Fercher von Steinwand e.V.

Qui sommes-nous

The Dürnau Cooperative is a living and working community which has been running since 1980. The “Fercher von Steinwand” society developed out of that and was founded 20 years ago, in order to separate the commercial and non-profit activities. As well as agriculture we deal with youth work and international volunteers. All the social activities of the Dürnau Cooperative are the concern of the Fercher von Steinwand society. .

The following areas are our special concern:
• Environmental protection and landscape preservation
• Education
• Art
• International understanding

Activities:
Social:
• Summer Workcamps: the participants are mainly students and come from all over the world. They help with agricultural work and simple building work. .
• Individual assistance: for a long time we have worked together with schools to care for special cases. People in difficult circumstances were able to take part in the community life and work for a while. In many cases we were able to help where other facilities were not geared towards individual problem cases.
• Education: after years of discussion about educational activities, the Village University is taking shape. Wilhelm Ernst Barkhoff postulated an “Institution for the Attainment of Preparedness for Work” and this has been realised in the Village University, replacing the the previously scattered and widespread instructional facilities.
• Encounters: Besides the summer work camps, the work experience placements and visits, we have always managed to get artists of various kinds to run courses and do performances. Regrettably our capabilities are being stretched to the limit at the moment, as we do not have suitable rooms. We need help here as there are no rooms for performances or for the accommodation of guests without rebuilding the Cross Guest House .

Education:
• Village University courses: mowing, milking, beehives, catching mice, marbling and bookbinding, language courses.

Agriculture:
• Fercher von Steinwand has come into being and, thanks to plenty of support, we have been able to overcome every obstacle – people, cattle, money, machines (and advice) were all there as if they had been waiting for us. Since then we have been farming day by day, we have a stable herd of cattle and what was originally just the small remains of a farm is now six hectares. We see the agricultural activities of our organisation closely and inseparably linked to our social activities.

Ulrike Reisiger is responsible for youth and international work in Fercher von Steinwand.

On request we can offer other net participants advice, give a presentation, and provide up-to-date information and contacts in the field of our work.