ArchitectureAn exact dating of the former day labourer's cottage is no longer possible, according to the monument office it was built before 1800. The owners and operators of the Bauernkate Klein-Thurow
Jutta and Frank Strauß have rebuilt the former small barn on its fieldstone foundations, directly next to the cottage, using largely regional historical building materials, and opened it in 2016.
The building material was reused from a nearby field barn. The carpenter involved in the renovation estimated the age of some of the wooden beams at over 400 years. It belonged to the former manor house in Dutzow, which was demolished in 1974 because it was too close to the German-German border. Only local craftsmen who specialise in the renovation of listed buildings were commissioned for the renovation, and regional and reused historic building materials were used, including hand-painted bricks and Bieberschwanz roof tiles, wooden beams, hand-forged long strips and bell jars. The clay comes from the regional clay pit and field stones for the courtyard paving from surrounding fields. Even the raw material for the wickerwork, which partly adorns the beds and is also used as bed edging, is harvested annually by the operators from pollarded willows in the garden.

The listed ensemble impresses with a high degree of unchanged structural features that still give a vivid impression of the rural everyday life of former day labourers. Details such as the largely preserved original room structure, the brick smoke flue in the smallest kitchen or the smokehouses bear eloquent witness to this.

The flats appear very authentic due to the radical and consistent preservation of everything worth preserving. Many regional finds were scavenged at local antique markets. Old wooden beams, clay plaster, wooden floors and historic windows, in combination with the antique tiled stoves, furniture and beds, create an extremely cosy atmosphere.

FoodEggs can be obtained from the neighboring farm, and a small surrounding sheep and goat dairy provides cheese specialties. There are also sausages typical of the region.

EnvironmentEnvironmental and resource protection play a major role for the operator. Natural building materials such as clay and reused historical building materials were used, of course the garbage is separated and the service water is recycled in a biological sewage treatment plant. Only groundwater from the deep well is used to water the garden. A photovoltaic system hidden on the flat roof of the former stable supplies the rooms with renewable electricity, and they only use green electricity. E-cars can be charged via a mobile charging station. The approx. 750 square meter natural pond has been renatured and integrated into a meadow orchard with 13 tall old types of fruit. Guests are welcome to help themselves from the ripe fruits. In addition, a large part of the property was enclosed with a traditional dry stone wall made of field stones, to the delight of amphibians and other small creatures. The hornbeam hedge surrounding the old cottage and the ivy-clad southern gable end serve as welcome nesting places for songbirds. Three at the same time trusting and frugal coarse Pomeranian sheep keep the grass short. As a member of the Förderverein Biosphäre Schaalsee eV, the operators are committed to the sustainable preservation of nature.