“kin” - relation | “craft” - skill
The skill of being in relation to the Land.
Kincraft uses local and traditional ecological knowledge to nurture an ecological culture and identity with the Land in which you live.
What does it do?
Kincraft is how I refer to my particular philosophy and practice that fosters a deep, regenerative connection to the land through knowledge, skills, and awareness. Rooted in sustainability, relationality, and cultural renewal, kincraft seeks to nurture kinship with local ecosystems and communities, embracing a way of living that integrates human and non-human relationships into the fabric of daily life. It avoids ideas around escapism and, focusing instead on how modern lifestyles can be reoriented towards greater ecological belonging.
At its core, kincraft is about acknowledging and strengthening relationships with the land, the seasons, the watersheds, and the myriad lifeforms that share our spaces. It is not about retreating into wilderness or adopting a nomadic existence, but about reimagining how we dwell within the land in meaningful, rooted ways. The philosophy aligns with the rhythms and realities of modern life, encouraging small, deliberate acts of care and attention that contribute to ecological and cultural regeneration.
How does this happen?
Kincraft manifests in a myriad of practical ways, transforming ordinary routines into opportunities for relationship, reciprocity and awareness. Paying attention to the nuances of a place—birdsong, the smell of rain, the shifting seasons—becomes a way of cultivating mindfulness and attunement to the environment. Skills such as carving utensils from locally sourced wood, repairing garments with care, or growing and preparing food from native plants ground people in their immediate ecology.
The materials we use and the objects we create carry stories of place and relationship. A spoon carved from a tree that grew nearby, or a sweater mended with wool from local sheep, embodies the principle of kincraft: objects are not merely functional but are imbued with cultural and ecological significance. These practices remind us of our interdependence with the land and challenge the extractive habits of consumerism.
Why does this matter?
The term "kincraft" emphasises kinship—not only among humans but also with the broader ecological community. It invites us to see rivers, trees, insects, and soil as active participants in the world, worthy of respect and care. This perspective sees the natural world as animate and relational, fostering a sense of mutual responsibility.
Kincraft also encourages intergenerational knowledge-sharing, drawing on ancestral skills and wisdom while adapting them to contemporary needs. This balance between the old and the new creates a living tradition that is flexible, responsive, and deeply connected to local landscapes.
As we face collective climate and biodiversity threats, relating to the Land in meaningful ways, is a precursor not only to sustainability but to nurturing healthier ecosystems for future generations.
How is it different?
In its essence, kincraft is a critique of modern trends that emphasise kit, qualifications and “visiting” nature. It challenges the thinking that separates humans from their local ecology and requires far-off adventures to visit the most distant and wild parts of it.
Instead it is an approach that integrates ecological awareness into everyday. By rejecting the idea that sustainable practices are confined to specific professions or industries, kincraft repositions ecological living as an accessible, personal and cultural responsibility.
Kincraft is not an activity, and there is no kincraft industry. Nor or a call to return to a romantic, mythical past that is often imagined. It is an approach to living with greater ecological and cultural integrity here and now.
It begins with small, intentional shifts in how we perceive and interact with our surroundings, creating a ripple effect that fosters community resilience, environmental care, and a renewed sense of belonging. Through kincraft, we learn to live as participants in the ecological and cultural narratives of place, crafting a more sustainable and connected future.
Area of Kincraft
Research Field
Impact on practice.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Using traditional skills, crafts and knowledge to engage with the natural world, its materials and other species.
Archeology
Recognsing the evidence we have for how our cultural ancestors lived means that we can avoid being romantic or wishful.
Skills, Crafts and Knowldge
Using skills, crafts and knowledge from throughout the history of people being on a the Land, from coppicing through to tracking.
Local Ecological Knowledge
Understanding how local ecosystems work, their health and our effects on them through our actions.
Ecology
An understanding of how ecosystems work, draw from both observation and research, helps to place local knowledge in a wider context.
Place, Awareness and Reciprocity
Here we draw on the idea of ecological niches and bioregions and using watersheds as an appropriate scale of relating to the Land.
Ecological Identity
Recognising how we relate to local ecologies and how we identify ourselves concerning its health.
Anthropology
A particular area of environmental anthropology, ethnoecology, is the study of how communities perceive and engage with their local ecology.
Community, Ethics and Culture
Understanding the many varied ways of being in relationship to the land and towards living a more regenerative life.
