ABOUT US

A call from our time

When we know the days of the consumerist, carbon energy life are counted.
When we are aware that small core families can’t serve children or ageing people.
When we know that food matters and must be healthy.

We decided to experiment with low carbon living and see what it’s really like to live in a wider community frame beyond the family core. 

As you will read and see, it takes work. And can be extremely enlivening and joyful.

Living in community 

Humans need a variety of close human interactions and connections. We envisage a permanent residence group of over 12 people in Obenaus, allowing a variety of interactions across all generations. We share our kitchen and take at least one meal together every day. We share our tasks in the houses and gardens so that we enjoy our common spaces. All have their private rooms or small apartments so we can close the door behind us and be with just ourselves.

As we share a larger space, we also share the kitchen, washing machines, internet connection and so on. Thus we can keep the financial cost of living low and accommodate modest budgets and many professions among our community.

Living naturally

What is a way of life that expresses Human and Nature in balance? 

Far from knowing all the answers in advance, we are experimenting and developing living in a self-selected voluntary community, in the countryside with fresh water and clean air, foster close connections and communications in the day-to-day, work with body and mind, outside and indoors, care for the quality of soil and food to name just a few essential elements.

The Obenaus Community began with people moving from Brussels to South Styria and inhabiting a run-down farm place with the intention to live healthily and with Nature as a guide. 

We are now entering a new phase with the support of the commune of Ehrenhausen. We’ll be able to develop the whole estate, rebuild the buildings and invite more residents to join us here. 

A lifestyle in balance with the biosphere 

In Obenaus we take care to only use materials we can give back to the local environment as they are. Composting is the rule. We have our own water well and a local biological sewage system. Heating is with local wood, and soon we’ll produce our own solar energy for heating and electricity. All these installations are robust and can be overseen by ourselves. We’re getting off the large grids and live with simple direct systems.

Technology supports the new lifestyle. We can connect with the whole world thanks to internet and live calls. We meet people online now for close and intimate conversations as much as for business meetings. As a consequence, there is no need to commute to an office or even to live in a city. We can live on the countryside and work with our colleagues wherever they are. We enjoy fresh air, clean water and live in connection with green nature.

About the Founder

 

Rainer V. Leoprechting

Rainer v. Leoprechting  co-founder of Obenaus, entrepreneur, vision, 

Rainer (German) left Brussels after almost 20 years of a successful career at the European Institutions where he initiated many innovative projects and processes to make work more lively and connected to the peace building purpose of the European integration. In 2012 Rainer started on his own and then co-founded the fraendi partnership that offers cognitive leadership development and life processes alongside organisations, companies and initiatives. 

Rainer is a post-systemic thinker with a sharp and informed mind. He helps making sense, finding patterns and hidden talents. He works as a coach, trainer and mentor and naturally engages in deep conversations that may impact your life. He is a resident of Obenaus, working locally, internationally and virtually.

He founded Obenaus in 2012 together with Lena Jacobsson. As Lena moved on in 2020, Rainer is now setting the community on a new foundation. 

Get in touch with Rainer

POEM

A place of rare depth

Magic Peace

Seeking for your core you find rest

and See,

All is well and always has been

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