Beetzendorf-Poppau „Ecological village Sieben Linden “
Near Poppau, a social-ecological model settlement for 300 inhabitants is being created in ecologically redeveloped and especially newly erected buildings. Through the combination of living and work (agriculture, trade, services, educational work) locally, economic independence and self-sufficiency to a large extent are planned.
Context
Source: www.siebenlinden.de/bildarchiv
Poppau is in the county Salzwedel in the Altmark and is an organically grown village with originally 160 inhabitants. 1km away, an ecological living and work project is being realised. The initiative for the “Ökodorf Sieben Linden” (Eocological Village Sieben Linden) arose from the precursor project in Groß Chüden which is 25 km away. From the project centre located there, the settlement cooperative Siedlungsgenossenschaft Ökodorf e.G. organised the settling in Poppau. The project had been initiated in 1989 and now has 140 inhabitants.
Project description
Source: www.siebenlinden.de/bildarchiv
Since 1997/98, a new village has been created for 300 inhabitants in Poppau. Erecting the necessary infrastructure, redeveloping the existing building fabric in an ecological manner and supplementation with new energy-saving houses are the first constructional measures.
Through the combination of living and employment opportunities in agricultural, trade and service companies, economic independence and to a large extent self-sufficiency are planned. Especially the employment of craftsmen from the region (during conversion and new construction) and holding public events contribute to the integration into the existing village community. The associated seminar workshop provides public image and advertising with a broad education range.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
1989 | Founding initiative |
Since 1993 | Settling in Groß Chüden (15 inhabitants) and planning of the village |
1997/98 | Start of the building measures in Poppau |
1999 | Erecting infrastructure (local water supply and wastewater disposal, fire water reservoir, own power supply system) and initiating the regional centre and guest house |
2000 | The first 20 inhabitants move into two energy-saving houses |
2001 | Building of the first "straw bale house" |
2003 | Building a woodworking shop |
2004 | Building a 3-storey straw bale house |
2004 | Village community with 65 people |
2005/06 | Building of a further straw bale house for 7 people |
2006 | Village community with 100 people |
Aims
Source: www.siebenlinden.de/bildarchiv
- Establishing a social-ecological model settlement for up to 300 inhabitants
- Combination of living, commercial and service companies
- Integration into the existing village structure and village community
- Maintenance, redevelopment and new use of decayed building fabric
- Self-sufficiency to a large extent and regional marketing
- Employment for unemployed craftsmen from the region
- Ecologically oriented construction
- Joint village economy
Types of measures
Source: www.siebenlinden.de/bildarchiv
- Extension and conversion of old building stock
- New building of several energy-saving houses
- Close to nature waste water treatment (constructed wetland, pond), composting toilet
- Integrated energy system (energy-saving houses, solar plants, photovoltaic plants, wood powered boiler with local heat network (wood chip), own forest management for construction wood and fuel wood production)
- Educational work and environmental education
- Building/Conversion through own construction company (ecological services)
- Festivals and cultural events with the village community of the old village
- Ecological agriculture (20 hectares of farmed area)
- Establishing and operating a farm bakery
- Internal fund, mutual credits
Innovations
Source: www.siebenlinden.de/bildarchiv
A large ecological housing and working project is being created in Poppau. The people responsible specifically want to promote life in a structurally weak rural area. An imitation of the existing village structure (craftsmen, community life) and sophisticated ecological and social project elements (integrated energy system, joint village economy) make the settlement a social-ecological model project.
Sources
Source: www.siebenlinden.de/bildarchiv
- Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik (German Institute of Urban Affairs), Tat-Orte.infobrief 1/2002 (project description)
- Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik (German Institute of Urban Affairs) (ed.) Tat-Orte 2000, Gemeinden im ökologischen Wettbewerb (Communities in ecological competition), Berlin 2000
- http://www.oekodorf7linden.de (project description)
Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik (German Institute of Urban Affairs) (ed.) Tat-Orte 1996, Gemeinden im ökologischen Wettbewerb (Communities in ecological competition), Berlin 1996
Further information
- Das Buch zum Dorf: „Dorf ohne Kirche“ Die ganz große Führung durch das Ökodorf Sieben Linden von Michael Würfel, >>weitere Informationen
- http://www.siebenlinden.de
- http://www.fasba.de
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 38486 - town: Beetzendorf - street: Sieben Linden.
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/S8aW3deB6U92
Last update: 05.02.2018