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Last summer greetings…
…from the Sammatz gardens!
When the first storks make their way south, the days get shorter and the nights fresher again, autumn is slowly but surely approaching. This is also the time when the perennials on the ‹Staudenplateau› really come into their own and show their best side. Water asters, for example, only really take off in August. It is an absolute insect magnet for bees, bumblebees and butterflies. The admiral in particular likes to visit the water asters at this time of year to drink from the pink flowering umbels. Or the tall-growing, extremely delicate and delicate-looking maiden’s eye with its upright growth, beautiful delicate leaves and bright yellow, strikingly large flowers – in its exuberant abundance it resembles small yellow carpets of stars. And then there are the striking red, slender flower candles of the knotweed, which are currently stretching their necks upwards in our gardens.
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At this time of year, you can’t miss the splendour of the flowers in our dahlia garden. They compete with each other in their variety and blaze of colour with their spectacular flowers, colours and shapes. It’s well worth paying a visit to see these blooming ladies with their strong characters!
Late summer brings a wonderfully fresh element to nature and invites us to take a closer look at the beauty and diversity of nature. Perhaps you know how a walk can have a positive effect on the soul – pure vitality!
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An August review…
…what was going on last month!
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While it felt like half the world was on holiday in August, travelling, on the beach or sweating it out at the Olympics in Paris, we were also busy at Michaelshof:
In the fields, for example, where the gardeners could barely keep up with harvesting the vegetables. In addition to vegetables such as courgettes, cucumbers, bush beans, carrots, beetroot, yellow beetroot, parsnips, chard, a wide variety of wonderfully fragrant herbs and much more, this year we were particularly pleased with our first own corn cobs. They went down very well in our community kitchen, especially with our South American friends. And finally, the popular, wonderfully sweet and flavoursome Ruthje tomatoes are back.
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In the gardens, the weeds unfortunately did not take a summer break and were therefore tirelessly combated by our volunteers from all over the world, regardless of the temperatures.
On the construction site, our team is now fully focussed on the expansion of our ‘main house’ – a charming old building with what feels like 10,000 super individual corners that need to be taken care of. Our new conference rooms are slowly taking shape!
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When it got too hot, we went to the lake. Or for a well-deserved ‘ice-cream break’. Speaking of which: did you know that our café at Michaelshof has recently started serving elderberry sorbet ice cream? Homemade from Sammatzer elderflowers, organic of course and simply delicious! And if you add a second or third scoop of ice cream (raspberry? mango? or maybe walnut?), then you can definitely endure the summer here in Wendland!
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Around the world
Volunteer Festival: Did you know that…
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…in Senegal around 90% of the population are Muslim, but the first free president of the republic was a committed Christian and ruled for 20 years without any major conflicts between these two religious groups in a region otherwise shaken by civil war and military coups? In Senegal, Lac Rethba, also known as Lac Rosé, is an attraction far beyond the country’s borders due to the characteristic pink colour of its water (caused by certain algae and bacteria that react with the water) and its extremely high salt content – beautiful!
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…it is not as hot everywhere in Colombia as we often imagine in Germany as a cliché? There are no seasons there and the temperatures vary greatly depending on the area of the country – for example, with rather overcast weather at around 20° in Bogotá or on the Caribbean coast in Cartagena with hot and humid weather and 32°. Important to know: the young generation doesn’t really want to hear any more about the image of a politically corrupt, unsafe country that still haunts the press in this country and is plagued exclusively by violence and drug-related crime. The young Colombians who have found their way to Sammatz encourage us to focus much more on Colombia’s new icons, such as Shakira, Maluma or Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first president with a left-wing political agenda.
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…although Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, Malawians are among the happiest and friendliest people in the world? And that the country harbours an incredible variety of natural treasures in a very small area? Like Lake Malawi, for example, which is 580 kilometres long (longer than half of Germany!) and is home to over 1000 species of fish, more species than in any other inland lake in the world? The traditional food in Malawi is nsima, a kind of maize porridge, which is eaten with tomato, onion and spinach relish or green vegetable leaves.
You can learn all this and much more at the Volunteer Festival at Michaelshof, which traditionally takes place in August.
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This time there were not only vivid and lively speeches, but also a few real culinary highlights. There were empanadas from Venezuela, a phô soup from Vietnam, bolo brigadero, a typical chocolate cake from Brazil and lots of pastéis de nata, the Portuguese pudding tarts with crispy puff pastry and a slightly caramelised flavour that are extremely popular here.
If you didn’t make it this time, make a note in your diary for next year! It’s well worth a visit!
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Butterfly nature walk
We dive into the world of butterflies with Sara…
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There were butterflies and more to marvel at during Sara’s nature walk on one of the hottest days in August.
Not butterflies in your stomach… no, real ones! The group of twelve found 15 different species that day. They walked around Michaelshof through gardens, meadows and valleys, as well as through the neighbouring forest. After seven years of insect monitoring, our biologist Sara knows exactly where she can find her favourites locally and was able to tell our participants a lot of exciting things about butterflies. We talked about habitats, host plants and the size of the populations of these winged creatures hovering between heaven and earth.
Butterflies love the sun, warmth and light. With their dazzling colours, their pretty markings and their papery, gossamer wings, they sail gracefully through the air and enchant every heart – of young and old alike. At their best, they are an expression of biodiversity and a healthy ecology. At worst, many of their species are no longer to be found. In most cases, the lack of habitats is man-made – for example, when they lack forage plants as a result of intensive agriculture and forestry or the use of insecticides. It is therefore all the more pleasing that around 40 species can be found in the Michaelshof gardens and the neighbouring meadows and pastures throughout the year, as Sara reports.
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The highlight of our nature walk was the discovery of three emperor cloak specimens, two females and one male.
The imperial fritillary is the largest native pearl fritillary and is one of the very rare butterflies that can be found in our gardens. Its Latin name ‘Argynnis Paphia’, meaning ‘silver streak’, is inspired by Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
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There were also plenty of swallowtails to marvel at. No wonder, as Sara has been in charge of a breeding project at Michaelshof for several years, which looks after these beautiful butterflies.
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Although it cannot be ruled out that this year is generally a good year for these vagabond, long-distance flying artists, 59 of them were released from our special breeding containers for butterflies into the wild this spring. With a wingspan of up to 8 cm, it is one of the largest and most beautiful butterflies in Central Europe.
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At the end of the almost two-hour walk, the tired, sweaty but very fulfilled participants were treated to a well-earned Sammatz refreshment drink (recipe can be found further down in the newsletter). Many thanks, dear Sara, for this successful excursion into the realm of butterflies!
If you ask Sara what makes butterflies interesting for her, she says that these insects are like ambassadors and thus door openers for a world that is mostly foreign to humans. Their beauty captivates people and arouses their interest in other groups of insects that are also important for the ecological balance, such as dragonflies, beetles, amphibians and reptiles.
This makes them valuable mediators between humans and the insect kingdom.
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News from the compost laboratory:
From Ceri and Anton…
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As you may know, we have been making compost for many years. Ceri and Anton have recently started a new compost experiment with the question: How can we perfect our compost with very simple changes? In other words, what is the ‘ideal compost recipe’ made from Sammatzer natural materials to support the soil as much as possible in its development process?
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The idea as always:
Healthy soil = healthy plants = healthy people. So it’s worth it – let’s go!
Ceri, our soil expert, is super happy because there are so many different materials to experiment with here – wood chips from six types of wood, manure from all our farm animals and much more.
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Over the coming weeks, she and Anton will be preparing a variety of compost recipes, which they will then store aerobically, i.e. in an air-permeable way, so that the biological processes in the compost are optimally supported. The perfect conditions are sufficient air supply, enough warmth and regular stirring of the compost.
After one, three and six months, Ceri will compare the composts under the microscope and document how much life (microorganisms, fungi and much more) has developed in which of the composts.
Disclaimer: The individual areas are already competing to see who gets to use the new compost – tomatoes, roses or the propagation greenhouse?
We’ll keep you up to date and show you a few microscope views soon!
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Andrea is an absolute allrounder and interested in everything. Born in Baden-Württemberg with half Spanish roots – hence the black curls and southern temperament – she has always loved languages and their associated cultures. This is one of the reasons why she studied sinology in Paris and then completed an internship at an international architecture firm in the city of love. She speaks German, English, French, Chinese and a little Spanish and has travelled a lot as a young adult. Languages, travelling, joie de vivre!
In Paris, she found out about Sammatz through a friend.
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Immediately after her first visit, she fell in love with the people and anthroposophy and quickly chose Sammatz as her new place to live. In the early years, Andrea took part in the Jeanne d’Arc seminar and was then part of the photo lab team. Her love for the younger generation has made her a great support in our children’s and youth home ‘Peronnik’ for many years. Andrea is not only an educator with heart and soul, but also an enthusiastic tutor – whether English, maths or German for the school kids or sometimes for the long-term volunteers, she is happy to provide support.
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Another thing Andrea is great at is putting her many thoughts on paper. This talent was undiscovered for a long time, but we are delighted that Andrea is a wonderful addition to our existing team of writers and now writes for the newsletter (😉), new flyers of all kinds, descriptions & adverts for online shops and much more – there is so much to do!
Both in writing and in life, she is characterised by one thing in particular: free-flowing, but always with style! A real lady.
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Thank you Andrea for your lively manner and your interest in almost everything!
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Margo from Belgium
Volunteer stories…
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Coming back to Sammatz was a super easy decision!
The first time I was here was in April, and now I’m back again. In the beginning I was afraid of living in such a big community, but now I realise that this is exactly what I love most about this place. I used to think I was introverted and would have trouble fitting in, but here I’ve discovered how much I enjoy being surrounded by people, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner together, making music together and forming deep connections with people I’ve only just met. It seemed scary talking to new people at first, but everyone in Sammatz is so friendly and welcoming that it was easier than I expected to settle in. No one excludes you and everyone is just so incredibly caring. And although I love being with others, I also cherish the moments of solitude. There is always a place here where I can be myself and recharge my batteries.
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One of my favourite moments of the day is being with the animals. I have this weird obsession with cleaning the stables – I just love it – and putting the cows and goats out to pasture, it’s just therapeutic for me. I love the moments when we make music, even though I can’t play an instrument, but the music fills me with happiness, as if every note connects me more with everyone around me.
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It’s so easy to make friends here, you don’t even have to try, you just effortlessly connect with others without having to look for a place to belong.
Living in such a large community has changed my life. I used to think I needed silence, but now I realise that I really love the sound of people around me. I will miss all that!
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Here is a mini impression of the Tiny Living Festival in Salderatzen at ‘Ein Ding der Möglichkeit’. For three days, the theme was: ‘Let’s interact! Make the small difference. For more less. And a contemporary lifestyle’. We met lots of great people, were able to marvel at some chic tiny houses up close and were able to fill our workshop room with many interested people and exciting questions during our presentation on the question ‘What does sustainability have to do with beauty?’
Thanks to all the organisers – it was great fun!
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Elderflower syrup
Discover our elderflower syrup as a versatile artist! Classic diluted with water, in yoghurt or in delicious sauces.
Made lovingly by hand and in the best organic quality, our elderflower syrup will sweeten your day.
Be sure to try it!
Here’s a super tasty recipe:
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Summery Sammatz refreshing drink – freely adapted from our herbal expert Susanne (for 1 litre of drink)
– 1/2 cucumber (cut into thin slices)
– Lime syrup to taste (max. 20ml)
– Elderflower syrup (max. 20ml)
– A handful of lemon verbena (about ten leaves)
– Fresh mint (3-4 leaves)
– Fresh basil (3-4 medium-sized leaves) for a slightly tart flavour, optionally lemon thyme or both together; there are no limits to how much you can experiment!
– Fill up with fresh water (1000ml)
Leave the mix to stand for 2-3 hours, filter off the herbs and cucumber, and the super-tasty refreshing drink is ready! Serve with ice cubes!
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Michaelshof up to date – all opening hours at a glance!
Arche-Hof:
Mo-So 9.00 – 19.00
Café:
Mo-Sa 8.00 – 18.00
So & Feiertags 9.30 – 18.00
Farm shop:
Mo-Sa 10.00 – 19.00
So & Feiertags 10.00 – 19.00
Der WAGEN in Lüneburg:
Mi & Sa 07.00 – 13.00
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Sat., 14 September – 15.00-18.00
Ornamental plants – Nature walk 6
The Sammatz Gardens inspire in every season! Now in late summer, the arena, perennial plateau and co. are dominated by the colourful mix of colours and shapes of ornamental plants. During our walk, we name many species and study the flower bed design. We will tell you about our gardening philosophy, give tips and tricks for amateur gardeners and unearth exciting stories from our experienced gardeners.
The harmonious symbiosis in the various arrangements will be a celebration for the senses – will you be there?
Free admission, donation requested!
With Hannah and Anton
Registration required!
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Sat., 21 September 15.00-18.00
Vegetables 2 – Nature walk 7
How does vegetable growing work? Which soil does which vegetable need to grow optimally? We’ll give you an insight into our Demeter vegetable garden, talk about differences in the crops, crop rotation and fertilisation and share valuable tips and tricks with you!
In the vegetable field, which is filled to the brim with vegetables, we will encounter pumpkins, sweetcorn, cabbage, peppers and much more. Let yourself be inspired by the veggie variety and its colours! We’ll tell you about the year’s experiences, successes and setbacks. Come and join us!
Free entry, donation requested!
With Nadja, Daniel and Gabriela
Registration required!
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Sun., 29 September – 10.00-19.00
We celebrate Michaelmas – Autumn Festival
When summer clears and the big autumn clouds pass, then comes the Michaelmas Festival – the festival of courage, thought and spiritual encounters. At Michaelmas, we offer an exciting programme for both children and adults.
Clear thoughts accompany the time of courage every year: Do I dare to address unpleasant issues in social situations? Am I ready to fight my own dragon every day anew? Let’s go into winter together with a warm heart and fresh awareness!
- 10-12 am
Michaelmas celebration (for adults)
- 4 pm
International talk about fear and courage – On Michaelmas we want to encourage each other to chose courage over routine
- 4 – 7 pm
Tests of courage for the kids (from 6-12 years) – various tests of courage for the respective age groups challenge the courage of the proud ‘Michaelmas knights’
Free admission, donation requested!
With Anna, Hannah and Anton
Registration required!
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We are looking for committed and dynamic people for our team who like to take on responsibility and enjoy country life. Is a meaningful job more important to you than a ‘9 to 5 job’? Then you’ve come to the right place!
We are looking for specialists or interns in the following areas:
Social work:
- Teacher
- Educator / social worker
Office:
Hands-on:
- Service help in the café at Michaelshof
- Gardener
- Baker
- Construction worker
- Caretaker
- Wood processing & sales
- Pharmacist
- Library & Archive
- Image & text editor
- Printer & laminator
Your qualification is not listed and you are still
interested? Just give us a try!
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+++ NEWSTICKER +++
Impressions from everyday community life…
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…our animal friends Elsa and Elias are living the absolute farm dream, as you can easily see from these great snapshots…
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…this is how cute it looks when our calves come out to pasture…
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…our ice-cream queens Johanna and Nadja in their element and bouquet expert Lea taking a summery stroll across the perennial plateau…
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…i…in August we also had a visit from Tino and Chandrika from the Schloss Blumenthal community. An exciting exchange about similarities, differences, community questions and lots more. Thank you very much for your visit, it was a real enrichment for us!…
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…the Dream Team of Lorenzo, Emmanuel and Peer has picked up speed again and our Dream Team from Colombia has to say goodbye to Erika, Juan and Will – see you soon in Sammatz…
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…the volunteer summer is coming to an end and so many new memories and friendships have been made. We love it…
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Grund Nr. 14: Together for more modern village communities!
New ways of living are needed! That’s certainly what some of us are thinking. Michaelshof has set out with precisely this ideal – to build new social structures in the countryside and combine them with humanity, a love of nature and a lively cultural life. At the centre of this is our Demeter agriculture, which provides us with food and also helps us to build a healthy soil. A village community that lives from solidarity and communication, many people who are always ready to help each other and lifelong learning as a common goal!
Do you think that makes sense? Then support us!!!
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…Gisela and Mia on a partner look donkey hike – just one of many great moments in a day at Michaelshof.
Best wishes and see you next time – Andrea and Anna ❤️
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