Herzfeld Sennrueti

Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with interconnected leaf and flower design.
  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • German
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 2006

What we do

The community is situated on the edge of Degersheim, a rural village in east Switzerland. We have followed a holistic life concept since 2006. Key features include: ecological living, sustainable economy, social structures, spiritual practice in everyday life, art and culture, and integration into wider society. We honor the diversity of each individual, encouraging personal development and inner growing. We aspire to each individual finding and growing into their full potential.
We have a sociocratic organization structure and apply a customized decision making tool called „attunement”.
In order to create and maintain healthy relationships in increased consciousness we meet regularly. Some of the tools we use include: sharing circles, shadow work in triads, the Transformation Game, integral community training (Forum) and ho’oponopono.
The integration of our children and youth is a crucial ongoing process. Our teenagers are now growing into the next generation of our community. By growing up together there is a shared paternal feeling, resulting in collective nurturing of the younger generation.
In 2009 we bought an empty sanatorium. We transformed the guest rooms to living spaces for singles, couples, families and groups. We used sustainable materials, installed thermal and photovoltaic panels and use rainwater for flushing toilets, washing machines and in the garden, thus reducing our water usage by 60%. Organic waste is collected and composted or used for making charcoal for the permaculture garden.
We try to do all practical work that is needed with care and love. We often celebrate life, all good things and ourselves.
Most members speak schweizerdeutsch (swiss german), but other languages are also spoken: dutch, english, french, german, italian and spanish.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Languages
  • German
  • Dutch
  • English
  • French
  • Italian
  • Spanish
  • Community type
  • Ecovillage
  • Intentional Neighborhoods

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2006
  • Started living together
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
60

How to join

Work Exchange welcome, Volunteers welcome,

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Our Members

Location

  • Switzerland

Herzfeld Sennrueti

Promoted Needs and Offers

  • Events
1 week ago

Italy Ecovillage Tour: September 29 - October 8, 2027

Ecovillage Network logo with sun and moon symbols in purple.
Ecovillage Network logo with green leaves inside a circle.
Ecovillage Network logo with a heart-shaped handshake symbol.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with a stylized flower design.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with interconnected figures.
September 29–October 8, 2026 | Northern Italy Discover the people and places shaping Italy’s ecovillage movement Spend 10 days exploring 7+ intentional communities, ecovillages and cohousing projects across the beautiful landscapes of Northern Italy. Visit communities including Torri Superiore, the Federation of Damanhur, Alpe Pianello, Villaggio Verde, La Casa Rotta, Cohousing Numero Zero and Cohousing Montesole, and meet the people experimenting with more sustainable, cooperative and connected ways of living. Experience a remarkable variety of community models—from a restored 13th-century stone village and world-renowned spiritual communities to rural ecovillages, organic farms and urban cohousing. Learn firsthand about natural building, renewable energy, organic and biodynamic agriculture, water systems, group decision-making and the social tools that help communities thrive. Special workshops introduce approaches such as social permaculture and CLIPS, a community-building framework used across Europe. Along the way, experience the landscapes, food and culture of Northern Italy, traveling through hilltop villages, countryside and historic towns, with even a cross-border visit to Menton on the French Riviera. Through Ecovillage Tours’ partnership with the Italian Ecovillage Network and experienced local guides, the journey offers access and conversations that go far beyond a typical visit. A great fit for: Prospective community members, aspiring community founders, people interested in cohousing, permaculture and sustainable living, and travelers looking for a deeper and more meaningful way to experience Italy. Learn more about this tour: https://www.ecovillagetours.com/italy
September 29, 2027 00:00 – October 8, 2027 23:59
  • Events
2 years ago

Off grid Permaculture Internship Feb-May2025

Mount of Oaks/Monte dos Carvalhos has 10 week programs, in Autumn and Spring for 2 to 4 people, who would like to experience community living and deepen their knowledge and experience on off-grid sustainable living…you will also have the challenge to practice your design skills and present to us at least one design of either a new system or improvement of existing ones. The Regeneration process on this 5 hectar piece of land started in 2006, when the land was bought through a divine miracle and many people´s generosity before “crowd funding” was even a concept. The land has no private property as it became part of an Association and residents are guardians and part of the ecossystem. Back when I (Barbara) came here, I could only see plowed fields, a small stone ruin with half roof, some olive trees, some citrus trees and a few pear trees, a tiny little native forest at the top of the hill and a massive pond, and a tiny little forest at the bottom… Thank God, the seed bank needed to begin the restororation was still here, and with many human, animal, fungi and vegetable help, things started to improve… Now I can say it is an abundant, resilient and restored ecossystem :-) Our first 5 years were mainly filled with daily tasks, getting to know our neighbours and the region, observing the natural system and praying, as that was our main intention for this place…A refuge of peace, rest, healing and prayer that restores land. From 2009 to 2012 we hosted several PDC´s each year, with the great pioneer in Portugal, Lesley Martin… Today, besides the most important which is a restored healthy no tilled soil, we have already much to inspire others and much to develop still : – The only existing small ruined was restored to be our common working kitchen now filled with a lot of our delicious produce (olives and olive oil, aromatic herbs, teas, madicine in all shapes and forms and fermented food and drinks ) – different compost toilet systems; – hot shower w

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