This could be the story of a Greek restaurant in Harzgerode, or the story of a bar in Halle, but it isn’t. This could be the story of a teacher whose career began when the Berlin Wall fell, or of a sociologist who went to the East, but it isn’t. This could be the story of the sons of a family that divides more than it unites, or the story of their sisters that unite more than it divides, but it isn’t.
“Whatever you can do, or whatever you dream you can do, begin it. Courage has genius, power, and magic in it.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This is the beginning of a story whose course we don’t know, but whose beginning we accompany with humility and love.
It is the beginning of a story from the land of witches and gnomes, traveled by Goethe and Heine. It is the beginning of a story about a garden house on the edge of the forest.
In the autumn of 2025, we set about awakening the garden shed from its slumber. Ivy and shrubbery had spread over the years, and it was time to clear the building.
The wooden facade was sanded and treated with weatherproof varnish. Dörte was delighted with the new look. We felt as if the building had breathed a sigh of relief.
Autumn was still warm enough that we could continue working outdoors. So we clad the door to the shed with reclaimed pallet wood and added some colorful accents.
It can get very cold in the Harz Mountains in winter; we’ve experienced temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. The snow stays dry in your hands. We even had to create a path to trim the trees and hedges.
We are often asked how our community works and what actually connects us. Here’s how it works. We care for each other in our community, we support them in their own projects and endeavors. And we give our strength, time, and energy without expecting anything in return.
“Art must be an expression of Love or it is nothing.”
Chagall
It is certainly no coincidence that we are now also involved in the Harz region. It is no coincidence that Dörte has taken this step and that we are following her on her path. It is a sign of love and solidarity, and it is important in these times to show and communicate these signs.
It is and always will be a joy to see people blossom in what is important to them and how much they enjoy being supported in it. It was Dörte’s dream to own a garden house near her family, on the edge of the forest, accessible without a car. Her deep connection to nature and the proximity to the forest are the driving forces behind this commitment, and Etroed by the woods – in German Etroed am Walde – is the ideal place for it.
Corinna fought her way through the dense hedge of fir trees with the pruning shears.
Our community has been visited by many young people in recent years. They all share the common experience of still searching for the right place. Many years ago, we considered it a great gift to be able to commit to our first settlement, CASAdelDRAGON in Cervera del Maestre. Now, forty years later, we still find it easy to connect with good places and good people.