The Lighthouse – Our meadows are alive

It is precisely the management methods used by the hay milk farmers that promote biodiversity on local meadows. They maintain their green spaces up to three times as much as other industrialized farms in Europe. They let their meadows really mature and only mow when a variety of grasses and herbs are in full bloom. You therefore have one or two fewer cuts per summer. But the cows are also true masters of natural landscape management. For example, if they bite or rub themselves against trees, dead wood is formed and when walking in the meadow, depressions in the ground are formed. It is precisely in such places that wild bees, ground beetles and plants live. Just by grazing on pastures and alpine pastures, plants get growth impulses.

Without reseeding, lush, species-rich lean, dry or wet meadows with up to 1.000 different plant species are created. A high level of plant diversity not only requires less use of fertilizers and pesticides or provides nutrient-rich feed for healthy cows, but also provides bees, other insects and small animals with the food they need to survive.

Nutrition and health require biodiversity. Without a balanced diet, human health suffers and without biodiversity, our food security is at risk, especially in times of climate change. Without pollinators such as insects and other creatures, many foods would disappear. For us, the cycle moves closely between plants, animals and humans and begins with the biodiversity of our meadows.