BACK TO THE ROOTS – VETTERHOF
BY MARKUS GMEINER AND KARIN FALTEJSEK
THE VETTERHOF FARM HAS A LONG STANDING TRADTITION. THE FAMILY HAS BEEN FARMING IN LUSTENAU, AUSTRIA FOR OVER 300 YEARS. IN THE 70IES THE FAMILY CHOSE TO RUN THEIR FARM ORGANICALLY, MAKING THEM ONE OF THE FIRST FARMS IN WESTERN AUSTRIA TO DO SO.
NOW THEY SEASONALLY GROW ALMOST EVERY PLANT THAT GROWS IN MIDDLE EUROPE FROM EGGPLANT, PAK CHOI TO YELLOW SUBMARINE AND ZUCCHINI. USING COMPOST, PLANTING A VARIETY OF FRUIT AND SPECIAL PLANTS KEEPS THEIR FIELDS FERTILE.
A HERD OF MOTHER COWS IS ALSO KEPT ON THE FARM. NOT ONLY DO THEY PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY MEAT BUT THEY ALSO FERTILISE THE SOIL. THE COWS SPEND MOST THEIR LIFE ON THE FIELDS OR IN THE ALPS. BESIDES COWS THERE ARE ALSO PIGS, THAT HAVE A SPACIOUS AREA TO MOVE FREELY, ARE FED WITH ORGANIC FEED AND CAN LIVE AND AND GROW NATURALLY.
THROUGH AND THROUGH THEY LEAD A NATURAL FARM WITH ONLY ORGANIC AND SEASONAL PRODUCTS. WHEN A CROP DOESN’T GROW PROPERLY, THEY PURCHASE THEM FROM OTHER ORGANIC AND REGIONAL FARMS. THERE IS A SMALL SHOP ON THE VETTERHOF THAT IS OPEN ONCE A WEEK WHERE SEASONAL AND SPECIAL PRODUCTS ARE SOLD. THEY CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE WEEKLY FARMERS MARKET IN DORNBIRN, AUSTRIA.
