Akademie Schloss Kirchberg

Organization and Support

The non-profit and charitable foundation "Haus der Bauern" (House of Farmers), based in Schwäbisch Hall and Kirchberg Castle, was established in 2012 by Rudolf Bühler; he has been chairman since its inception. "Haus der Bauern" is the social welfare and socio-political foundation of the Schwäbisch Hall Farmers' Producers' Association, an association of 1,560 farms from the Hohenlohe region (Baden-Württemberg).

The foundation is committed to freedom, cultural self-determination and social justice for the farming and rural population in the Hohenlohe region, in Europe and beyond. It is committed to the principles of sustainable action and sustainable business. the foundation is guided by the ethics of Albert Schweitzer: reverence for life.

In addition to its commitment to the indigenous rural population, the foundation is committed to the assertion of fundamental democratic rights of indigenous populations in rural regions worldwide.

In particular, it advocates for the development of enforceable norms of protection for indigenous knowledge and resources of small producers and indigenous peoples through a "Peasants Rights" charter. For example, from March 7-10, 2017, the House of Peasants Foundation hosted an international congress on "Peasants Rights," attended by smallholder farmers from around the world, as well as representatives of international organizations and numerous stakeholders.

Global Peasants Rights

The "House of Farmers" Foundation pursues the following goals:

Representation and strengthening of the social rights and interests of the rural population
Protection and promotion of traditional rural and peasant ways of life and culture
Education and training of the rural population

The "House of Farmers" Foundation is the sponsor of the Kirchberg Castle Academy. For this purpose, it acquired Kirchberg Castle from the Evangelische Heimstiftung in 2015 and has since been filling it with new life. The renovation work has largely been completed - the largest castle complex in northern Württemberg with three inner courtyards has been given a new purpose.

It is a matter close to Rudolf Bühler's heart that the ecological movement is given a home at Kirchberg Castle as a place of power, from which important impulses for the agricultural turnaround emanate and, concomitantly, the project work for sustainable regional development can be carried out into the world.

Stiftung Haus der Bauern