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Spring Awakening at Michaelshof
Life in the Gardens Begins to Stir
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We have been eagerly awaiting this moment: the first signs of spring are emerging from the ground, gradually bidding farewell to winter, which still surprises us occasionally with night frost and morning dew. However, our crocuses and snowdrops remain unfazed by its persistence. They bloom in radiant white, yellow, and lilac hues, paving the way for spring.
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Our garden is awakening! Rested and full of energy, our early bloomers push toward the sunlight, creating small islands of joy. Where icy winds are kept at bay by shrubs, clusters of snowdrops thrive in comfort. Like white cushions, they populate the meadows, which are just about to reveal their lush spring green. The first bees visit these brave pioneers, collecting pollen before buzzing away. Yes, a sense of renewal is in the air. Buds and leaves are on the verge of breaking through the rough bark of bare branches. A single warm day, and the green wave will be unstoppable.
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Until then, besides the snowdrops, it is the crocuses that stand resilient against the last chills of winter, heralding the arrival of spring. Nestled closely together or standing alone, they peek out from the soil, admired by us as we walk by. Those who look closely will already see the next generation of spring flowers preparing to give the garden its full character. The first leaves cautiously emerge from tulip and daffodil bulbs, and in our minds, we already picture the graceful tulips and bright yellow daffodils that will soon transform the Sammatz gardens into a sea of colors. Soon they will be here: the blooming carpets in the most beautiful shades, making every thought of winter fade away.
If you can’t wait to welcome spring, come visit us. Our café remains closed until mid-March, but coffee and cake are still available – in our farm shop, where you can sit on a bench, soak up the sun, and say hello to the animals.
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Invitation to Paradise
Plan Your Visit to Michaelshof
Are you looking forward to the coming year? You can already start planning your personal highlights for 2025. Whether it’s a short retreat in one of our guest rooms, a grand family celebration, or a seminar where you can exchange ideas and learn something new – fill your calendar with beautiful moments now.
Get Inspired
In 40 years of community life, we have learned a lot – about building and expanding various work areas, about social interactions, about what works, what doesn’t, and which tips and tricks are particularly helpful. We always enjoy sharing our knowledge about producing high-quality food with others. In our seminars, you can watch and even get hands-on. Would you like a behind-the-scenes look at our farm? We are happy to give you a tour of our gardens, stables, and workshops.
Garden tours for up to 25 people: €80 for one hour.
For customized themed tours, feel free to contact us directly.
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Celebrate Life with Us
Es gibt immer einen Grund zum Feiern – wir bieten euch einen traumhaften Ort, wo ihr dies ausgelassen tun könnt. Unser charmantes Café ist barrierefrei, trotzt jedem Schietwetter und bietet Platz für viele Gäste. Wie wär’s mit einem opulenten Büffet oder einer langen Kaffeetafel? Wenn ihr den Duft unserer Gärten aus der Nähe genießen wollt, könnt ihr auch in unserem neuen Pavillon eure Party steigen lassen oder ein Festessen arrangieren.
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Treat yourself to a breathing break
You can retreat into heavenly tranquility, only to wake up in a little paradise the next morning. Our eight double rooms and suites exude comfort and warmth. References to our gardens can be found in every room. From the walls, larkspur and poppies greet you, and the majestic rose nods graciously to our guests. On our website, under the ‹Guest Room› section, you can book your favorite room – including an organic breakfast – online. A magical getaway awaits you – no matter the season.
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Your plans are taking shape? We are happy to help organize any kind of celebration.
Phone: 05858 97030
E-Mail: info@sammatz.de
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A Safe Haven for Young Vegetables
Visiting the Plant Nursery!
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Young plants need close attention. Gabriela carefully scans her small charges, which are only a few centimeters tall. For four years, the young Brazilian has been devotedly tending to the cultivation of Sammatz vegetables at Michaelshof – a task that requires great sensitivity, knowledge, and vigilance.
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A sea of tiny plants currently fills our greenhouse. Standing tall, these green seedlings receive the best care to grow strong and bear delicious fruits. Indeed, our vegetable cultivation meets all the necessary conditions for success: from the first sprouting in well-tempered seed trays filled with premium organic soil to the delicate process of transplanting.
Gabriela loves her work and doesn’t even see it as such. On the contrary: as she carefully places each tiny plant into its new pot, her mind clears, and a deep sense of calm sets in.
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Witnessing the awakening of spring, seeing the earth crack open and the first green shoots emerge, is an incredibly beautiful experience. Gabriela treasures this moment, when winter recedes and new life finds its way into the sunlight. The entire greenhouse is currently bursting with young plants, waiting for the right weather to finally move to the fields.
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For Gabriela, vegetable growing is like a game, where challenges such as drought, excessive moisture, and temperature fluctuations are inevitable obstacles to overcome. Losing a round is part of the process. Fortunately, there are multiple chances for a successful harvest – every two weeks, a new batch is sown. Each planting cycle consists of 80,000 carrot plants, while around 20,000 beets are also sown.
We use only organic seeds for our nursery. In line with Demeter farming principles, we apply special preparations throughout the year to keep our soil full of life and energy. It looks like the delicate seedlings in Gabriela’s care are in for a good life – and that all residents and customers of Michaelshof can look forward to a delicious summer.
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Spring kickoff in all areas
– including in our café!
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As various departments prepare for the new season – the gardening team refining sculptures, the vegetable team sowing seeds, the agriculture team finalizing field plans, the construction team enjoying facade-friendly weather, and the upcoming spring cleaning – our café is also getting ready to open!
For days, we’ve been busy painting, sanding, cleaning, and more. The agricultural team is currently giving special attention to the beautiful wooden floor, which has seen a lot over the past years and is now being restored. Afterward, the painting team will take over, followed by the furnishing team, which brings fresh ideas to the space. Above all, our chefs are incredibly excited about the first major kitchen innovation in almost nine years – more space! We can’t wait!
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Mark your calendars for March 14 – this is when we reopen our blue café doors for you every day!
How about the first Sunday buffet of the year on Sunday, March 16?
We look forward to seeing you again!
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A glimpse into our sanding activities! Whether indoors or outdoors – Sara and her team are fully engaged! 💪
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Speaking of new beginnings…
…our new office spaces!
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Amidst Christmas, New Year’s, and all the exciting plans for the new year, one significant piece of news almost got lost: we moved into our brand-new office and conference spaces at the Michaelshof building. While part of the building was renovated years ago, allowing our library to gain large, bright rooms, the section directly above the kitchen was now in focus. This part of the building holds a lot of history, as it was here that the community founders arrived 40 years ago and began their Michaelshof-journey. Everything was quickly renovated, making space for the first youth seminars.
Back then, each participant had their own room – small but cozy, with 12 little rooms spread across the entire floor. Over time, these rooms were used by staff members and, from 2016, also by our volunteers. After over 30 years of intense use, they were in dire need of renovation – or even demolition. And that’s exactly what we did!
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With the help of international volunteers, we tore down all the walls, taking a piece of history with them. But looking at the results now, it’s hard to imagine what it used to be. Today, four offices house IT & Energy, the Construction Office, Accounting, and Food, Marketing & Agriculture, plus a spacious meeting room. The bright and airy rooms provide an excellent workspace where new stories are now being written.
The lower floor has also seen major changes – we have now created space for the arts (choir, eurythmy, and theater)! Alongside two additional office spaces, we also introduced a completely new section: the digitization of our library with our book scanner! Many of you know that we have a deep love for books. To make this knowledge accessible to more people in the future and ensure our community can always access our treasures, regardless of location, we have acquired a digital book scanner. This scanner carefully and automatically digitizes our books, turning pages with gentle suction and capturing them with a high-resolution camera. The result is a text document or high-quality PDF, ready for exciting research endeavors.
Interested in having your books scanned? Feel free to contact us via email at info@sammatz.de.
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Exploring the world of organic food
An interview with our market stand lady, Sophia!
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Every Wednesday and Saturday at 7 AM, the market stand opens, and Sophia and her team present handmade organic products and fresh vegetables to a colorful audience. People of all generations regularly visit our stand to buy what Michaelshof is known for: high-quality organic products made in Sammatz. Today, we talk to Sophia!
What motivated you to sell at the market in Lüneburg?
I love working with people and know our products inside and out. I know that everything we offer is carefully grown and produced by us, and our customers truly appreciate that.
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How does this appreciation show?
People keep coming back, and a familiar atmosphere develops. I’ve even received flowers and small gifts. A couple who visits regularly once brought me photos of the dishes they made with our goat cheese products.
Do you have a favorite product?
While I love everything from Michaelshof, I especially enjoy selling cheese. I even dare to say that I can guess people’s cheese preferences just by looking at them! I observe my customers and then recommend a cheese – and often, I get it right.
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What do you love most about your job?
Our market stand is more than just a place to shop; it’s a space for interaction. People know each other, exchange stories, and it has become known that we are an open, international community that welcomes those who are interested.
Do your customers understand when certain products aren’t available?
Absolutely. They appreciate that we only offer what is currently available on-site, meaning the selection changes with the seasons and weather. Some cheese varieties, like our goat cheese, aren’t always available because our goats take a well-deserved rest before kidding.
Any hopes or wishes for the future?
Of course! I hope that our concept and products become even more well-known. Our sales are growing steadily, and it would be amazing to someday have a market stand in Hamburg as well, where we could introduce our community and win new customers.
Thank you, Sophia! We wish you lots of fun and loyal customers for the upcoming season!
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The march introductory package
10% discount on cheese and pepperoni sauce
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Would you like to try our products? Then start with our cheese tasting package – 650 g of the finest Sammatz specialties, accompanied by our fiery organic pepperoni sauce. To give you a taste of what will arrive at your breakfast or dinner table, here’s what’s inside our cheese tasting package.
A mild delight for the palate, our Hofkäse Kuh made from cow’s milk pairs well with both light and dark bread varieties. Its peppered counterpart, ‹Hofkäse Pfeffer von der Kuh›, starts off gently but soon reveals its untamed side – an exciting combination for true cheese lovers. If Italy is your favorite vacation destination and belongs on your plate as often as possible, then our ‹Hofkäse Kuh italienische Kräuter› is the perfect culinary match. Infused with a blend of thyme, paprika, andbasil in organic quality, it brings a touch of Mediterranean flair to your table.
Our tasting package also delights little gourmets! The ‹Hofkäse Möhre aus von der Kuh‹ is not only an eye-catching orange-red but is especially loved by our youngest cheese fans for its buttery-mild taste. Also included: our pasture gold semi-hard cheese made from cow’s milk – an all-rounder. It shines on a fresh slice of bread, as a topping for a crisp salad, or as a gratin cheese for casseroles and oven dishes.
And even though our cheese is already a delight on its own, it pairs wonderfully with bold accents, such as a dollop of our pepperoni sauce. Despite its fiery kick, this dip features a variety of flavor nuances, complementing our cheese specialties with a burst of aromas.
Would you like to order? Then click here: Online Shop am Michaelshof – SamMarket. A little tip: As soon as your tasting package arrives, make sure to put the cheese straight into the fridge to keep it fresh for a long time.
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Michaelshof up to date – all opening hours at a glance!
Arche-Hof:
Mon-Sun 09.00 – 19.00
Café:
Our café reopens on Friday, March 14.
Farm shop:
Weekdays, Sundays & Holidays
Daily 10.00 – 19.00
Der WAGEN in Lüneburg:
Mi & Sa 07.00 – 13.00
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Sat, March 8 – 19:00
Speaking Time No. 1: Strong Words for International Women’s Day
What does it mean to be a woman? Each of us has our experiences – in professional and private life. There is still much to discuss: gender equality and the gap between aspiration and reality, self-confidence and trust in one’s abilities, outdated and modern role models. What moves you? What would you like to share? This event is an open forum where everything can be put on the table – along with snacks and drinks. There are no thematic taboos, only optimal freedom.
Free participation, donations welcome. Registration requested!
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Sat, March 15 – 10.00-15.00
Behind-the-Scenes No. 1: Cheese Making with Lea
We love crafting our own products. Are you curious about cheese-making and want to get involved? In our dairy, cheese expert Lea will show you how specialty cheeses are made from sheep, goat, and cow’s milk with great skill and patience. After processing, the cheeses head straight to a well-tempered cellar to mature. You’ll see the process firsthand and can take home a small selection.
Adults: €40; Children: €20
Small cheese package to take home: €10; Shared lunch: €10
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Sat, March 22 – 14.00-18.00
Simply Anthroposophic No. 1: Rudolf Steiner
Anthroposophists – aren’t they the ones who dance their names in Waldorf schools? There’s some truth to that. But there’s much more to them! What exactly is anthroposophic knowledge, and what does it contribute?
We’d love to introduce you to the fundamentals of this fascinating worldview. To start, we will present Rudolf Steiner. Who was this man? A scholar or a storyteller? Everyone must answer that for themselves – but we’ll provide insights in our discussion forum and answer your questions.
Participation Fee: €20
Registration required!
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Sat & Sun, March 29 & 30 – 12.00-18.00
Michaelshof’s 40th Anniversary Celebration!
In March 1985, Michaelshof was founded in the small village of Sammatz in northeastern Lower Saxony – with a vision of creating a vibrant cultural center where people and nature coexist in harmony. Forty years later, this vision has become a reality. A Demeter-certified farm, a children’s and youth welfare organization (Peronnik), six hectares of gardens, a farm shop, and a café have all come to life. What started as a small group of friends with big plans has grown into a community that welcomes over 300 people each summer – and is full of ideas for the future. 😊
We invite you to celebrate with us! Enjoy an exhibition on our community’s history, garden tours with insights into its development, bake bread with Jakob, or learn from Claudia how lavender, calendula, and other medicinal plants are used in our herbal manufacturing. Plus, inspiring presentations, a glimpse into our community experience, and an evening of music, good food, and lively company.
– The detailed program will be announced soon –
Just drop by – we look forward to celebrating with you! 🎉
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Unlimited Enjoyment
Lunchtime at Michaelshof
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From our community life: a lively mix of international voices, a steady flow of people, clinking cutlery, and the irresistible aroma of freshly prepared food – Michaelshof thrives, especially at lunchtime when a warm meal beckons.
At 12:30 PM, the dining room doors open, and it feels a bit like Christmas: beautifully set tables, steaming dishes, a salad buffet, and lovingly prepared desserts await. Community members, staff, volunteers from all over the world, and even well-mannered four-legged friends take their places.
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Everyone gathers in the bright room with its enormous pendant lamps to enjoy the seasonal vegetables, dairy products, and sometimes even meat that Michaelshof provides – all transformed into delicious meals by Christian, our head chef, and his team. Finishing your plate is no hardship – in fact, a second helping is more than welcome.
Time and atmosphere encourage lingering a little longer.
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Eating, for us, is much more than just quickly consuming a meal – it’s a moment of anticipation for fresh, high-quality dishes and for reconnecting with friends and colleagues who might otherwise be hard to catch in the daily hustle. Between bites, there’s always time for meaningful conversations, shared insights, and enriching discussions that turn lunch into something truly special.
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Did you know…
…Erika & William?
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We met Erika and William two and a half years ago – during a warm summer in northeastern Lower Saxony. The two were on their honeymoon. But not just any honeymoon, rather the ultimate dream of these two industrial engineers, finally coming true: a world trip. As long and as far as their budget and travel fever would take them. Their journey led them from Bogotá (Colombia) through various countries in Europe and Israel, until, after eight months, they arrived in Sammatz and shared their adventures with us. Sammatz was originally intended to be a simple volunteering stop in Germany. The five weeks passed faster than expected, and with countless beautiful memories in their luggage, they continued their journey into the unknown – through Morocco, Andorra, the Canary Islands, and beyond.
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After a short stop in Sammatz to visit the community and Ivonne – Erika’s sister, who, upon her recommendation, had also discovered Michaelshof – they continued towards Asia. By this time, a pressing question had arisen: How much longer did they want to keep traveling the world and discovering new places? They had lived their dream, but after two and a half years „on the move,“ the reality was – honestly – exhausting. Constantly meeting new people and always waiting for the next bus or flight. It was time to settle in one place again, build a stable circle of friends, and enjoy life’s small adventures. What better place for that than the community in Germany, where Erika’s sister now lives and works?
So, last October, the two returned to Sammatz. It didn’t take long before they found their places in their respective fields of work.
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Erika loves nature and beauty. While she certainly enjoys working in the garden, her true passion lies in marketing.
She is responsible for our social media content at Michaelshof. Erika collaborates with Jesús on marketing plans, writes video scripts and captions for Instagram posts, creates engaging photo series, and constantly comes up with new ideas – she is a true organizational talent!
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With a keen sense of what touches people, a sharp eye for detail, beautiful settings, and a deep love for storytelling, her videos often strike right at the heart.
William, on the other hand, loves everything related to construction. We see him daily on our various building sites – whether restoring terraces, painting, or working on our latest large and small-scale project: tiny houses!
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William is a hands-on worker, tackling tasks without hesitation, and he loves working with his hands. He’s well known on the construction site for his ability to seamlessly integrate new volunteers into the team, even those with no prior building experience – „Enthusiasm is enough to start!“ After finishing on the construction site, he often joins the Landbauteam, where he and good friends tackle anything that needs doing – from moving projects and digging trenches to quick renovation jobs. That’s the Landbauteam-spirit.
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A huge thank you to Erika and Will for your tireless enthusiasm, curiosity, creativity, love for the community, and your drive! Here’s to many more years of working together!
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We are looking for dedicated and dynamic people who enjoy taking responsibility and are eager for a fulfilling rural life. If a meaningful job is more important to you than a “9 to 5” routine, then you are in the right place!
We are looking for professionals or talented individuals in the following areas:
Office:
Hands-On:
- Baker
- Pastry Chef
- Teacher
- Social Worker
- Tree, Shrub & Lawn Gardener
- Ornamental Plant Gardener
- Construction Worker
- Landbau
- Pharmacist
- Printing & Laminating
Your qualification is not listed, but you’re still interested? Just give it a try!
Send your application with a photo to claudia.brady@sammatz.de – we will get in touch!
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+++ NEWSTICKER +++
Insights from everyday community life…
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…greetings from our tiny house team…
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……Julia’s new favorite job: farm, animals, nature! Be sure to check out her new Insta-Channel!… |
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…Spring colors in abundance…
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…and this incredibly cute long-tailed tit enjoying the spring sunshine…
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Warm greetings from Summer-Theo in the sandbox! On your next café visit, you can see how much he has grown since then 🐶🐕🦺🌿
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Best regards and see you next time – Anna & Marina ❤️
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