We live in a global consumer society. We use and consume a wide variety of consumer goods on a daily basis, often beyond our needs and resources. How can we manage to consume more consciously and sustainably and still not live in renunciation?

Together with Manufactum* we have approached this topic and invited to an event in our settler house. Many of our thoughts on conscious, sustainable consumption are reflected here. Be it in the design of the rooms, the handling of resources such as water and firewood or our food.

For us, the first thing that comes along with conscious consumption is the question of what we need in our lives and everyday life at all. These can be vital things, such as food, pots and pans to prepare them, a bed to sleep on, clothes on the body. But these can also simply be things that bring us joy every day and enrich our lives. A beautiful cast-iron teapot, a hand-forged sickle for garden maintenance, a wonderfully fragrant soap. Products that do not necessarily care for our physical but for our mental well-being. 

We have consciously decided to furnish our settler house in a minimalist way. We want to avoid the accumulation of unused things, which is why we let purchase decisions go through our heads for a long time.

The reason why we often end up with the “Department Store of Good Things” when we decide on certain products is that Manufactum is very concerned with the criteria that are also important to us when it comes to purchasing new items. Since the company was founded over 30 years ago, it has been important for the company, as a counterpoint to the throwaway society, to track down products that are manufactured in a way that conserves resources and is socially acceptable, that are durable and timeless, and that convince in function and aesthetics. Tradition and proven knowledge of those craftsmen who know how to process products masterfully are just as important as new, forward-looking manufacturing processes that conserve our scarce resources. Values such as sustainability, innovation and regionality do not represent ideal rarities for Manufactum or for us, but are state-of-the-art quality characteristics. It is not only what ends up in the consumer’s shopping basket that counts, but the whole way to it and the people behind it.

We wanted to take a closer look at these points in a small round on a relaxed day in the country. For us, getting a direct connection to the products is an important step towards conscious consumption. We now have this connection directly in our own garden. During a tour of the kitchen garden, we clarified our approaches to near-natural cultivation using mixed crops, seed-solid varieties or fertilizers without chemicals. To experience how many steps are necessary and how much time passes from the small seed to the fruit bearing plant, we have created a completely new awareness for food. Our already vegetarian, regional and seasonal cuisine has been transformed by our own garden. It was important to us to share this appreciation with our guests. But also suggestions on how to make the garden more attractive for insects, birds and small animals in autumn were important to us.

Conscious consumption for us also means not wasting anything. As you know, we conserve our surplus harvest by preserving. Instead of colourless preserves, as they are still piled up in various cellars and dust, we store sauerkraut kimchi, zucchini chips, semi-dried tomatoes in oil, spicy cucumbers, bright red dried strawberries, forest fruit jam and Co. in our larder. In a small workshop we introduced our guests to the different methods of preservation. Together we put our noses into all the jars of fermented and dried food, tasted them of course and then prepared a cucumber kimchi and sauerkraut from red cabbage and apples. We have found all the necessary utensils for preserving such as drying utensils, dry grids, preserving jars, cooking pot, cabbage slicer, etc. in the extensive assortment of Manufactum.

By the way, it was really uncomfortable up here in the north in the days before our event. Wind whipped the rain to the windows and we just wanted to hide in bed. Therefore we are incredibly grateful for the great weather at the event! So we were able to prepare dinner on the fire as we had wished. Potatoes were sizzling in cast iron pots next to young carrots and mixed mushrooms. Our preserved supplies were part of our recipes. We served baked potatoes with grape chutney and fried sage, apple with tarragon oil and elder capers, fried mushrooms with herbs, grilled carrots with fermented garlic and hazelnuts. As a sweet finish, there was fried pear with walnut-rye crumble and a sauce of rowan ash.

In order to be able to enjoy the menu guaranteed in dry and warm weather, we have transformed our shed, which over the years had accumulated many layers of dust and cobwebs, in which shingles, stones and junk piled up, into a cosy room for dinner in the preceding days. With muscle power, verve, shovel and broom we faced the whole thing. But the preparations for the day had also started weeks or even months before on many other levels. Especially for the event, we planted certain flowers in our garden, so that this time the decoration would be completely in our own hands, also from the point of view of conscious consumption. The energy expenditure for our flowers went to zero. No transport routes, no cooling, not even a regular watering of the beds was necessary. Besides the fresh flowers like dahlias and sunflowers, we started to dry strawflowers and grasses in summer. We can use the dried bouquets again and again and reassemble them with fresh seasonal elements. It was a lot of fun and with the result of having gained a new room, we are incredibly happy.

To let this special day end at the fire was the crowning conclusion of the event for us.

We would like to thank our guests for taking the road here, Manufactum for trusting us again and making this day possible in the first place. A big thank you goes to Ben Donath, who supported us again in the kitchen and to Lisa Strube for her energetic help!

20 Comments

  • Wow! Da wäre ich gerne dabei gewesen. Superschöne Bilder und wie immer jede Menge Inspiration.

  • Sehr stimmungsvolle Bilder zum Sommerausklang mit jungen interessierten und fröhlichen Menschen, die einen Beitrag zur Weltverbesserung leisten können.

    • Wir hoffen doch sehr, dass wir zumindest einen kleinen Beitrag leisten können! Alles Liebe, Susi Sorglos

  • Sieht nach einem herrlichen Tag aus!!
    Bei euch würde man am liebsten sofort einziehen…
    Ich mag Manufactum auch sehr gerne! Lieber eine qualitativ hochwertigen Anschaffung, die man benötigt, statt viel Krimskrams :)

    • Liebe Eva, es war tatsächlich ein ganz besonderer Tag für uns. Allein dass das Wetter so perfekt mitgespielt hat, war ein kleines Wunder! Vorher und nachher hatten wir echt miese nasskalte Tage. Hach…so ein Glück!
      Wir sehen es ganz genauso wie du. Lieber einmal sinnvoll und in guter Qualität gekauft, als Dinge anzuschaffen, die nur im Schrank verstauben oder die man 5 Mal nachkauft, weil sie schnell kaputt gehen.

  • Einfach ein Traum, traumhafter Garten, super schöne Fotos die es möglich machen all das aus der ferne zu geniessen. Ihr seit spitze, vor und hinter der Kamera und mit der ganzen Gartenplanung, wow

    • Danke für die lieben Worte und Komplimente Sebastian! Wir freuen uns riesig, dass du so begeistert bist! Herzliche Grüße, Susann

  • Lädt zum nachmachen ein, schöne Fotos! Wie immer viele Inspirationen!
    Glückwunsch und Grüße aus dem Rheinland

    Ps. Könnt Ihr mir vielleicht sagen, wo man dieses Gestell für Töpfe und Pfannen auf einer Feuerstelle bekommt. Wir haben eine Feuerschale 80 cm Besten Danke

    • Hi Uwe, wie schön, dass es dir so gut gefällt! Der Tag war herrlich. Das Gestell hat uns ein Freund geschweißt. Eine ziemlich tolle Sache!

  • Hallo Susann, Hallo Yannic,
    ich muss euch nun doch einfach dreist nach den wunderschönen Pendelleuchten fragen, die man im Beitrag über dem großen Tisch hängen sieht. Auch wenn einiges bei Manufactum zu finden ist, diese wunderschönen Lampen sind es nicht. Sie sind wohl selbst gemacht? Würdet ihr mir verraten wie groß die Schraubgläser ungefähr sind? Sie sehen verhältnismäßig groß auf den Bildern aus, was den massiven Holztisch und das gesamte Arrangement stimmig wirken lässt.
    Vielen Dank und liebe Grüße

    • Liebe Vroni, man kann diese Lampen einfach aus Einmachgläsern selbst machen. Wir haben sie allerdings bei Etsy gekauft. Es sind holländische Gurkengläser. Man bekommt ähnlich Lampen aber auch im Halleschen Haus. Liebe Grüße, Susann

  • Was für schöne stimmungsvolle Bilder. Darf ich auch mal ganz dreist fragen was das für ein Geschirr ist auf dem ihr z.B. Die leckeren Möhren angerichtet habt?

    • Lieber Andreas, wie schön, dass dir die Bilder so gut gefallen. Es war ein wundervoller Tag! Die Teller sind von Luna Ceramics. Viele Grüße, Susann

  • Darf ich erfahren, woher diese tolle Grillstelle stammt? Euer Blog ist so inspirierend! Liebe Grüße

    • Das Gestell hat ein Freund von uns auf die passende Größe von Grillplatte und Rost geschweißt. LG Susann

  • Oh man… die Bilder vermitteln so viel Lebensgefühl…. Mega schön!

  • Absolutely lovely photos, everything looks so nice and made me feel very calm, like if I was coming home; it must have been great to be there! May I ask how you dried your strawberries? I often see them in many pots but no one shares their secret hahahaha I do not have nor do I want to buy a dehydrator just for this, so if you could let me know much appreciated 🥰

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