On New Old Paths: Farmer Simone Neuner

Her love for herbs was once passed down to her by her great-grandmother, who had almost endless knowledge about the power of nature. "This knowledge has been lost over the generations," Simone laments. She has reclaimed this knowledge and is determined to preserve and pass it on. In the summer, you can usually find her for hours in her herb garden, planting, weeding, or harvesting. And when she's not there, she is in the farm shop, in the barn, in the fields, in the holiday apartments, with guests, or processing her many products. The tasks of Simone and Matthias are as diverse as the herbs in their garden. "Here, truly no day is like the other!" they both laugh. And yet, they appear deeply relaxed. "I'm not always like this!" says Simone, "but I know the right herbs for that!" Her laughter resonates through the air, charged with the impending thunderstorm.

The various pillars of the organic farm were gradually built up by the two of them. Overall, the farm was initially an experiment. After Simone's second pregnancy, she did not return to her job as a corporate consultant, but dedicated herself to her children and herbs. Matthias, originally a trained electrician, took advantage of parental leave and was able to test whether the farm had a future. They both agreed: "This is great!" and so the Wirtseppelerhof grew into an organic farm with a special philosophy.

"Everything one does must be sustainable" is Simone's and Matthias' motto. "One must not harm nature, use no poisons, and not exploit nature." Guided by this conviction, they run their suckler cow husbandry and agriculture. Thus, the cows, pigs, ducks, and hens are allowed to enjoy particularly much freedom and movement. "Even though this is actually uneconomical since they consume much more energy when they run around this much."

In the summer of 2019, it was a very special advantage that they could take plenty of time for their animals. "One of our cows fell in the Rotmoos and got stuck in the bushes." The herdsman found the completely weakened animal. A spectacular rescue followed: the cow Hanni was flown down to the valley by helicopter. At the Hämmermoosalm, Matthias cared for her for two days until she could return to the farm. "She is doing great again," he is happy to share. And more than that: In February, Hanni gave birth to her calf, which she fortunately did not lose during the fall. "This was only possible because we have the time and resources at our farm."

Their parents also continue to actively help out. Solidarity is important on the generational farm. Simone's dad and Matthias' parents pitch in wherever necessary: in the barn, in the fields, in the holiday apartments, with the children. Simone and Matthias want to prove with their farm and a lot of youthful energy that full-time farming can work even today. Their goal is to ensure that the farm remains attractive for future generations and to demonstrate what can be achieved through agriculture. For the future, Simone is bubbling over with ideas about what else she would like to do. "Let's see where the journey takes us!" she says calmly, and once again her joyful laughter echoes across the farm.

Simone's herb garden blooms in full splendor during the summer. She shared a few tips with us about what can be planted in the garden and on the balcony this spring. Spring is the best season to plant herbs and flowers, and as nature slowly turns green and starts to bloom outside, we feel drawn to the gardens as well. But be careful: not everything can be planted right now. Not only in the high-altitude Leutasch can there be below-freezing temperatures at night or even snow. Both would harm the delicate little plants. One should be cautious at least until the "Ice Saints" in May.

Before planting the more robust plants, the beds should be tidied up as a first step. They should be cleared of weeds and the soils should be enriched with a biological fertilizer rich in nutrients. The young plants will thank you later. Radishes, potatoes, peas, and radish seeds tolerate the climate very well and can already be planted in the garden and on the balcony.

All plants should be covered at night to protect them.

Now is also the right time to harvest roots. Especially the roots of dandelion or horseradish can be harvested.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini are sensitive to cold and are better off not being planted yet. The same applies to herbs, which are best left until after the Ice Saints. For now, rosemary, thyme, oregano, lemon balm, basil, chives, and the like should stay in protected locations.

Dandelion is anything but a weed; in fact, it is quite healthy. It has immune-stimulating, anti-inflammatory, metabolism-boosting, blood-purifying, mobilizing properties and helps with headaches – to name just a few of its healing qualities. All parts of the dandelion are useful: the flowers, buds, leaves, and roots. Simone loves to collect the tiny buds that form in the center of the leaves. It's very important that the buds have not yet developed a stem. Once they start to develop a stem, they form small barbs. It's also crucial to collect them away from dog areas or dog walking routes, far from heavily trafficked roads, and on unfertilized meadows. The delicious, tender buds are pickled immediately after harvesting in apple cider vinegar with a bit of water, sugar, honey, and salt. They can be enjoyed like capers, making them excellent in salads, as snacks, and in many other recipes. A tea made from dandelion leaves is also a real energy booster in spring: Just boil some fresh or dried leaves with hot water and enjoy the tea.

Another great plant is nettle. It is also known as a strengthening plant in spring. The list of its effects is long: the nettle acts among other things as a metabolism booster, digestive aid, blood purifier and blood coagulant, blood sugar lowering, and detoxifying. It helps with stress, fatigue, exhaustion, and performance and memory weaknesses. Simone knows: if the nettle didn't have painful stings, it would have been eradicated long ago because of its great healing effects! Whether powdered, fresh, or dried as tea, in herbal salt, or in herbal butter, the nettle can be used in many ways. You can also make a decoction for plants in the garden, balcony, and home to strengthen them—a natural organic fertilizer, so to speak. Everything from the leaf to the root of the nettle can be used. When harvesting, the same rules apply as with all the plants you want to use: collected away from dog areas or dog walking paths, far from heavily trafficked roads, and on unfertilized meadows. For nettles, it is also advisable to wear a pair of gloves to avoid getting stung by the (as the name suggests) burning nettles.

Spring is now the perfect time to create a "home tea for the year". Simone collects herbs and plants from spring to autumn in the garden and elsewhere to put into her home tea. This way, the power of nature can be enjoyed for a long time, even after spring and summer are over.