Gespräche im Mansfelder Land - Klaus Feick

Klaus Feick originally hails from a village in the Odenwald region of Hesse; he studied agriculture and knew from an early age that he did not want to become a conventional farmer. So, in 1990, he seized the opportunity and moved to Greifenhagen, where he took over a farm with his wife and two partners to practise organic farming. And this at a time when this concept was still largely unknown in the former GDR. Consequently, the early years were characterised, on the one hand, by enormous scepticism on the part of consumers, but on the other hand also by great enthusiasm and broad support from the local population. And so we are talking about a development that, over a period of a good thirty years, has turned ‘Biotopia’ into a diversified enterprise that runs its own farm dairy and a delicatessen in Halle, and now also offers holiday apartments.
This leads us directly to the question of what makes the Mansfeld region such a liveable area, and we look back on three decades of economic, ecological and cultural upheaval that have left their mark not only on the landscape but, above all, on social life.
In this context, we finally come to Klaus Feick’s latest project: the renovation of the ‘Schieferhaus’ in Wippra. This historic inn, situated in the heart of the village, has a history dating back to the 14th century. The restoration of this social hub, which was at risk of falling into disrepair, has not only earned him much goodwill but also the active support of the people of Wippra. This is particularly true given that the numerous events already held there – such as film screenings, concerts and an Advent calendar – are already enriching cultural life and strengthening social cohesion.
This fills a gap that is symbolic of many communities in the Mansfeld region. Against this backdrop, we will conclude by discussing the region’s current challenges and exploring the prospects for positive developments in the future.