Paths to sustainable agriculture
The first Visit Utopia hike organised by the umbrella organisation for nature and environmental protection took the young participants to the two organic farms Tschoggler and Oberhaus in Reischach. Both farms are united by the desire to produce healthy food that the farmers themselves also enjoy, as well as the operators' love of biodiversity. Around fifty different types of vegetables are grown on both farms. Flower-filled meadows can be admired at both locations.
Farmer Marco Perri, a well-known figure at the farmers' market in Bruneck, explains that marketing accounts for almost half of his work. Good vegetables must also be sold well. Direct, honest contact and mutual trust with customers are crucial. One example of this is his collection system: customers collect their vegetable crates from the cold store themselves, can visit the farm and take away any vegetables that are not for sale free of charge. There is also hardly any waste on Valentin Innerhofer's farm. His focus is on a happy, sustainable life rather than profit. In addition to vegetables, he also grows fodder for his cows, whose milk his wife Judith uses to make cheese and yoghurt. To protect the environment, Valentin has even developed a bike hire system: Guests cycle into the valley emission-free, and he collects the bikes back later when he does his weekly shopping.
Roland Plank, organiser of the excursion, explains: "In direct conversation with Marco and Valentin, their enthusiasm for what they do was clearly palpable. I particularly enjoyed the honest fascination of both farmers for the diversity and power of life." Paul Schrott adds "I myself was also fascinated by the diversity of plants, but especially by the insects that can use them as a source of food. I found the blossoming colourful garden of edible flowers at the Oberhaushof particularly impressive". Vera Schöpf points out: "In these two projects, you can see how the actions of a few can have an impact on many. Not only is healthy food produced here - both farmers are also involved in social projects. They offer various people a meaningful opportunity to interrupt the thought carousel by drawing attention to the beauty and richness of nature." Although the evening thunderstorm interrupted the hike earlier than planned, the day was successfully concluded at b.local, where some of the fruits of the Tschogglerhof's labour find their final destination as human food.
Sources and links:
www.umwelt.bz.it/aktuelles/presse/dvn-pm-wege-zur-nachhaltigen-landwirtschaft-cs-percorsi-verso-unagricoltura-sostenibile.html (de, it), www.blocal.it/ (de, it, en), www.facebook.com/tschoggler (de), www.facebook.com/oberhaushof/ (de), www.farmfluencers.org/de/valentin-innerhofer (de, it), https://magazin.raiffeisen.it/wo-die-vielfalt-an-bio-gemuese-zu-hause-ist/ (de,it)
What: Sustainable agriculture in the Alps
Who: Marco Perri and Sabine Oberheinricher (Tschogglerhof), Valentin Innerhofer (Oberhaushof)
Where: Reischach - South Tyrol
When: Both farms have more than five years of operating experience and can do without sideline activities.
How: Marco is a trained gardener who had already discussed with his parents-in-law before taking over the farm that he no longer wanted to introduce traditional cow farming, but wanted to use his expertise to establish organic vegetable cultivation. His success proved him right. Valentin and his wife Judith wanted above all to grow healthy food for themselves and their children. By living frugally and consciously, it turned out that the steep slopes around the high-altitude Oberhaushof farm also produce sufficient yields to enable them to live exclusively from their work on the farm.
Transferability: The positive experience at the Tschogglerhof shows that organic vegetable farming is also economically viable in the Alps. Even if the focus is not on profitability, as in the case of the Oberhaushof, it is possible to make a good living from organic farming. Thanks to the existing association structure, such as Farmfluencers or Bioland, farms that want to convert to organic farming receive valuable information, tips and help.
