Helmut Schönthaler lives with his family in the village of Oris at the foot of Val Venosta's Monte Sole Mountain. The Lasa marble quarry is close by; this is the source of world-famous, pure, white stone. The protected habitat of the Oris forest fen is also close to the family business. The Schönthaler family have been running the farm for three generations. Helmut's other job is at a middle school where he teaches German, History and Geography. In addition to vegetables, he also grows apples. He mainly grows red-skinned varieties, Gala and Topaz, but he also has several local heritage varieties which can hardly be found anywhere else. His brother and wife provide support. Helmut learnt the necessary knowledge on numerous agricultural courses. His farm is also his hobby and he loves all the tasks involved, from composting to pruning and harvest. Organics are for him a healthy way of farming. They stand for a natural world in which the farmer is a necessary component. Working organically means working with nature.