Organic farm Bachanowo & Realearth Lifemovement
Claudia & Thomas Notter
Welcome to the website of our farm in Bachanowo!
In 1993, we moved with our three small children from Switzerland to the north-east of Poland to take part in an “ecovillage” project. We knew very little about the country and couldn’t understand or speak a word of Polish at first.
Inspired by the teachings and principles of the Native Americans, we planned to establish a self-sufficient community. First we leased a piece of land in Sajzi, a small former East Prussian village 20 kilometres north of the town of Elk, set up our large tipi, planted a vegetable garden and started learning Polish.
When it became clear after three months that the ecovillage project was not feasible, it was cancelled. However, we decided that we wanted to stay in Poland and not return to Switzerland. So we started looking for a suitable place for us.
“No wonder they chose Poland, because they have an important Polish quality – ‘craziness’, of course, the one that is creative and noble.
…and since we settled here, people have been asking themselves – and too often the question is put to us directly:
“How is it possible, that a Swiss family came up with the idea of settling in the furthest corner of north-east Poland and staying despite all the adversity?”
This was the remarkable response of a Polish man after he had seen a documentary film about us:
“No wonder they chose Poland, because they have an important Polish quality – ‘craziness’, of course, the one that is creative and noble.”
It’s just that we didn’t really choose it!
Because just like nobody can choose their children – you just get them the way they are supposed to be – we got this place in Bachanowo …. and this place got us!
But to be honest, noble and creative madness alone would not have been enough to live and develop here in Bachanowo for so many years.
In addition, it was also needed a good mixture of: Strength, perseverance, patience, enthusiasm, curiosity, trust, understanding, ignorance, ability, knowledge, confidence, naivety, misunderstandings, friendliness, openness, caution, boldness, assertiveness, consistency, reliability, responsibility, unconventionality, personal responsibility and, above all, joie de vivre, love and inspiration.
