Farm walk: economy and diversity
The biodiversity ambassador Andreas Badinger shows on his farm that biodiversity and profitability can go hand in hand and tirelessly imparts his knowledge at various events.
Walk for biodiversity
Agriculture and nature are not opposites, they work hand in hand. "For me it is important to show people that the preservation and promotion of biodiversity can be done in harmony with modern and innovative agriculture," says Badinger.
At the beginning of July, the organic farmer gave interested people a tour of his farm. He showed the almost 50 participants his different areas of biodiversity in grassland and arable farming - from annual flower strips to wide roadsides and old grass areas between his farm meadows. A tip from Badinger: "Before you create a biodiversity area, you should think about the soil and water conditions at the respective location. In rather lean and dry areas it is often easier and quicker to achieve crops rich in species and flowers. You have to be more patient with fatter and wetter parts.”
In some cases Andreas Badinger can feed the hay from the old grass strips to his cattle, in other cases he makes bedding out of it.
Some of the participants were amazed:
“I have realized how many valuable structures and areas I actually have at work at home. Until now, I wasn’t really aware that these are actually such important areas for nature.”
"I have learned how important it is that the edge strips and flower strips are not too far apart, because then the animals cannot move back and forth."
"I admire Andreas Badinger's measures and that he takes so much time for it."
"Actually, it's better to just leave a little bit behind than struggle to mow everything neatly over and over again."
"Today I got to know a few new plant species that I had never known before."
To the project
Farming for nature was launched in Ireland in 2018 with the aim of inspiring the general public, but also farmers, to make a big difference with small steps. Stories of farmers who use innovative measures to cultivate their land in a way that promotes biodiversity and at the same time earn a living successfully should encourage people to implement simple and practical solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis. Austria has been part of the international Farming for Nature network since 2021.
Active living space designers
We and our WOERLE farming families were also very interested in the walk. In addition to our practical workshops, we were again able to take a lot of new things with us, because every farm has corners and spots that offer little use. With precisely these areas, WOERLE farmers have been creating since the start of "Biodiversity in the hands of farmers“ voluntarily and with a lot of commitment different habitats for biodiversity.
