GRAND FARM
GRAND FARM is an organic farm with a high proportion of research. In addition to arable farming, it also works on the development of grassland, agroforestry, vegetable cultivation and animal husbandry.
The vermicomposting (composting with the help of earthworms) divison was started more than 20 years ago as an innovation, has been further developed through research and is today, as VERMIGRAND Naturprodukte GmbH, a successful, independent company. According to the motto: Innovation – Research – Demonstration! GRAND FARM is the first research and demonstration farm of its kind.
Research and Demonstration Farm
The great challenges of the future, such as world food supply, climate, environmental and biodiversity protection, must not be assigned to science alone, but require the cooperation of all population groups.
To improve this cooperation, we have developed the concept of the research and demonstration farm. It includes two important areas: First, finding solutions together (research) and second, sharing knowledge (demonstration) of the results and experiences from this research. In addition to normal production, we work closely with research and thus make our ideas and innovations accessible to science.
Soil health
The soil is the most important asset for all farmers and must be preserved for future generations. Healthy soil enables the production of healthy food and is therefore of enormous importance for human health. Using regenerative methods to handle the soil enables stable yields even under difficult weather conditions, which can even be achieved with reduced effort.
The importance of our soil in terms of nutrition (quality and quantity), climate change, water quality and biodiversity is enormous. Topics for ongoing research are all regenerative methods for the reconstruction of soil health. GRAND FARM research projects therefore address organic farming, humus building, erosion control, crop rotation, mixed sowing, greening management, reduced tillage and direct sowing.
Agroforestry
Agroforestry is the joint cultivation of trees and shrubs in a field with field crops. In addition to harvesting the annual arable crops, a yield is also achieved from the fruits or the valuable wood growth of the trees. In addition to a higher total biomass yield (up to 1.4 times that of a field), agroforesty offers a number of other advantages. Reduced wind speed in the field leads to less evaporation, the flowering trees encourage pollinators and beneficial organisms, provide habitat for both wild and farm animals and thus support the preservation of biodiversity. CO2 is removed from the atmosphere, stored in wood and in the soil. Agroforestry thus serves to adapt to climate change and to actively slow down climate change, but it also offers many other functions for society.
The correct selection of tree and shrub species, the choice of the right rootstocks, row and tree spacing and forms of cultivation must be planned precisely in order to achieve an optimal effect. Since such systems are hardly known in Austria, there is a great need for research.
Market Garden
The Market Garden serves the regional supply of organic vegetables. The production is designed for a high area output and produces healthy food with a high variety on a small area (e.g.: 1 hectare). Cultivation, care and harvesting are almost exclusively done by hand, no tractors are used.
On GRAND FARM there is a Market Garden, GRAND GARDEN, based on the model of Jean Martin Fortier, who further developed this system in Canada. In Austria the method is being researched and combined with other methods (rolling tunnel, winter vegetable cultivation, etc.). Both production, storage and distribution are being converted to 100% energy self-sufficiency. They improve the regional supply of healthy vegetables, protect soil, water, climate and biodiversity. They bring young people into food production, create attractive jobs, regional added value and slow down the rural exodus.
