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The Integrated Energy Farm (IEF)

Overview of Projects

The Adolphshof IEF

Project outline

Name of project
Project: Integrated Energy Farm "Gut Adolphshof" for the utilisation of regenerative energy sources "Lehrte - Hämelerwald"

Background
The concept, sponsored by the European office of FAO - UNO and developed by IFEED, strives for a sustainable development of Europe's rural regions. It is based on a safe and enviroment-friendly energy strategy and a sustainable land management. The goal is the separation of the general population from fossil resources by utilising regenerative native energy sources. Furthermore, creating and conserving jobs through integrating small and middle sized companies for the rural population is of great importance. It serves the purpose of enviromental and climate protection as well as promotion and employment of renewable energy. The concept is comprised of enviromentally relevant, social-economic, energetic and development political elements.

Location of project
Gut Adolphshof near Lehrte-Hämelerwald (Region Hannover) comprises a 160 ha area of biologic-dynamic agriculture with its own production and sales departments. Furthermore the site offers a socialtherapeutic facility for mentally handicapped adults with living and work rooms as well as education for diverse ages in the fields of agricutlure, environment and nutrition.

The estate was founded in 1825 and was transformed from a traditional estate to a charitible project, whose foundation is based in a man-made landscape with a wide variety of produce. Life on the estate is characterised by a growing community and a return to traditional integration of the region with a strong interest of the public, who is able to enjoy a distinctive agricultural experience. The "Gemeinnützige Landbau-Forschungsgesellschaft e.V." have been the owners of the estate since 1995. They set the goal of maintaning Adolphshof for the future and to support a diverse economic, social and cultural development.

The agricultral departement with its own marketing has been established as a firm with, at the moment, 17 members. In 1996 the "Sozialtherapeutische Lebens- und Arbeitsgemeinschaft" in its own contracting party, has established working and living quarters, using available building materials.

In the future there are plans to further connect the existing departments and establish new departments such as food production, sales as well as rooms for education and visitors (Cafe).

Gut Adolphshof offers apprenticeships, opportunities for community service (Civilservice) and voluntary service. In the past they have worked well with enviromental, nature conservation and consumer organisations. The public is invitated to annual "Hoffest" and organised visitations. The estate also participates in the Agenda process of the region. The estate has its own sewage plant (1992) for effluent from the entire site including processing departments such as the dairy. Furthermore the estate maintains a solar installation (1981) which takes care of the water heating system and a rain water usage installation (1996).

Overview of Projects



For use of renewable energies from the region for the region


Gut Adolpshof