With no end in sight to the current financial turmoil that is gripping Europe, and has led to mass redundancies and job insecurity, falling household incomes, etc….. and will inevitably be compounded by reductions in government spending, increases in taxes and higher inflation, the expectations of many people to be able to maintain an adequate standard of living are been compromised.
The down-turn the British and European economies are experiencing, will no doubt at some point come to an end, but the question is when; and what will the monetary, and more importantly, human cost be (in terms of well-being, quality of life, and happiness) until a period of renewed growth is achieved.
Admittedly, the suggestion of sitting out the recession, on a smallholding in Bulgaria, might sound like a somewhat outlandish proposition, but for those prepared to put aside their preconceptions, and (be it temporarily) surrender a few of the "perks" of modern urban living, this can be a viable and effective antidote for the socio-economic hardships we are presently experiencing.
Avoiding the usual "run-down" of virtues and benefits of country living, here are a few arguments in favor of renting or buying a smallholding in Bulgaria,… and making the move to a more affordable and self-reliant way of life.
The cost of living in BG is the lowest in the EU. The Bulgarian countryside is an extremely cheap place to move to, especially for those with foreign incomes (pensions, savings, rental returns from a property back at home, etc), allowing them to live considerably better here, than they would in their home countries, or other parts of Europe.
Taking on a smallholding in Bulgaria does not involve embarking on a remote and isolated existence on the eastern fringes of Europe, nor does it have to be a permanent arrangement.
The Bulgarian countryside has, over the past decade, seen the arrival of significant numbers of foreign residents and rural holiday-home owners. Small expat communities already exist throughout the southeast and central Bulgaria, and they are doing the same things their counterparts the world over do (regular get-togethers at bars and restaurants, social and sporting events, running small businesses, and so on), plus they enjoy most of the benefits of the twenty-first century: internet, satellite TV, foreign supermarket chains, frequent flights to and from any of the five international airport that service this part of the world, etc.
Many holiday-home owners are keen to let their properties, and start generating an income from something that up until now has been viewed as an investment, and a once-a-year vacation retreat. Renting a smallholding in Bulgaria is an excellent way to get a feel for the place, and try out this alternative form of living, without having to "burn one’s bridges".
Those who would like to buy a Bulgarian smallholding, can think in terms of 10.000-15.000 Euros for a two story house, together with outbuildings, and a 1/4-1/2 acre of fertile land, plus an additional outlay of 10.000 Euros for an adequate renovation (DIY’ers can reduce these costs even further).
Rural communities in Bulgaria (and most of Eastern Europe, for that matter) have maintained more traditional, self-reliant and sustainable ways of supporting themselves. Having endured the collapse of the communism system, and a financial meltdown in the nineties, they seem to have a head start on the rest of us when it comes to adapting to, and successfully coping with adversity. The recession has had little impact on the lives of those managing smallholdings in Bulgaria, as their exposure to the goings-on in the wider economy is limited.
Rural Bulgarians stock their larders and freezers with wholesome, GM-free and organically produced food: they grow and preserve their own fruit and vegetables, rear their own animals, enjoy home-make yogurt and cheese, brew their own wine and spirits, grow their own tobacco, hunt and fish in the surrounding countryside, use cheap and locally available fire-wood to heat their houses during the winter months, …cooperate and barter among themselves for other goods and services they might need…. pay insignificant taxes and utility bills…., and more importantly find plenty of time to enjoy life.
For those seriously considering this alternative, but might at the same time be questioning their abilities to be able to successfully deal with and live-off a smallholding, think again, you do not have to have a lot of money to start, and it’s not rocket science (there are plenty publications, layman-guides, and on-line sources covering sustainability and self-sufficiency; so a degree in agricultural engineering is not prerequisite). In fact all you really need is enthusiasm, and a few helpful neighbours.
And, for those that would prefer to avoid altogether the less glamorous aspects of farming (digging, weeding, and mucking out the stables, and so on) you can always, for a modest salary, employ one of the locals to manage your smallholding for you,… it will still be infinitely cheaper and more gratifying than purchasing "the necessities of life" form a conventional outlet.

What for many in the west is viewed as a desirable, but somewhat idealistic shift to a more affordable and sustainable life style………..is a reality in the Bulgarian countryside. Many of us have already made this move, and found it to be stress free, and a truly rewarding experience.

Land in Bulgaria, not unlike anywhere else in the world, is subject to government and local authority regulations.
As a general rule, when it falls within the town or village boundaries, land is considered to be "regulated" or (v regulatzia) and can be built on. If it is positioned beyond the outer limits of the community it is normally classed as agricultural land or (zemedelska zemia) where the construction of dwellings is in most cases not allowed (though procedures for re-zoning do exist, and building permits can be forthcoming especially when a plot is close to a built-up area).