Hof Dannwisch A Community from the heart

By Bernard Jarman

A highlight of the Agricultural Conference at the Goetheanum in February 2000 for me was a presentation from the Hof Dannwisch farm community in the far north of Germany. A traditional mixed farm of 119Ha set in the lowlands of Schleswig Holstein, it has belonged to members of the Scharmer family since at least the 14th century. Its origin as a farm dates back even earlier to the twelfth century when it was part of a monastic estate.

A local breed of red and white Fresian dairy cattle integrated into the farm organism through many generations and feeding almost exclusively on grass and hay, provide premium quality Demeter milk for sale through the farm shop along with farmhouse cheese, yoghurt, cream cheese and butter.

The shop is open twice a week to a stream of customers coming from Hamburg, some twenty miles away. It also sells other home produce including eggs, vegetables, bread, rolled oats and meat products. Beef, pork and various kinds of sausage are prepared and processed at a community abattoir jointly managed with other nearby Demeter farms.

Almost 90% of what is produced is sold directly from the farm either through the shop or via the box scheme. 250 people belong to this scheme and collect a seasonal selection of vegetables, fruit, bread and dairy produce each week from the farm.

Dieter and Margret Scharmer have managed this farm biodynamically for more than 40 years. Visiting it 25 years ago as a young praktikant, I still remember the warmth and devotion with which the farm and extended family of apprentices and other young people were cared for. Beyond the farm too this warm sincerity and commitment was extended. Dieter and Margret Scharmer played a major part in the development of what became known as the "LeMiMo" ( Letzte Mitwoch im Monat- last Wednesday of the month) gatherings. On the last Wednesday of each month, the BD farmers living in the N. German region came and spent a day together, visiting one of their farms each time. The day would begin with an hours concentrated study of the agriculture course which was often prepared by one of the apprentices. This would be followed by a sharing of common concerns. After a bring and share lunch there would be a farm walk and the day might conclude with something artistic. Throughout, opportunities for social interaction were eagerly taken up and everyone returned home for milking enthused and refreshed from their day together. These regular gatherings still continue today.

The first contribution about Hof Dannwisch was given by Margret Scharmer - a beautiful biographical overview leading from the long line of family predecessors, through the full and eventful 40 years of hard work, and right up to the present day. The positivity and joy which she was able to conjure up as she spoke despite the struggles and indeed the tragedies that they had gone through, was a very moving experience.

No less than three times had a large part of their farm been burnt down. After the third time they were, as can be imagined close to despair. Nothing remained of the old buildings. A whole new farm needed rebuilding from scratch. Why had it happened to them, what could be learnt? With these questions the realisation slowly dawned that the farm could not continue as before. Should this farm which had been held in the family for generations now be placed in a trust? If so it would no longer be able to continue to as a family farm. This was a very hard decision to take but one which ultimately laid the foundations for the future community life to take root.

Steadily through the succeeding years a community farm developed. Believing deeply that the land should involve as many people as possible, new families and co-workers were encouraged to join. At the present time five families live there together with eight apprentices and several other young people who are either doing work experience, taking time out on a farm, or coming with special needs. There are approximately 30 residents. As new people joined them over the years, appropriate tasks and responsibilities had to be found. A real division of labour began to take place and the task of community co-operation began in earnest.

How to live and work in community without falling out and how to adapt to the constantly changing conditions, needs and individual requirements? How to discover the tools needed for community? Huge pioneering questions on a journey of discovery.

Not out of any theory but out of daily practical life, ways and means for working together had to be found. In the early years a lot of building work was needed and much energy went into creating the physical structure of the farm. Focussed into the different work areas in this pioneering phase a real sense of purpose helped create a common bond.

As the building work came to completion, social questions and difficulties began to surface. No longer directed outwardly to the buildings, the effort now had to turn inward towards human relationships. Structures had to be put in place to ensure that everyone continued to communicate and speak to one another. Daily and weekly meetings to discuss and direct the farm were needed as well as space to share one another's inner needs and concerns.

To this a further element soon came into focus. Having built the structure and explored ways of working together, the question of why? and where to? became ever stronger. What are the goals? Where is our future as a community? What are my hopes and aspirations? Out of these questions, vision-building sessions were created in which everyone whether long-term co-workers or new arrivals could share and help build a common picture of the future.

What came out so strongly in the presentation given by three different members of the farm community was that every problem was welcomed as a challenge - although no doubt at the time it didn't always feel like that! Any solution that was then found however could only be temporary, continual restructuring was necessary. Nothing could remain unchanged for long.

From the very beginning, working with young people has been absolutely central to the life on the farm. Each wave of young people entering the community brought new challenges and the community had to change and adapt to meet their needs and make space for their contributions.

Income is shared between all co-workers on a basis of trust. All social benefits, food etc are paid for directly from the farm account. Each individual also draws what he/she needs personally from this same account. To do this in full trust everyone must carry an inner picture of the whole community, and have access to a single account.

Twice a year the whole community has a retreat together in which the community vision is worked on and conflict situations resolved. Over the years certain principles or tools have evolved. Each one for example is asked to share a vision or an idea for the future. In the discussion that follows it is a rule that no one may dismiss such an idea with a comment such as "we've tried that - its no good" or "that doesn't work". Each one is asked to receive the gifts of another in openness.

Human problems and personal differences are addressed in this way too. The remarkable thing is that while more and more time is taken up by such meetings, none of them are experienced as a waste of time. Hours and hours are devoted to each other despite the enormous amount of so called "practical" work needing doing.

This experience of Hof Dannwisch is a wonderful example of how through enthusiasm, positivity and willingness to spend time with one another, seemingly insurmountable social difficulties can be overcome.