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Hohenfreid Heimat

Hohenfreid Heimat, Woodworkers
Upper Bavaria, Germany

Nestled in the Bavarian Alps between the Untersberg and Lattengebirge mountain ranges, the Hohenfried e.V. campus operates as an open, inclusive community and eco-village. Spanning a 32-hectare estate, it serves as a long-term home, school, and workplace for roughly 210 children and adults with learning and intellectual disabilities, alongside hundreds of support staff.

The community includes the internal Johannesschule (a private special education center), vocational training areas, and workshops (Hohenfrieder Werkstätten) that provide meaningful daily occupations. It also offers cultural events, sports programs, and an on-site farm shop (Hofladen) featuring in-house products. The Werkstätten creates beautiful wooden items, which are sold to bring an income into the community.

Founded as a sanatorium in 1948 by Phöbe Freifrau Roeder von Diersburg, the site was passed on in 1952 to Luise Schweiker, who alongside Klara Süsser and Dr. Franz Gereth, officially bought the estate, eventually turning ownership over entirely to the non-profit association. Over the subsequent decades, they purchased neighbouring agricultural lands (like the Schaffelpoint-hof farm), built an on-site school, constructed new family-style residential houses, and laid the groundwork for the expansive 32-hectare inclusive eco-village that exists today.

Hohenfried's most renowned and beloved creations are its wonderful baby rattles. Some of these items have been been in production for many decades, including the iconic Urfisch wooden rattle and their ring and disc rattles. Their impressive 'Klangturm' — a musical tower with differently sized leaves, down which a marble (or several) can tumble, creates a soft, melodic tonal progression. Hohenfried's beautiful wooden toys are characterised by a timeless simplicity, and an appreciation of the characteristics of the different wood varieties they use in the production of each piece. Loved by generations, and passed down from parent to child, each of these toys are made to cherish and enjoy for many years to come.

Further Information

Wood Care

Keep wooden items away from heat sources such as radiators and fireplaces to prevent the wood from drying out, cracking, or warping.  Limit direct sunlight exposure and avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbers that strip protective finishes. Apply wood oil or wax periodically (it is best to stick with oil for oiled wood and wax for waxed wood. Use furniture polish sparingly on varnished wood surfaces.

Further Reading

The Kugelball — a hollow six holed sphere, with a small wooden ball inside. Hohenfried's rattles or greifling (clutching) toys are handmade to the renowned carpenter, pedagogue, and educational theorist Hugo Kükelhaus’s original 1930s ‘allbedeut’ designs at the Hoherfried community workshops in the ..
£35.00
Ex Tax:£29.17
The Kugelrassel — a grooved, handled sphere, with little balls inside, which make a sweet, gentle sound when shaken. Hohenfried's rattles or greifling (clutching) toys are handmade to the renowned carpenter, pedagogue, and educational theorist Hugo Kükelhaus’s original 1930s ‘allbedeut’ designs at t..
£38.00
Ex Tax:£31.67
The Kugelscheibe — a UFO-shaped disk with a rolling ball in the centre. Hohenfried's rattles or greifling (clutching) toys are handmade to the renowned carpenter, pedagogue, and educational theorist Hugo Kükelhaus’s original 1930s ‘allbedeut’ designs at the Hoherfried community workshops in the Germ..
£35.00
Ex Tax:£29.17
The Laufring Innen —  an inner grooved run-ring, with little balls which run around this groove. Hohenfried's rattles or greifling (clutching) toys are handmade to the renowned carpenter, pedagogue, and educational theorist Hugo Kükelhaus’s original 1930s ‘allbedeut’ designs at the Hoherfried c..
£39.50
Ex Tax:£32.92
The classic Hohenfried Urfisch — a  fish-shaped rattle with slender tail for grasping, and a small ball inside which gives a gentle rattling sound when shaken. Hohenfried's rattles or greifling (clutching) toys are handmade to the renowned carpenter, pedagogue, and educational theorist Hugo Kük..
£42.50
Ex Tax:£35.42
A simple wooden push car, handmade from local timber and non toxic child-safe dyes at the Hohenfried Werkstätten in the German Alps. Hohenfried Heimat is an open community of nearly two hundred learning disabled adults and children, providing sheltered accommodation, schools, and employment in organ..
£20.50
Ex Tax:£17.08
A rubber band powered paddle boat, handmade from local timber at the Hohenfried Werkstätten in the German Alps. Hohenfried Heimat is an open community of learning disabled adults and children, providing sheltered accommodation, schools, and employment in organic agriculture, craft workshops, gourmet..
£14.50
Ex Tax:£12.08
A maple bread or breakfast board, handmade from local timber and finished at the Hohenfried Werkstätten in the German Alps. Hohenfried Heimat is an open community of learning disabled adults and children, providing sheltered accommodation, schools, and employment in organic agriculture, craft worksh..
£16.00
Ex Tax:£13.33
The Dreilochring — a hollow doughnut-shaped rattle or baby toy, with a hollow interior contains a small wooden ball. Hohenfried's rattles or greifling (clutching) toys are handmade to the renowned carpenter, pedagogue, and educational theorist Hugo Kükelhaus’s original 1930s ‘allbedeut’ designs at t..
£35.00
Ex Tax:£29.17
The Griefling rattle — a rattle or baby toy in the shape of a ring with a central bar holding three loose disks, with a hollow interior contains a small wooden ball. Hohenfried's rattles or greifling (clutching) toys are handmade to the renowned carpenter, pedagogue, and educational theorist Hugo Kü..
£35.00
Ex Tax:£29.17
The Laufring Aussen rattle — an outer grooved run-ring, with balls which race around the circumference. Hohenfried's rattles or greifling (clutching) toys are handmade to the renowned carpenter, pedagogue, and educational theorist Hugo Kükelhaus’s original 1930s ‘allbedeut’ designs at the Hoherfried..
£39.50
Ex Tax:£32.92
Klangturm translates as Tower of Sound, hence the name of this many coloured musical tower from Hohenfried Werkstätten. Easily mistaken for a naive rainbow sculpture or else some kind of creative storage solution, this is rather a kind of musical toy. Marbles are dropped onto the highest level and p..
£95.00
Ex Tax:£79.17
A balloon powered rocket car, handmade from local timber and birch ply off cuts at the Hohenfried Werkstätten in the German Alps. Hohenfried Heimat is an open community of learning disabled adults and children, providing sheltered accommodation, schools, and employment in organic agriculture, c..
£16.00
Ex Tax:£13.33
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