Magdalena does her agricultural training at the Fürstenburg in Burgeis, attending the Demeter course for biodynamic farming in Frankfurt and various organic training courses in South Tyrol. During this time she attracts curious glances, as she is often the only woman in the group. Sociable as Magdalena is, she quickly settles into the farming community. "As a woman, I am slower in setting up columns, but I see things from a different angle. And different is not always worse, it makes the world a little more colourful," says Magdalena.
As a young mother, Magdalena appreciates that as a farmer she can spend time with her daughter and also work. Depending on the time of year, little Lena spends more time with Magdalena, her boyfriend or grandma and grandpa. During the harvest Magdalena and Walter are together in the meadows. And the time of the apple harvest at Leilichhof is long: It starts in August with the
Gala, continues with
Natyra® and
Braeburn and ends with
Fuji.
The handover of the farm is not always easy. Over the years Walter has built up his style and Magdalena brings in new ideas. Both views do not always fit together. For example, Magdalena cuts the trees in the winter months differently from her father. But together they find a way for Magdalena to have enough freedom and for Walter to feel needed and appreciated.
Besides agriculture both have their passions. Walter likes to bake bread. He built a wood-burning oven with a roof in the garden. Especially on rainy days he likes to heat it up and put in wholemeal loaves with bread clover, aniseed and caraway.
Herbs and food are Magdalena's favourite subjects. She likes to talk about this with her guests on her farm holidays. Wormwood, St. John's wort, marigold, mallows, cornflowers, camomile, yarrow, Greek mountain tea and echinacea bloom in the herb trough. Magdalena dries them in the garden house for herbal infusions and herbal salts. She also prepares soothing ointments and massage oils from the herbs.
Courgette, pumpkin, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, lettuce, carrots and much more is cultivated and nurtured by Magdalena in the garden. Gardening in the evening is her way of compensating, because she likes to spend her free time in the garden just like her father. For herbs and vegetables Magdalena likes to use the seeds of old organic varieties. This strengthens the diversity and promotes the cycle, because the old varieties are constantly multiplying.
Having the opportunity to grow food right on her doorstep, a space where her daughter can have fun and where the farm's small animals also find room to play makes Magdalena happy. "Life has meant well with us and I want to preserve nature so that Lena can enjoy it too".