Creative hands for nature: miniature trees as reforestation helpers

Creative hands for nature: miniature trees as reforestation helpers

In Maikammer, a picturesque community in the Palatinate Forest, Theresa Krötz and Caren Fakesch combine creative actions and environmental protection with their project “Little Tree for a Tree”. The two women make handmade miniature trees from natural materials and wool. Each piece is unique and is designed with a lot of patience and dedication. These works of art will soon be available for purchase at the Totenkopfhütte, which is managed by the Maikammer local group of the Palatinate Forest Association. The Totenkopfhütte itself is a true jewel in the Palatinate Forest and has been enjoying great popularity as part of Germany's intangible cultural heritage since 2021, as Wikimedia shows.

The proceeds from the sale of the trees go to reforestation projects. Krötz and Fakesch have already collected a remarkable 840 euros in the last few months, which secures enough money to plant seven units in the future forest in Haßloch. The planting campaign is scheduled for November 8th, in which Krötz will also take part. Around 140 young seedlings are then placed in the ground. Krötz takes care of designing the tree trunks, while Fakesch knits the tree tops. But that's not all: a winter edition “Christmas Trees” will be available from November 1st. However, the proceeds from this do not go to the forest, but to the Totenkopfhütte in order to purchase a rocking device in the shape of a badger.

The skull hut in detail

The Totenkopfhütte, idyllically located on the Totenkopf mountain saddle, is a particularly popular meeting place for hikers and nature lovers. It is located at an altitude of 514 meters and can be easily reached via a hiking car park. The hut, an original sandstone construction, has a long history, as the first wooden hut was built in 1900 to provide protection for forest workers. In 1960/61 it was badly damaged by fire, but extensive renovation work soon restored it to its former glory. The Totenkopfhütte offers a cozy place with inexpensive food for hikers on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, while the main focus is on community benefit, not on profit maximization, as UNESCO emphasizes.

A cultural heritage

In the Palatinate Forest there are a total of 14 hiking homes, 60 rest houses and 10 refuges that are run by volunteers. These establishments not only provide an insight into regional cuisine with specialties such as Riesling chorle and Saumagen, but also promote sustainable practices to preserve the forest as a local recreation area. Visitors can look forward to numerous nature seminars, which are particularly suitable for families, and familiarize themselves with the flora and fauna of the region.

The combination of craftsmanship, environmental awareness and cultural heritage makes the Krötz and Fakesch project and the Totenkopfhütte an outstanding example of how personal passion can be combined with charitable goals. Finally, all that remains to be said is: “It’s good and we can only support it!”