Back to our roots

Early morning quickly checking latest Blips and Facebook postings from around the world. Was thrilled to see a friend of long standing (i.e. not an old friend) had together with her husband and three young children, were one of eleven prize winners in a German-wide competition for young farmers who had changed from conventional to organic farming in 2017.
Here Dani and husband sitting with the latest family member at the award.

Run by Germany's largest conservation society - NABU - and sponsored by one of the large organic products groups - Alnatura - there are very welcome cash prizes to be won, up to €60,000.

The awards ceremony was held in Nüremberg on Saturday as part of the "BIOFACH", the world's largest organic products trade show. Mainly food products but also an extra sub-shoe for cosmetics. Products have to conform with the EU organic standards. Around 3,200 exhibitors from around the world and 50,000 trade visitors.

We have known the "old" friend, Dani, since 1995 when she and her farming family were our neighbours. So, in recognition of her achievement, I quickly posted a Back-Blip of her. Later on, I even made a short Youtube video of the day she helped me collect a 5-month old foal we had just been given by a young local organic farmer and the rather funny scenes of the foal being covered in organic fly repellent by a goat.

Buoyed up by the news, set off for the dog walk and not even the rain could dampen my spirits. Popped by the farmer Andreas in the middle of the village to drop off some of our eggs which he sells alongside the fresh, raw milk he sells from his "Milk Filling Station". Increasingly these self-service machines are becoming more and more popular and indeed Dani has one along with her own farm eggs. I don't think Andreas is officially organic certified but he is to all intents and purposes organic and even an independent expert advisor to the county council in matters organic/environment and been on TV & radio a few times. He is also a passionate breeder of the Allgäu Brown (Swiss) cow. He wasn't at home when I called, possibly at the trade fair in Nuremberg.

There he might have the luck to visit the only UK stand with cheese, one of five exhibitors displaying fresh food products and one of 54 in total, I guess many importers of things like coconut oil, spices, oils etc. Shame the Brits don't have more in the fresh foods - even Ireland with a total of nine exhibitors manage six.

Weather-wise day didn't improve at all, rivers and streams getting close to full and more rain and snow predicted for the weekend.

For those German speakers/readers who want more info on Dani & her family farm.
Article about them changing over (Dani very pregnant in photos)

TV item about organic weed control. Husband Robert staring but the weather made a full report impossible. He appears at 6:10.

Their Facebook page

NABU Project for farmers "Together making good ground"