I would turn back time if I could. What would I do differently then? The answer is quite easy: I would follow the principles of organic production right from the beginning. Unfortunately, I have converted to organic only recently. A bit late, but finally happy. Now I can enjoy this feeling of liberation. It took a long time until I brought myself to leave the comfort zone. Because being an organic producer means saying goodbye to the secure path and taking a new one full of variables. But at the same time, it’s a much more exciting journey, a journey full of adventures and full of pioneering organic spirit.

Today even my initially skeptical father totally backs me. I question everything and accept a lot. Especially that organic producers don’t have the right remedy for everything. Some things simply take time and you need to keep cool. When the apple scab fungus announces itself and would like to profit from rainy days to spread its spores, I inform myself with the help of a weather app. It tells me when the spores will germinate and I can take action. I feel like a real farmer when I have to use my head and finally can and have to retrieve my knowledge gained at the agricultural college and during the many special courses.

No longer working according to rules but active participation. Moreover, I learnt that organic producers have to stop being a perfectionist. Nature is perfect but not perfectionist either. An orchard doesn’t have to look like a Champions League football pitch. But playing football on the football pitch from my childhood is just as much fun. Organic has recently also become more attractive in terms of prices, so you are more willing to take a risk. I feel totally happy in my own skin. Organic works in me. I’ll continue bravely, patently and curiously with pioneering organic spirit.