Düschenhof-Fest 2026

Join Düschenhof, a grassroots land and building project near Essen, for an afternoon of food, workshops, and open conversation about building a just, community-owned future.

As part of the European Action Week "Building the Future We Need," the Düschenhof collective in Essen-Byfang opens its doors for a Hoffest (farm festival) — a chance to experience, on the ground, what a just and community-led transformation of land and building can look like.

Düschenhof is a grassroots initiative working to permanently secure 20 hectares of agricultural land for the common good, organized around three interconnected fields: regenerative agriculture, communal living, and transformative culture and education. Rather than treating land and buildings as speculative assets, the project is building a model rooted in shared ownership, ecological stewardship, and long-term accessibility — the same questions the Just Building Transition network is raising at a European scale, worked through here at a local one.

The Hoffest offers a hands-on glimpse into that process: shared food and drinks, creative workshops, and open conversations with the collective about where the project stands and how people can get involved — from direct loans to hands-on support. It's also a moment to reflect together on what has been achieved so far and the challenges still ahead on the path to securing the land.

The day runs from 3:00 PM, with two guided introductions to the project and collective at 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM, followed by a shared dinner at 6:00 PM and an evening of live music and dancing from 7:00 PM. Please register for the event!

Everyone curious about community-led, regenerative approaches to land and building is warmly welcome to join.