidies keeps the community financially afloat, but Poljšica’s real strength is in its people’s resilience. “In this world of individualism, our unity is our power,” says a board member. Their commitment to both their land and each other offers a powerful reminder that communal management can survive even in a rapidly modernizing world.
For the members of Poljšica, this agrarian community is more than a cooperative—it is a legacy and a way forward. Through the strength of their traditions and the resilience of their community, they continue to sustain their livelihoods, protect their lands, and honour the principles of cooperation that have guided them for generations.