Farm Community Kotthausen

roject:
The organic farm community “Kotthausen” consist of approximately 40 hectare farm and grazing land, woodlands, different farm buildings and five houses build in regional style. Currently 13 children and 26 adults are living in our village. Chickens, sheep, a goat, horses, cats and dogs are an integral part of our community and part of our voluntary community work. Inclusion of people with diverse handicaps is part of our living and working within the community. We also practice farming for self-sufficiency and sale via our organic food delivery organisation. For further information please see www.hof-kotthausen.de
As there will be close contact to German native speakers, this workcamp is good possibility to improve your German language skills.
Work:
There is a wide range of different tasks, where you can help the community. This summer we want to devote ourselves to our woodland. A young reforestation needs attention and care by weeding and clearing of scrub). Our forest suffered from two heavy storms last year so there is lots of clearing and cleaning to do. We also require help on our organic fields. Here you can learn a lot about organic agriculture and self-sufficiency. There will also be handicraft activities like fence repair or cable laying as well as creative jobs like building with willow, painting benches and tables or creating new signs for our “peace pile”. If you like to, taking care of our animals can become your daily routine. You will also be involved in the every day cooking for the workcamp group. Work is mostly outdoors and can be physically demanding (for the one which like to feel and act with the personal strength!) 
Study:
Camp participants will be part of the farm community for the duration of their stay. Almost all jobs will be performed together with inhabitants of our farm community so there will be lots of exchange, encounter and contacts to German native speakers. Therefore this workcamp is a good possibility to improve your German language skills.
Accommodation:
The accommodation of the participants will be in “Family tents”. (These are tents with high roof which offer private space for 5 people in “inner tents”). In case of extended bad weather a big barn will also be available. A community kitchen with two showers and toilettes is close by. Please bring your own sleeping bags, sleeping mats, towels and warm cloths. Please be aware that nights in this region can be quite fresh with temperatures down to ten degrees even in summer! 
Region:
The farm village Kotthausen is 295m above sea level and has first been mentioned in medieval times. So it's quite a special and historic place with a long history of community life and youth work. The region “Bergisches Land” is famous for its wet weather, but has amazingly beautiful nature with stunning skies, beautiful fresh water lakes and lots of green forests.
Kotthausen is at the end of a small road most remote from any big roads or cities. The nearest towns are in about 5 km distance. There are no shopping possibilities nearby, but the region's best ice cream café is only a 30 minute walk away and worth while visiting. The famous and beautiful castle “Schloss Burg” is in 30 minutes driving distance, the city of Wuppertal can be reached by public transport in about 45 minutes.
Remarks:
After registration, we require a self-declaration concerning the children and youth protection. We ask for a respectful behavior towards all farm members, especially our inhabitants with various handicaps as well as our animals.
Please note:
Volunteers will sleep in big tents on our farm. For your own fun, please bring warm sleeping bags, warm cloths, sturdy shoes and rainwear with you.
Terminal:
Train station “Remscheid-Lüttringhausen”. The closest airports are Düsseldorf and Köln (Cologne)/Bonn.