Farming as the Future of Hospitality

A stunning boutique hotel and event space, Marienhof Monheim is redefining hospitality. Guests can celebrate milestones, host corporate events, or simply escape into nature all while seeing firsthand how food is produced in a way that heals the land. "We want to make farming vividly experienceable for all our guests and for our local community from kindergarten kids to the elderly.” Alexander shares

This vision for Marienhof Monheim was born from Alexander Zimmer’s journey, which began not in farming, but in the corporate world. He started his career at an agrochemical company, but over time, he felt increasingly disconnected from his values. This realization propelled him into entrepreneurship, where he spent the next two decades building businesses, mentoring young professionals, and creating a hospitality brand rooted in sustainability.

From Hotelier to Regenerative Farmer

The idea for Marienhof Monheim took root in 2019 when Alexander, moved by the growing signs of environmental degradation, set out to make a meaningful impact. His chance came with the opportunity to take over farmland next to his boutique hotel. By 2023, the farm was officially launched on leased land with a dedicated team and the support of the city of Monheim.

"Most proud are we on simply having started without sufficient formal permits, without sufficient funding. Just doing the right thing because it needs to be done now before it is too late. Seeing what this effort means to most locals, most guests, and in particular to our whole team makes all the personal strains and sacrifices worth the fight." Alexander explains.

Restoring Biodiversity in Record Time

The transformation of the land has been nothing short of remarkable. The team planted the first vegetables, introduced a herd of sheep to manage the dikes, began egg production with chickens, and established orchards with more than 140 fruit trees. Two Galloway cows and two Bunte Bentheimer pigs round out the growing ecosystem.

“We’re incredibly proud of how dramatically biodiversity has increased,” Alexander shares. “When you dig into the soil now, it’s teeming with life worms, insects, and bugs where there was nothing just 15 months ago. The German conservation organization NABU is monitoring our site and has counted 149 different species, up from only 67 in a comparable area.”

Supporting the Next Generation

Alexander believes that if more people see what sustainable farming truly looks like, they’ll demand it as the new normal. That’s why he prioritizes education, bringing students of all ages onto the farm to reconnect with where food comes from.

His commitment to reaching young audiences even landed him on Sendung mit der Maus, Germany’s most well-known children’s educational show. Teaching kids about regenerative farming is essential. They are the next generation of farmers, consumers, and decision-makers, and the sooner they understand the impact of food systems, the greater the chance of real change.

Changing Hearts & Minds Through Regenerative Experiences

But turning a bold vision into reality hasn't been without struggle. German bureaucracy has made expansion difficult and financial pressures are real. Originally, the hospitality business was meant to support the farm, but economic shifts have made that harder than expected. Still, Alexander has no plans of stopping. He’s set out to prove that regenerative farming works and that it belongs at the center of our economy, our communities, and our future.

"We want to make farming vividly experienceable for all our guests and our local community from kindergarten kids to the elderly. And if we can make this economically successful, we hope to motivate more and more traditional farmers to join the regenerative movement."