Carmen Petutschnig-Erschen

Carinthia

In 2019, Carmen Petutschnig-Erschen and her husband took over a small, abandoned farm, where they now cultivate just under 100 hectares. Among other things, the organic farm produces goat milk products, raises straw-fed pigs and cultivates mushrooms.

Commitment to biodiversity:

Starting with seven hectares and 15 goats, Carmen Petutschnig-Erschen and her husband now manage around 100 hectares of agricultural land and 25 hectares of forest. Their central point lies on raising approximately 200 goats, including the Pinzgau Mountain Goat, an endangered livestock breed. All goat milk is processed directly on the farm into products such as pasteurized milk, curd cheese and soft cheese, which are then marketed regionally. In addition, the farmer runs an organic pig-fattening with around 100 animals and cultivates mushrooms.

The farm is organized as a closed-loop system. Feed for the pigs and goats is produced in-house, utilizing diverse mixed crops such as wheat with vetch, rye with vetch, or triticale with field peas. Oleiferous crops like flax, linseed dodder, and sunflowers are also grown. The fields are deliberately laid out in smaller plots with varied crop rotation patterns. Beyond the valley lands, the family also manages mountain meadows on an alpine pasture; these are mowed once a year and provide valuable fodder. These extensively managed meadows offer a habitat for numerous insects, wild animals, and plant species. Hedgerows, flowering field strips, newly established orchards, and a variety of crops further enhance the landscape's structure and diversity.