Successful excursion by KEM Carnuntum & KLAR! am Leithaberge and KLAR! Lanzendorf+ to the Grand Farm in Absdorf
An exciting and informative excursion took the KEM Carnuntum, KLAR! am Leithaberge and KLAR! Lanzendorf+ to the Grand Farm in Absdorf. There, everything revolved around sustainable agriculture and innovative methods of soil improvement.
From compost to worm humus
First on the agenda was a tour of the worm composting facility. At Vermigrand, green cuttings and alfalfa are first composted in a hot composter before the resulting compost is processed into high-quality worm humus by countless hard-working helpers – the compost worms.
This worm humus is used for the microbiological enrichment of soil organisms and thus makes a valuable contribution to soil health. Healthy soil promotes resistant plants – and that means less use of pesticides and fertilizers.
Agroforestry and biodiversity
We then moved on to the agroforestry system of the Grand Farm. According to the “grander farmer”, this cultivation method not only protects against wind erosion and water evaporation, but also promotes functional biodiversity.
For example, natural predators of vegetable pests – such as mice – have settled here. This also benefits the adjacent market garden, which is supported by the ecological balance.
Market gardening as a highlight
The highlight of the excursion was the tour of the market garden. At the time of the tour, over 40 different types of vegetables were still being grown there – and that was in November!
The market garden is characterized by year-round cultivation, artisanal farming and a large variety on a small area. Around 300 households are regularly supplied with fresh, seasonal and regional vegetables – an impressive example of regional supply security and sustainable agriculture.
