Stocker farm and its holiday apartments have a somewhat unusual location. They are right next to the pedestrian area in the centre of Silandro, which has the atmosphere of a small town and is the administrative centre of the Val Venosta. The orchards are also within the village's municipal boundaries, but are some distance away from the centre, in a very peaceful spot.

The Schweitzers have now been running the property for three generations. Even though Erich started his career by training in business administration, his love for agriculture kept on growing so he switched courses accordingly. These days he manages his farm by himself. When harvest time comes around, he hires in professional help with the picking.

His favourite job is gathering in his Golden Delicious, Gala and Pinova, after going to so much trouble to grow them. "As a farmer, you experience a different type of contact with the earth. You think a lot more about the consequences of your actions." That is why he did not hesitate to join his neighbour, when he decided to switch his farm to organics in 1998. "I work naturally and healthily. With the help of the organic guidelines, I can now also be completely transparent."