Together, the members of the Solawi Tegernsee Valley work the soil at the Pointerhof in Kreuth. Green manure is designed to loosen the earth. © Private
The Solawi, the solidarity agriculture Tegernseer Tal at the Kreuther Pointerhof, had a difficult first year. But the members are sticking to the project. It's a new beginning.
Kreuth – You plough. On weekends and holidays, even in bad weather. The members of Solawi, the solidarity agriculture Tegernsee Valley at Kreuther Pointerhof, are sticking to the project, which was founded in 2022, even though the first year was a difficult one and they now need a lot of stamina.
"We had a massive problem with waterlogging last year," reports spokeswoman Doreen Hauptmann. In earlier times, the area served as a paddock for horses, and the tamped ground resembles concrete. The fertile layer above it is simply too thin to bring a rich harvest. "The carrot just doesn't get deep enough," Hauptmann explains. As a result, the young vegetable stops growing at an early stage.
Soil is being rehabilitated from scratch
For a short time, founder Daniela Schober thought about giving up at the end of 2022, but her wish that there would be successors (we reported) has come true. The idea of growing healthy vegetables for everyone directly in the place continues to work. At the General Assembly in March, the community, which now has 82 members, set the course for the future. "We've set everything to zero and we're starting all over again," says Hauptmann.
This means that the arable land at Pointer Hof will be renovated from the ground up and even expanded. Green manure with constant plucking and hoeing should loosen the soil within a year. For this year, this means that the area is not available for cultivation. In 2024, according to the plan, Solawi will then be able to operate on fertile land.
Cooperation with other organic farms
However, the Solawi will fill vegetable boxes again in the second year. This is possible thanks to a cooperation with organic farms in the area. The Solawi supplements its own harvest with products from other farms. This proportion will be high in 2023. "But it's not as if we don't do anything on our site," explains Hauptmann. The community grows plants in some furrows that can cope with the barren soil. "We already had rhubarb ready for harvest," Hauptmann reports. Recently, the Solawi has planted plenty of strawberry plants. In a so-called crater garden, herbs and spices are grown. There is a mound bed and a polytunnel.
Making a difference as a community
Work is not only done in the field. Applications for funding have to be submitted, the infrastructure has to be set up. The new management team has already improved communication a lot. For example, the homepage now always provides up-to-date information, and members are always kept up to date via newsletter.
"It's not just about vegetables and work," Hauptmann makes clear. "Above all, we want to bring people together again and achieve something as a community." Anyone who likes to garden in their free time is welcome. Currently, some families with children of all ages come to the field. On May 1, the little ones were allowed to plant strawberry cuttings. A happy day, as Doreen Hauptmann says: "It's a great thing to bring the children closer to nature and to detach young people from digital life."