Where the apples are crisp and the potatoes ripe for the harvest.
I just spent the weekend at Karlshof. And am now feeling all blissed out and excited by life.
The Karlshof is a farming project 85km north of Berlin. The project was founded in 2005 in its current form to produce non-commercial agriculture. 8 people are currently living there, plus 2 children on about 20ha with fruit trees, a big vegie garden, potatoes, sunflowers and some grains. The new project began with a harvest of potatoes that are distributed through networks and to individuals for free. People are encouraged to work at Karlshof in exchange, or to offer whatever support they are able to supply, however it is not essential. They don’t want to continue a capitalist mentality of worth or value, selling or even swapping. They produce for the joy of producing and share whatever they have with whoever asks for it. Karlshof was purchased by a not-for-profit organization in Berlin and is supported financially by donations.
I was at Karlshof for the Global Agriculture Action Network, and stayed on for the beginning of the potato harvest.
For the network meeting and the potato harvest came a diverse mixture of people from a number of countries. It was so exciting to be surrounded by people who have so much energy and great ideas, especially in the area of farming. I get so down hearing the news and reading about the state the world is in. But its projects like this that gives me the energy to persist, and hope. There is really so much out there! I heard about a cooperative project in Spain where over 80 households support a farm on the outskirts of Madrid. A group of 8 or so farms in France, Austria and Germany founded in the 70s, some with up to 80 people. Sharing food and politics, living together and maintaining activist activities. A few communes in Germany. A haven in Italy near the sea with olives and grapes and tomatoes the size of your hand! SSSSoooo exciting! It makes me really positive that it’s possible to start something up back home, and excited to do a little travelling to go visit these places and learn. Yipeee!!