Diversity at Naturhof Wieser
On Saturday 13 July, biodiversity ambassador Alexander Steindl opened his doors and invited people to a farm walk. 25 participants accepted the invitation and travelled to Haidershofen, Lower Austria, to get to know Alexander and his farm better and gain insights into his diverse work. Four years ago, Alex began to intensively familiarise himself with the topics of permaculture and regenerative agriculture. As his knowledge of innovative farming methods and the promotion of biodiversity grew, at some point something clicked and it became clear that Naturhof Wieser was embarking on a new path.
The first step towards change was heralded at the time with the planting of 400 trees and shrubs as part of an agroforestry system. An agroforestry system is a land use practice in which trees and shrubs (sometimes together with agricultural crops) are grown on a single area. Agroforests increase structural diversity, improve the microclimate, promote soil fertility and help regulate the water balance. At Naturhof Wieser, the agroforestry system was used to create the so-called ‘sun pasture’, which looks like a sun with rays when viewed from the air.
In the beginning, the ´sun pasture´ was used for grazing dairy cows, now it is used for a herd of suckler cows of the Murbodner breed. Alex uses a special form of grazing, known as mob grazing, on the ´sun pasture´: A high stocking density and a short grazing period gives the meadow a long resting period, which has a noticeable effect on biodiversity. ‘Grazing also automatically fertilises the pasture with cow dung,’ says Alex, adding: ’Cow dung is like the opera ball of biodiversity, so much biodiversity in a small area is truly amazing!’
The walk continued towards the chicken farm, where 200 broiler chickens are kept on a lush meadow. The chickens are housed in mobile tents without a floor, which can simply be pulled onto fresh grass by hand.
On the way to the Carniolan sheep and Pinzgau goats, the group stopped at a small damp hollow overgrown with tall grass and purple loosestrife. This depression used to be a typical wet spot, which is normally drained. Not so at Naturhof Wieser: the puddle was dredged up and a small body of water was created in the middle of the meadow for insects and more. A small measure with a big effect!
When we arrived at the sheep and goats, Alex explained the advantages of old livestock breeds and that the two goats originally planned for their own milk and cheese requirements were allowed to move into a whole herd by chance. These animals are also kept in the mob grazing system and their grazing area is flexibly adapted with the help of net fences.
After a short visit to the Turopolje pigs, which are also kept outdoors and clearly feel at home at the Naturhof, the tour continued to the farm's own tree nursery. After many disappointments about the quality of the trees and shrubs he had ordered, Alex decided to take the breeding of his plants into his own hands and is now grafting various fruit trees and growing berry bushes on the farm.
Last but not least, the participants were treated to a delicious tasting of the farm's own bacon, organic lardo ‘chilli’ from pasture-fed pigs and tasty snack sausages called ‘Turonossi’. We chatted and talked shop in a good mood until the afternoon slowly came to an end.
