Ecology and the environment

Our medicinal plant lands provide plentiful living space for a variety of animal species. Through organic farming methods, mechanisms of self-regulation are achieved thanks to the balance of harmful and useful insects.

Room for all

Moles and voles can be tolerated in the areas where trees and shrubs grow, since their populations never spread excessively. They are kept under control by birds of prey, for instance, who can sit and survey the area from specially installed perches. Similarly, special nest boxes are in place so as to attract songbirds and thus keep the pests in check.  At present, we are trying to install winter quarters for bats. As part of a campaign involving our trainees, we have constructed boxes where the shy animals will hopefully feel at home. Bats eat the equivalent of 1/3 of their live weight in insects and beetles every day. This is a perfect way to maintain the natural equilibrium.

Other animals manage to find their own niche in the landscape of our medicinal plant kingdom. Hedgehogs and ducks help the gardeners in their fight against red and tiger slugs. Only in the years that are particularly wet must snails also be plucked from the plots by hand.

Environmental pollution is not an issue

In order to control the cultivation conditions, soil samples were regularly taken by the Augustenberg State Analytical and Research Institute during the initial years of our operation. The samples were tested for nutrient content, pH, particle size, humus percentage and heavy metals. No heavy metals or other pollutants were ever detected in any of the samples. Since our medicinal plant plots are located in a rural area with little traffic, where no further pollution is to be expected from the surrounding farmlands and the soil quality is improving rather than deteriorating due to organic farming practices, longer intervals are now left between the analyses.