Looking back on our first Intensive Week

The FoodHaus Journey begins

In a one week intensive 20 inspiring participants from around the globe came together for the first time. We spent the week in beautiful Rheinau, Switzerland – listening to each other's stories, cooking and gardening together, forming connections. This was a week of learning, exchange and inspiration, laying the foundation for the 9-month learning journey ahead. 

A Place to Arrive

Rheinau is a small village surrounded by the river Rhine, home to the Gut Rheinau biodynamic farm and the wider initiatives of the FINTAN Foundation. It is a place that invites both learning and experience.

Throughout the week, we were immersed in this setting – sharing organic meals prepared by the social institution FINTAN, gathering in the historic Kaisersaal, and spending time close to the land. The environment itself became part of the learning, offering a tangible sense of what alternative food systems can look and feel like.

Coming Together

Fellows arrived from more than ten different countries, bringing a wide range of cultural, professional, and personal backgrounds. What connected everyone was a shared curiosity and a deep interest in food systems change. 

From the very beginning, there was an openness to connect and to learn from one another. Conversations unfolded naturally over meals, in the garden, and during sessions. 

Finding Inspiration

Surrounded by this unique place, we began our shared learning journey. Rheinau offered not just a backdrop, but a living example of new ways of working with food, land, and community.

We visited local initiatives and met inspiring changemakers who shared their experiences openly – their motivations, challenges, and learnings along the way. These encounters grounded our discussions and brought real-life perspectives into the room, sparking new ideas and reflections.

Learning Together

In this setting, we started to explore what this journey will be about – both individually and as a group. We clarified the path ahead, deepened our understanding of collective leadership, and began reflecting on our own roles within the larger system.

It was a time of connection and co-learning: discovering each other’s stories, exploring the food system through shared inquiry, and beginning to understand how meaningful change is supported not only by what we do, but also by how we relate – to ourselves, to others, and to the systems we are part of.