The Karelian regional public organization " Association of farm-house owners "Usadba" was established in April 2003. It became one if the most important results of the Tacis IBPP project "The Development of Farm House Tourism based on the Sustainable Utilisation of Natural and Cultural Resources", which started in December 2002. The project is funded by the European Union. The central aim of the project is the establishment of a civil association for the co-ordination and promotion of farmhouse tourism based on the local human, cultural, architectural and natural resources in the Republic of Karelia was declared. Due to the very active response of the target group (the farmhouse owners) idea of the project was realized already on the early stages of its implementation; it took place practically simultaneously with official opening of the project.

From then more than 30 farmhouse owners from Medvezhjegorsk and Pudozh regions, (target regions in the project) have joined the Association. Two branches of the Association were organized in these regions to simplify the work. Members of Association participate in practically all project activities, hold regular meetings to establish friendly and working connections and to distribute helpful information. In the nearest future the Association is planning to participate it the study trips in Ireland and Finland and to produce the promotional brochure for farmhouse tourism in Karelia.