At my family’s “Rungghof” in Upper Vinschgau, livestock farming was practiced for many years. As a trained butcher, I still raise young piglets with passion today. The production of speck is later handled by an external service provider. We also grow potatoes and sauerkraut for our own consumption. Today, however, the “Rungghof” thrives mainly on the cultivation of healthy Vinschgau organic apples of the varieties Golden Delicious, Pinova, Stark Delicious, Jonagold, and Bonita. Perhaps soon we will also add the Natyra variety.
Already in the 1990s, we planted the first apple orchards at the farm. Choosing the right location for each variety was – and remains – increasingly important. In the meadows on the valley floor and especially near the damp lowlands, the risk of scab infection is quite high. There, one must observe carefully when plant protection is needed and act promptly. For my Golden Delicious, a sloping meadow is ideal: dew runs off well, it dries better, and the quality of this sensitive variety is particularly high there. Down in the valley, however, ground fog often lingers for months and those meadows demand even more care to harvest the best possible quality.
Together with my brother, I also keep some sheep, goats, and calves. This diverse animal world on the organic farm brings me joy, adds variety, and complements the biodiversity of the orchard itself. For years now, more and more natural bird nests have appeared, built by industrious males to impress the females. I complement this activity with artificial nesting boxes for songbirds that are less inclined to build on their own, and I clean them regularly – since they usually won’t do it themselves. This way, they have more time to keep worms, mites, and other orchard pests under control. The presence of so many young birds and eggs in the meadow is proof for me of how comfortable the animals feel even in this human-shaped environment. Birds also prefer short paths: if they nest in my meadow, their food must be close by. Whether the orchard lies in wetlands near a stream, beside fodder meadows, or close to the forest, I observe great genetic diversity in these ecosystems – and that is a source of real joy. As an organic farmer, I also feel obliged to help preserve it.
