fields & pastures

farming /

fields & pastures

Arable fields, pastures and meadows with a natural advantage

OUR FIELDS

Living soils

beneath the roots

If plants could talk, they would ask for a living soil, rather than something applied directly to their heads. This means that it is the soil that should be fed. We do this because plants feed the microorganisms in the soil by means of root exudates. This creates a humus-rich soil that holds lots of water and contains a wealth of nutrients and microorganisms, but no mineral fertilisers or pesticides. We look at our plants and, even without words, understand that they are doing well.

Planting more life into food.

Good harvest for good food.

We sow cereals for bread and food in our arable fields: wheat, spelt, oats and barley. We supply our Demeter cereals to producer groups in the region and then order the flour for our bakery from them.

We feed the soil sustainably with green clover.

So on our arable fields we alternate cereals (which need nitrogen to grow) with grass-clover leys as nitrogen fixers. The grass-clover ley is grown for two years, and is followed by cereals in the field for three years. To avoid compacting the soil unnecessarily, we use lightweight machinery whenever possible and adapt the soil tillage to the circumstances, e.g. the dryer soils due to the warmer climate.

Our seeds and old cereal varieties.

We use organically grown seeds and old, robust cereal varieties such as “Blaue Samtige” (Blue silk) (spelt) in the bakery. They bring special and authentic flavours to our bakery products. Another important point is that these varieties are easier to digest.

Read more about our farming

Bacteria that fix nitrogen from the atmosphere naturally form nodules on the roots of  clover. These tiny packages of energy supply the plants and soil with nitrogen – entirely naturally. Soil microorganisms can develop undisturbed because the soil is also undisturbed and the organic substances transform into valuable humus. The humic soil has a fine-crumb, stable structure. It stores water well, does not erode so readily and is also better able to resist drought or flooding. 

We use robust cereal varieties that are organically grown. Good yields are only one aspect of these proven strains. Equally important are the health of the plants and maintaining variety in the fields and in the seed – totally the opposite of monocultures and hybrid varieties. The varieties pass on their good properties and the  seed remains in the hands of farmers and gardeners as a cultural asset. A meaningful alternative to the seed industry. The controversial hybrid varieties and genetically-modified seed are also banned on Demeter farms. By carefully selecting our cereal varieties, we also obtain good properties purely natural: nutrient efficiency, plant health and capacity to withstand weeds. 

MEADOWS AND PASTURES

Meadows and pastures
to be enjoyed by cattle and other animals

As we use and cultivate our fields, we consider them to be habitats for many species. Our meadows and pastures are not barren grass monocultures; they contain herbs and flowers that have been allowed to grow naturally. This is good for the diet of our cattle and for a wide variety of wild animals and insects. Beneficial organisms that find a habitat here and in our meadow orchards in turn keep the pests on our cereal fields in check. So everything has its own meaning and its own effect.

And you can taste it – fresh grass and fragrant hay.

During the warmer months, our 50-strong Limousin herd enjoys life outside in pastures, clover meadows and other grazing areas near the farm. In the winter, they eat the hay from our meadows from the first mowing and some grass-clover silage in their sunny, spacious open-fronted barn.

A wide variety of flowers and species welcome.

We do not mow our grassland until the main flowering has ended in late May or early July. This allows the plants to set seed and regenerate themselves. Fertiliser is kept to a minimum to ensure a high percentage of herbs. Because our grassland is totally covered with flowers, we do not need to maintain flower strips at the margins. Our cereal fields also grow other herbs and many flowering plants. The place is alive with the buzz and hum of insects. We take a high cut when mowing to protect small animals such as snakes, mice, toads, frogs and lizards.

Meadow orchards as a safe habitat.

Put quite simply, our meadow orchards with plums, apples, mirabelles, quinces and pears are an important part of Hofgut Hermersberg. We treasure and look after the old tree stock, plant young saplings and put up nest boxes and aids. The meadow orchards help our near-natural agriculture by providing habitats for birds, pollinating insects and other beneficial organisms. And they supply us with wonderfully flavourful fruit for our apple juice and fruit brandies in the farm shop.