“At the beginning there is a magic …”

These special initial moments we have tried to be experienced in pictures and videos. The music of the Estonian artist Mari Kalkun and the group “Puulup” did the rest.

We consciously chose visual and open words that suggest the atmosphere and mood we experience in this place.

We are still at the beginning. But our dreams and visions are increasingly taking shape. Our plans become more concrete and the process of developing the place more conscious.

The most important thing, however, remains for us to listen to and trust in our intuitions. This intuitive action arises in the encounter with the circumstances of the place and the people involved.

We have prefaced the following questions, which could have an interested visitor to our website and we want to answer him briefly and succinctly.

Who are we”? – and where do we come from?

Beatrix and Christian Wittekindt,
Werder / Havel

Beatrix

• Mother of two grown children;

• Graduate engineer in mechanical engineering; Waldorf class teacher since 2008 in Werder (near Potsdam)

Christian

• Father of four adult children;

• Gardener (Biodynamic) for 30 years – a total of 10 years in social therapy and 5 years thereof as manager of the horticultural part of a bio-dynamic farm in Schleswig-Holstein;

• Waldorf teacher in horticulture in Elmshorn (near Hamburg) and Kleinmachnow (near Berlin) for 20 years;

• Training in permaculture, medicinal plant science and landscape therapy;

Joint training in “Intuitive Pedagogy” and organization of seminars in the Berlin area.

Our network

A big thank you

• the “door openers” to Estonia and Hiiumaa: Mari Kalkun, Marget and Sulev, Pirjo and Kari, our neighbors Mati, Veronika, Maarja, Ado and Lia

• Katharina, Karin and Thomas, who gave us intensive advice on this path on this way to the farm project

• to the people who lent us the money temporarily to buy the farm

• our children and their friends, who have encouraged us to go for unusual ways of building together for us and who have actively helped us: Sonja and Tim, Simon and Marcella, Jacob, Jonas, Johanna and Martin, Bini

• to Birk, who has planned and crafted so much with us

• the designers of our invitations Jenni and Julia

• for videos, translations, the website and much more: Maarja

• Our friends, who came to work last summer and who helped us to understand this place more deeply through their perceptions: Susanne, Kornelia, Christian and Norbert

and all the unnamed and accidentally forgotten…

Especially we want to express a deep thanks to the non-human beings of heaven and earth – in Estonian: taevas ja maa-, of which we feel supported.

Why Estonia Hiiumaa Mägede Talu?

The most important reason for us is the deep sense of the immediate connection to this land, the people, their culture, nature and the landscape, as we met three years ago.

And also:

• we experience open-mindedness for the future in every respect:

in the landscape and the culture, with many people, also with the authorities

• With “low budget” is much to move and possible:

Even with our low starting capital, we were able to acquire the farm with its 11 ha

– The Baltic was completely unknown to us and seemed far away. Now it is getting closer – and what are 1600 km from Berlin?

– In many places are still wild nature, rare plants and animals, and sacred natural places to experience. The country is very sparsely populated with its 1.4 million inhabitants – of which 500,000 in Tallinn!

– On the other hand, this country radiates a Scandinavian modernity (in digitization as an example) and it has excellent transport links and cheap public transport.

• Hiiumaa has the size of Rügen with its approximately 1000 square kilometers but only one-tenth of the population (10,000). Tourism has played a very minor role there until now. It is easily reachable by public transport from Tallinn by bus / ferry (about 5 hours), but also with a half hour domestic flight.

• -The Baltic summers are known for their balance and warmth: Hiiumaa is particularly sunny and rain poor (about 400 mm of rainfall). With its high proportion of forests (60%), juniper heaths, dunes and diverse coasts, it is considered the island of “landscapes”. The meager lime soils allow predominantly only grassland farming, rarely arable farming. Apart from the many certified organic farms, the use of artificial fertilizers and sprays is also uncommon for other farms for economic reasons.

• Mägede Talu – the farm of the hills – is located slightly inland on the north side of Hiiumaas and belongs to the municipality Isabella near Körgessaare. Of the 11 ha are 4.5 ha of forest and the rest pasture. They are herbaceous meadows that are grazed extensively by cows. A residential house, two stables, a sauna and a cellar in the ground form the ensemble of the farmstead.

What do we want to move there?

From the vision to the concept

• The basis is the construction of a gardener’s yard (total area around 11 ha) with a 3000 m² vegetable garden, orchards, fruit and wild rose hedge and the cultivation of medicinal herbs and spices. The forest and the wide meadows complete the central area around the farm.

• When reconstructing the farm, the combination of traditional timber construction with modern use of clay and straw is important to us. It should be future-oriented! Easy to create yourself, cheap and with local building materials, energy efficient and biologically acceptable and artistically aesthetic!

• In the area of ​​energy supply and water / greywater use, we also want to implement sustainable local traditions in conjunction with modern approaches.

• It is important for us to set artistic-artistic impulses in the design of the courtyard, which enrich the site – for example, by a wind harp, wooden sculptures, but also by a lively way guide.

• On this gradually emerging basis, we want to build a guest business, which extends from April to the end of September and is intended to appeal to different target groups – from recreation-seeking families, students for an agricultural internship to individual guests: herbalists and birdwatchers, recreation-seeking people from all sectors of society – preferably a colorful international mix!

What do we offer?

• Experience simple life and simplicity:

In “tiny houses” – maximum of seven small transportable huts or carriages (16-20 m²) – space for tents or caravans;

Composting and solar shower

• Silence and possibilities of reflection on the essentials and one’s own sources of power

• Meaningful and varied activities:

the cooperation in the garden and the processing of herbs, accompanied hiking and experiencing the landscape; Artistic and craft activities: painting, plasticizing, woodworking and stone carving, carding and dyeing wool, canning, making remedies yourself (essences, oils …) and much more.

• Plenty of room to play and discover

• Wonderful secluded beaches, forests and diverse landscape experiences

• Seminars and workshops:

• Learning by doing – implementing alternative building concepts and helping to set up the farm

• Make wood sculptures yourself

• Intuitive education

• Singing, Body Mind Centering, Catienica …

How can you / how can you be involved?

Tatgeber / idea provider / money and tool donors welcome!

• With a starting capital of € 60,000 we have made possible the purchase of Mägede Talu, the electrical connection, the restoration of the well and the first building measures. Interest-free loans from friends helped us on a transitional basis.

• The construction of the farm and the targeted infrastructure will require further financial investment in the next few years. They are comparatively low by providing their own services in summer camps and workshops. Except for the reconstruction of the former residential building (about 90 m² floor area) is small-scale ancillary buildings (stable, sauna, tiny houses), which can be realized without or with little help from the outside.

• Our private initiative is open to the development of communal ways of working and living, especially as we, as representatives of the 50 plus generation, would like to work together with younger people on a permanent basis.

• In search of suitable legal forms that correspond to our intentions, we are considering converting part of the project into a non – profit organization, the rest as a business operation.

• Interest-free loans are very welcome to us for interim financing!We would like to find other suitable forms of private support (for example, gift and lending communities and crowdfunding) with advice from ethically oriented banks and other providers of ideas.

• We are also considering offering schools and companies to pre-finance projects in the form of “recreational shares”, which can then be redeemed later.

• In addition, we will contact foundations.

We are talking about a solidary economy based on reciprocity!

We strive to make it possible for all interested people, regardless of their budget, to stay with us.