ArchitectureThe holiday home consists entirely of natural stone granite and, apart from the dormer windows and French doors from the kitchen to the terrace, has remained unchanged during the renovation. The construction timber of the roof structure also comes from the original house and now serves as a style element in the apartment. The barn was only expanded by regional companies such as a local carpenter. New materials were carefully selected: the roof tiles come from a regional factory, the wood for stairs and bedside tables from their own wood, the wall stones of the terrace from their own granite stones, the granite path slabs from a regional company and the covering of the terrace wall from their own clay tiles. There is also a lot of oak and cherry wood from the estate in the house. When building the new windows and doors, attention was always paid to the overall picture of the house and so the completion has created a stylish house with sustainable architecture.

FoodChristoph offers self-made fruit juices and cider that can be purchased on site. Since 1997, several new fruit trees with apples, cherries, pears, plums and quinces (in old varieties) have been planted on the property every year. There are now 230 fruit trees, the fruits of which he sells in autumn and of which he produces juices in his own wine press. An annual market for old apple varieties in mid-October becomes the pomological highlight of the region.

SocialThe cleaning staff can freely divide their time for cleaning. In addition, Christoph himself is a supporter of Slowfood Deutschland eV, and therefore works with others for biodiversity by being responsible for planting different types of old fruit trees on the streets of Upper Lusatia. A share (four euros per night) from each rental is used to offer a lower price to socially disadvantaged guests. Christoph is also a partner of the UNESCO Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape Biosphere Reserve (EUROPARC partner initiative) and is involved in its tourism development.

EnvironmentThe apple barn is holistically designed for sustainability: This is how the waste is separated, organic waste is composted, electricity is obtained from Greenpeace Energy, as an alternative to gas heating there is a fireplace that warms the whole apartment, electric kitchen appliances are A ++ and therefore use less electricity, In addition, a water stop button on the toilet ensures low water consumption. Ecological farming is also carried out: the meadows on which the trees stand are mowed only once a year when the crop is cleared. Since this takes place in two time intervals, this type of meadow maintenance promotes the diversity of plants and animals. The crop is also composted. Over the years, two butterfly meadows with insect-friendly plants have been created. Christoph deliberately places wood on his property so that animals can use it as a habitat, sets up nesting boxes and residences for birds of prey. Christoph leaves the small quarry untouched as a biotope. A three-row field protection hedge created in 1994 forms the transition from Christophs Feld to his ravine and the orchard. In 2019, Christoph created a deciduous tree trail with native deciduous trees on his 9.5 hectare property.