At the time I didn't know much about where I was going or what kind of people I would be working with, but I knew I wanted to take the oppportunity to live in a small, rural community near Kassel, Germany for a few months restoring a 19th Century, Tudor Farm... so off I went via SFO to Frankfurt, then the long train ride to Kassel and finally a bus to Niederkaufungen. Lucky for me while I was waiting for the bus in Kassel I ran into another 'volunteer', who came along just in time as I was about to take the wrong bus to the wrong town.
The Tudor farm turned out to be owned by a group of utopian German families who's aim was to "build" on ecologically sustainable, non-hierarchical commune for up to 100 adults and children, which has since turned out to be the largest, secular, left-wing egalitarian community in the Germany. This all makes since now, since from the moment I arrived (being the only U.S. citizen) I was asked about George Bush and my politics. These people were serious and I was happy, though a bit stressed at first, to be a part of the renovations.
Years later I have discovered that a short documentary film has been produced about this community http://www.shortfilmsales.com/product_info.php?products_id=2072&language=en.
It's amazing to see how far they have come over the years and suprisingly to find out that my old boyfriend Jan is still living there, minus the suede-patch pants and long, blonde, beaded hair... here's to you Niederkaufungen, Germany for your forward thinking sustainable ways... maybe I'll come for a visit sometime in the near future.
Enjoy the photos...
The Beginning...
The 'right-wing' of the Tudor farmhouse that helped to restore.
They have their own school on site
They grow all their own produce and raise all their own animals...
My favorite photo...
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