The module concept for the Hessian state domain Frankenhausen

The farm is at the center of the entire project. The organic farm is affiliated to the organic farming associations Bioland and Naturland.

The farm is run by the University of Kassel as a limited company, i.e. within the framework of an approved business plan, the farm operates in a similar way to a private enterprise.

The result is a diversified farm that demonstrates the efficiency of organic farming. This includes the cultivation of cereals, potatoes and field vegetables, as well as fruit and, of course, animal husbandry with dairy cattle and laying hens.

The overall concept and the size of the farm offer an extraordinary opportunity to deal with issues of landscape ecology, nature and species conservation and the special character of agricultural work in addition to optimizing agricultural production.

A "Organic Farming Trials" unit was established on the Frankenhausen estate for all trial activities and investigations at the site. Crop cultivation trials on a wide variety of topics are carried out on up to 40 hectares. In addition, the entire farm is of course available for research.

In the area of animal husbandry, the necessary barn conversions and new buildings have been created as prerequisites for working on scientific issues.

Seminar and group work rooms are available for the integration of the farm into the teaching activities of the University of Kassel, so that the Frankenhausen domain has developed into a place of interdisciplinary communication and action.

An intensive exchange with the farms in the region is intended to serve the transfer of scientific knowledge into practice and the establishment and further development of a wide range of joint activities.

Examples of such activities include opportunities for joint processing and marketing as well as local and regional public relations work in the form of field days, farm festivals and action days.

Processing capacities are conceivable on the farm that would enable the integration of primary production and processing of organic food in the region.

By processing vegetables, meat, etc., both farmers in the region and the domain itself would have the opportunity to contribute to greater regional value creation.

The size of Domäne Frankenhausen offers the opportunity to concentrate marketing activities on bulk buyers in the region such as clinics, canteen kitchens, canteens (e.g. student union canteen) and retail chains in order to gain new market partners.

The aim is to minimize competition on the already established sales channels through cooperation and agreements with agricultural businesses in the region.

The ecologically managed domain offers an excellent field of work for landscape planning and landscape ecology. The aim is to preserve, develop and shape the cultural landscape around the estate, taking into account nature conservation aspects and in close connection with the farm.

Existing concepts for optimizing agricultural use with an impact on nature conservation were tested and improved as part of the project "Integrating nature conservation objectives into organic farming".

Long-term studies on the effects of planting field copses such as hedgerows and rains can scientifically prove the usefulness of such measures for organic farming on the Frankenhausen estate.

The long-term aim is to use solar energy and renewable energy sources to make the domain largely independent of fossil fuels. At present, the possible roofs are already equipped with a photovoltaic system and the heating for the main building and the seminar house runs on solid wood.

Environmentally friendly technologies are to be established in the area of agricultural machinery, and concepts for ecological building and living are to be implemented in the construction sector. From 2015 to 2017, the Amtshaus, built in 1646, was completely renovated in terms of building biology and is now available as a seminar house.

The "transparent" farm offers ideal opportunities for environmental and experiential education. These educational opportunities take into account the ever-increasing interest of consumers of all ages in transparency and sustainability in food production and allow them to come into direct contact with agriculture.

The farm has been a member of "BIOLEKA, Biologische Lernorte in der Region Kassel" since 2003 and has been a recognized demonstration farm for organic farming by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture since 2006.

The GemüseSelbstErnte project has been firmly anchored on the farm since 1999 and offers around 250 families the opportunity to have their own vegetable garden over the summer.

The numerous projects that combine agriculture and social work on organic farms result in a high demand for research and training in this area. Projects with unemployed young people, disabled people or forms of "assisted living" are also conceivable on the Frankenhausen estate.

The estate kitchen was put back into operation to cater for the people living and working on the estate. It also caters for guests of the seminar house and offers students and teaching staff meals on study and excursion days.
Agricultural produce is processed on a small scale for direct marketing.

The building capacities offer space to support start-up initiatives by University of Kassel graduates.

It would be conceivable, for example, to provide office space and other infrastructure on a temporary and cost-effective basis, which could act as a kind of "springboard" for young engineering firms.

People are barely aware of the way our food is produced. By engaging with agriculture, art can create the conditions for a more conscious approach to natural processes, livestock and food among producers and consumers.

Cultural events of all kinds are also welcome, and a banquet hall for up to 100 people is available.