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  • Ecology–Community–Spirituality: Holistic Lifestyles on the “Markets of Singularities”
  • Rebekka R. Tibbe
Ecology–Community–Spirituality: Holistic Lifestyles on the “Markets of Singularities”
A Workshop of the DFG Project of Rostock University, Rostock, March 22–23, 2019

After workshops on the topics “Handcraft and Spiritual Craftsmanship” and “Cure and Spiritual Healing,” the third and final interdisciplinary working conference of the German Research Foundation project “Markets of Singularities—Hybrid Religious Networks in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania” took place on March 22 and 23, 2019, at the University of Rostock under the title “Ecology–Community–Spirituality: Holistic Lifestyles on the ‘Markets of Singularities.’” For two days, a diverse group of scholars and leaders from the field attempted not only to define the organic sector and the holistic approach that often seems to underlie it but also to better understand the market and market mechanisms for ecological products and services.

Klaus Hock outlined the theoretical framework of the project by situating the subject area of “ecology and spirituality” in the context of the preceding project, “Religious Hybrids” (Berger/Hock/Klie), as well as presenting the previously examined subject areas “Handcraft and Spiritual Craftsmanship” and “Cure and Spiritual Healing” and summarizing their results. All three topics include hybrid religious practices that can be assigned to an extended religious field (Bourdieu) and in which “unique” products are created that constitute the “markets of singularities” (Karpik). What are decisive in these [End Page 549] markets are not classical economic criteria but instances of discernment- and confidence-building. It is necessary to ascertain which networks form these instances, which principles connect the instances, and whether a field-specific “illusio” (Bourdieu) can be identified.

Andreas Willisch (sociologist and organic farmer), who presented the Neulandgewinner (New Land Winner) program, provided an initial indication of how trust can be created through instances. This program provides support for people who are experimenting with new lifestyles in East Germany, thereby strengthening social cohesion in rural areas and countering fragmentation. A major factor in the process of fragmentation—especially after the end of the German Democratic Republic—seems to be the lack of established instances of trust. Neulandgewinner, however, can create trust through its individual participants and their innovative ideas about using land and space.

Burkhard Roloff from the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation—Friends of the Earth Germany presented the event format BIO-Landpartie (Organic Country Outing), which makes it possible to experience regional organic farming firsthand. In addition to customer care and sales, the motive for organic farmers to open their farms on this day and present their products and production methods is also their interest in promoting the idea of organic farming and their belief that what they do is ethically, ecologically, and economically correct.

Peter Zimmer, a leader from the field, spoke out. He is known as a pioneer and co-founder of Medewege Farm, which was established not only as an agricultural enterprise according to Demeter standards but first and foremost as a Waldorf educational project. The planned foundation of a Waldorf school was unsuccessful, but it remained an “empty center,” an ideal, and a dream. A community could be formed around this center that required no further common ground other than a belief in the Demeter and Waldorf principles. Rather, the focus was on individuality and diversity, so that around one center, under one roof and one idea, a wealth of “unique products”—be they agricultural products, bakery products, natural cosmetics, or art—could be created.

Hagen Fischer, project employee and organizer of the workshop, then addressed the topic of the “markets of singularities.” He is interested in market participants and in how they function between idealism and profitability. According to Fischer’s thesis, in the field of organic agriculture there are constant negotiation processes between these two poles: on the one hand, it must be economically viable in order to ensure its own existence, but on the [End Page 550] other hand, it must also take into account its own ideals, which make up its own profile and help to determine the uniqueness of the producer. By means of illustrative case studies from his empirical research, Fischer illustrated how the ideals of...

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