Practical workshop "More than just a sloppy strip"
A feast for the eyes for some, just a "sloppy" strip for others - but a flower strip is much more than that. It offers a habitat for numerous animals and plants. But what do you need for a flower strip, how do you create and care for it?
"Well, I can't leave an unmown strip of grass, it looks sloppy. People talk about me and the neighbor scolds.”
Biodiversity strips and late-mowed meadows look sloppy to many at first glance. The grass is tall and maybe even brown. One is not used to this picture in the landscape and is therefore usually not seen with pleasure. Farmers who create such sloppy biodiversity strips sometimes have to work against their own feelings and are subject, among other things, to the critical assessment of their environment.
But where does this perception actually come from? Why do we perceive some things as tidy and some things as sloppy. And what does order in agriculture and in our gardens mean for nature?
Near-natural areas as an important habitat
Colorful butterflies over fragrant flower meadows, chirping grasshoppers, blooming fruit trees - only memories of childhood? Not necessarily: it's up to us to bring this world back into our surroundings or our gardens, at least a little bit.
Biodiversity – describes biological diversity. This includes all living beings and species, ecosystems and landscapes. Wild corners with native shrubs and native plants are important sources of food for many birds and insects. A whole range of animal species is dependent on semi-natural areas, which are disappearing more and more from our landscape and gardens. The more different structures exist or are created again, the more species will find a habitat there with a wide variety of food, hiding place and nesting opportunities. A high level of biological diversity is the benchmark for a healthy environment and intact nature.
Therefore, we should question our own values about landscape and our gardens and allow a little more sloppiness in the future.
Woerle farmers as active living space designers
As part of the federal, state and EU-funded project "We builders for diversity", in which WOERLE is a project partner, our farmers have together with us and the ÖKL, with the support of Salzburg Chamber of Agriculture and the Machine Ring Salzburg, Biodiversity strips laid out in grassland. Farmers with practical experience have reported on the advantages, but also the challenges, of having a flower strip on their own farm. And from Dr. Johann Neumayr, all participants were able to learn about the diversity of insects in grassland.
We are very pleased that our practical workshop took place this time during "Agriculture Week" and that consumers had the opportunity to take part in the practical workshop and exchange ideas with our farms.
