Karin Weng and Martina Bünger
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"The real secret of success is enthusiasm" (Walter Percy Chrysler)
What awaited us in Witzenhausen
A warm welcome from older students. They creatively and amusingly prepared the freshers' week with all the important information and the freshers' party for us. Our studies were characterized by learning together, tutorials and study groups as well as the "Bichler tours". Our tours went to vegetable and herb seed production in Switzerland, permaculture in Australia and small farming communities in England. "Above the clouds, freedom (er work) must be limitless". The alpine scene with alpine meetings and alpine summers were important to us. We wanted everyone to do all the work and work with everyone. The likelihood of successfully forming a community increases with people who have "survived" an alp together.
"Besides" the university, activities such as the student working group "Organic Farming", in which we looked at different approaches (e.g. Fukuoka), our theater group with the play "Kuhjoslawien" and the core message "You can get it, if you really want, but you must try, try and try" were important. Of course, the tropical parties, graduation parties, full moon parties and Walpurgis nights are also unforgettable.
The Gulf War made it clear to us that there were far more important things than studying. After weeks of vigils, we set off on a march with donkeys, horses and camels to Frankfurt to turn the airbase into an Ährbase (wheat sowing on the airbase). It was the beginning of the field trials of genetically modified seeds at KWS in Northeim. We took part in the occupation of the fields and the urgency of our own seed propagation became increasingly clear.
The time at the edge of the Werra river, where our university was located and exams were waiting for us, was wonderful.
Kuhmuhne -Group foundation
What unites us - peace, ecology, independence through self-sufficiency and craftsmanship, "alpine fever" and alpine experience, social coexistence were and are our common important themes. It was clear to us that farming and horticulture together as a community was more fulfilling than farming alone. Our policy is to be role models on the land, pass on knowledge and promote the common good.
Implementation - After we found our land with the Kuhmuhne Group in Schönhagen in 1991 after the fall of the Berlin Wall, we founded a non-profit association that still leases the farm and the land to the farms today.
Karin and others from the community took care of the animals and the cheese, resulting in close cooperation and mutual support between dairy farms in the region. The cows left Schönhagen, but the cheese stayed.
Martina founded Dreschflegel with six others in 1990 and together they sold the seeds they grew. Dreschflegel is now an association of currently 16 farms that produce seeds throughout Germany and manage the entire business together. This means that all important decisions are made at our two annual shareholder meetings with around 25 participants.
The close partnership was dissolved after ten years and a friendly and mutually supportive cooperation has developed. Martina's business in Schönhagen has since been taken over by someone and she now works in the dispatch department of Dreschflegel GBR. Two other seed farms have also settled in Schönhagen. The agricultural land is now mainly farmed with a herd of goats to maintain the dry calcareous grassland. The Schönhagen show garden has been run with funding and support from Dreschflegel since 2003. Research into cultivated plants and seed production is passed on to young and old alike.
Outlook
Since corona, it has become absolutely clear that there are far too few seed companies like Dreschflegel in Germany. The goats are busy eating away the sloes and the efforts of energetic club members ensure the preservation of numerous orchids and calcareous grassland flora and fauna. The grown-up children go their separate ways and the young children enjoy village life.