Kommune Niederkaufungen :: Communities Directory

Formed: 1986 Established: 1986

This page last updated:4/24/2013

Kommune Niederkaufungen

D-34260 Kaufungen,

Germany

"From each according to ability, to each according to need."

Started over 25 years ago, Kommune Niederkaufungen, Germany's largest secular income-sharing commune, is an undogmatic, left-wing project that is non-religious and non-spiritual. It is a member of the "Kommuja" network of political communes.

The core principles are a fully socialized economy with collective ownership, consensus decision-making, collective work, reduction of patriarchal structures, and an ecological approach to work and lifestyle. We try to satisfy as many of our own basic needs as possible, and also to offer ecological products and social services to the local population. Where possible, we consume organic, regional, and seasonal products and fair trade goods. We use renewable fuel resources for a major part of our heating (wood) and for part of our motor vehicle pool (rape seed oil). We produce electricity from photovoltaic solar panels. The structural renovations to our central building are now complete, and decorating there is nearly finished. Our exhibition hall is home to a range of examples of electric and/or pedal-powered vehicles.

We run 12 commune-owned collectives:

• a carpentry and joinery shop

• a seminar center, with courses on commune themes and non-violent communication

• a building firm: interior and exterior construction,

• a metal-workshop

• a kitchen/catering firm

• a Bioland-certified organic CSA market-garden, farm shop

• an EU-certified organic dairy farm, including cheese-making

• a kindergarten

• a fruit growing, orchard care, and juice-making team

• an administration/consulting group

• a daycare center for old people

• a project group promoting alternative mobility

A few people work externally.

We live in 14 living groups, with a men's group and two women's/lesbian groups. We share all our meals and have weekly general meetings. We are looking for new (German speaking) members. Newcomers go through a three- to six-month trial period. We regularly offer orientation weekends and weeks for interested people.

Our homepage includes an English-language text about 20 years of commune life here and other info in English. There is also now a big photo gallery on the site.

Website: http://www.kommune-niederkaufungen.de/

Contact:

Kommune Niederkaufungen,
Kirchweg 1 - 3,
D - 34260 Kaufungen, Germany
Phone: +49-(0)5605-80070

Links:

http://www.tagungshaus-niederkaufungen.de: Seminar center homepage, with course information.

http://www.kommune-niederkaufungen.de/englisch/englisch.php: Our commune in English

Kommuja: The german comune network

International Telephone Info

Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses)

Former/Other Names: (Kommune)

This page last updated:4/24/2013

Visitors Accepted

(We especially welcome visits and exchange with members of other egalitarian, intentional communities.)

Visitor Process: Please contact us to ask us about visits well in advance, if possible in German. Include plenty of information about yourself, your reasons for wanting to visit, and the date and length of the visit. We will reply with information as to whether a visit is possible. We can be reached easily by public transport from Kassel and, for ecological reasons, prefer visitors to travel to us this way. Visitors planning to travel to Germany by air should remember that the pollution caused by air travel is a major contributor to global warming. Please leave pets at home.

Network Affiliations:

Kommuja - Network of german political communes.

Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:

Our community does not discriminate in regards to housing based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or being the victim of domestic abuse.

Population Members(adults and children): 80 Open to new members: Yes	Government Decision Making: By consensus Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: No	Labor and Money Financial Style: 100% income sharing Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt: Yes Labor Contribution: Expected (Nearly all communards work in communally owned and collectively run businesses, which autonomously decide on work hours, holidays etc.) Join Fee: Yes (A person becoming a member is required to make over his/her assets (or debts) to the commune where they are completely socialized.) Regular Fees: No
Land and Buildings Other (In the center of the village of Niederkaufungen, with farm outside village.) Area: 74.1 acres (30.0 hectares) (Central commune site - nearly 1 ha; Dairy farm - 5.5 ha; Market Gardens - c. 2.6 ha; other farm land - c. 21 ha) Land Owned By: The community (Completely socialized : the central commune site (buildings and land) and farm owned by the Kommune e.V. of which we are all members. Some arable land and meadows are leasehold property.) Number of Residences: 7 (All members have their own private rooms within the living groups, and share other rooms (bathrooms, tea-kitchens, TV rooms, common rooms ) within the living group.) Cohousing: No	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 21-50% (Organic vegetables, fruit , dairy products and meat.) Share Community Meals: Nearly all meals Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (Vegan and vegetarian food is served at all meals.) Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Used Occasionally (Limited areas where smoking is allowed.)	Social Factors Common Spiritual Practices: No Educational Style(s): Public schooled

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