Farm Walk and Workshop
The farm walk with Jakob Mayer took place in cooperation with the practical workshop of the project "Diversity on my farm". The workshop took place in the beautiful Servic Berry House. At the beginning, bat expert Nadja Santer spoke in an incredibly exciting way about the special features of the local bats. For example, bat mating is now taking place in the fall. To ensure that the young animals are not born in winter, fertilization in the actual sense does not take place, but rather the female bat stores the male's sperm in the uterus. Only in the spring after hibernation, when the weather is right, does an egg cell mature and be fertilized.



After a delicious serviceberry cabbage soup and apple juice specially labeled for the farm walk, Jakob Mayer then led the participants around his farm areas. In the serviceberry meadow, Jakob showed the participants how the serviceberries are picked by hand while standing on a long ladder. A harness system protects against falls. Jakob mows the meadows on which the majestic serviceberry trees, which are up to 200 years old, grow twice a year. He sells the crop to a nearby dairy farm. Since Jakob is not economically dependent on the hay - the focus of the business is on the fruit products, which he markets directly - the meadow is not fertilized and is therefore rich in species. Jakob also leaves areas unmown that are teeming with insects.



The tour continued through the mixed forest, where Jakob Mayer focuses on natural regeneration. Thanks to the wet weather, the participants were even able to marvel at a fire salamander. The wood that Jakob obtains from the forest he sells to households as firewood packages, thereby increasing the added value.



The next stop was the meadow below the farm, which is lined with hedges and ancient cornel cherry bushes. On an old, dead pear tree that had been felled by the storm, Jakob pointed out the numerous signs of feeding and nesting insects. Caves and crevices in dead trees are also valuable resting places for bats.
The pretty Elsbeer Chalet towers above the meadow, from which guests have a breathtaking view over the lovely hilly landscape of the eastern Mostviertel. It is one of the three main sources of income for Jacob's business.



Finally, the participants returned to the Serviceberry House and built bat nesting boxes under the expert guidance of Andrea Aigner (ÖKL). The participants were able to take these home with them in order to provide emergency accommodation for bats in the future. However, old trees and accessible building facades or attics are best suited as resting places and nurseries. In order for bats to thrive on the farm, they also need to have enough food - i.e. insects.



Pictures: ÖKL + Suske Consulting