Hack the Hub!
27 March to 07 April, 2026
The snow is starting to melt, the first inklings of spring are manifesting, and the garden is waking up from hibernation.
It's time to Hack the Hub again!
Same as last year, we're calling on friends and supporters of the Hub to flock to Reichenau over Easter, lend their hands during day and celebrate the birth of a new cycle at night. We offer a straightup energy exchange - 4 hrs of active work per day for food and bed while you stay.
Lots of projects big and small are already in planning, even if we just achieve half of them the Hub will shine as never before. As always, we are open to suggestions and the serendipity of our flow, but we do want to prioritize finsihable projects that give you the happiness of completing something and witnessing the difference that you co-created!
What to do
There is much to do in the garden, as is always the case, and we would like as many strong backs with green thumbs as possible to come. We could also benefit from construction/tool use skills, good eyes for design and shui and cooking abilities. However, anyone with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn is welcome.
Side back garden
The side garden bed will need to be prepared for tomatoes and then planted.
The big box to be prepared and planted with crawling plants (e.g. pumpkin, sweet potato and watermelon)
The small box with root plants (e.g. potato, garlic, onion)
And if you allow me to dream....
....making a living fence with arch doorway separating the back side garden from the main section of the backyard and then planting the climbing plants.
Compost corner
The compost needs some turning action, that means a lot of f*rking shoveling! Then we will cover the new heap and prepare a new compost cage and material store areas.
Back fence remake
Removing a section of the fence and clearing the area of plants
Wall facelifts
The bathroom block facade needs a good puttying! Would be a big boost to insulation!
While we are at it and for those with fear of heights, we can putty the kitchen facade as well.
The courtyard facade also could use some love, the windows require a fine touch and artisanal competencies (which we don’t have...)
Courtyard playground
Attaching a pole horizontally to the crown of the Linden tree, so that swings and ropes can be attached.
So if we are going to dream then I would like to make ninja steps to the crown where a platform is!
Commons gym
We would like to create a community gym that will be open for all to use. We plan to hang various equipment (rings, climber’s balls, trapeze and rope/silks), set up bolt and pole for a slackline, move the crash mat a little and beautify the open courtyard nearby (see below).
If we are to continue to dream a small climbing wall that leans over the mat.
Commons Patio
This area could be so much more! First, clearing the space of the wood (i.e. bon fire anyone?) and dealing with the massive cement blocks! I am thinking of filling the space with antique farming equipment, which we fill with earth and flowers - this time of season I would suggest Nasturtiums and wild poppies. But all flowering kind would be welcome. Then we can setup chairs and tables when needed.
Still in the dreamworld... it would be amazing to pour the area map cement model and place it somewhere in this space!
Museum gardens
The area behind the museum and patio could use some intelligent permaculture style design implementations. Something like a dedicated wood and grass compost area, living fences for camping potential and some tree root removal.
This little side area could be cleared and those wagons used in some interesting way.
Bike shed cut-del-paste
Would be good to clear out the whole room and reintroduce the bikes with associated tools and materials to maintain them.
Hack the Tub!
Last but not least is our beloved hot tub. This tub has warmed many a commoner while they shared music, ideas, drinks and bodily fluids. It’s the liquidity pool that shares it all!
The good old tub has unfortunately cooked its last commoner last year ☹ ! But don't you weep, we'll buy a new tub, to be set up during the Hack! Then, while it is filling and heating up, we plan on extending the stone platform to the right of the tub, and generally improve the area around the tub. With all this done we can inaugurate the new tub and enjoy directly the fruits of our labor with a well deserved dip.
What to bring
The spring time here can be chaotic and the temperature can fluctuate from blissful warm sunshine to flash snow! So we suggest you bring:
Work shoes (e.g. gumboots, throwaway shoes)
Warm clothes (I think one heavy coat should suffice)
House slippers (we would be happy to keep them after 😽)
Your best!
contact
If any of this is tingling the part of you that gets excited then please fill out the sign up form here and prepare yourself to co creatively rejuvenate the hub and self! I’ll be there with a tool in my hand and a smile on my face.
