RestPoll’s recent Annual Group Meeting in Freiburg was all about the information shared by the researchers in their presentations and break-out sessions. True to the very nature of the project, though, the RestPoll team wanted the meeting to include not only words but also actions. To this end, the entire group spent their Wednesday afternoon visiting the vineyards of Winzerhof Vogel, which is part of the BiodivNetz Living Lab. All the ups and downs of a forward-looking farm make an interesting insight into a RestPoll partner.
Uphill struggle
The trip to the farm was rather adventurous, because it is a hilly area and the big travel bus had to get up into the vineyards. While the bus did not make it to the entrance, the group fortunately did. The vineyard is quite unique, because the vines are going down the hill rather than across terraces. This design makes it easier for machinery to operate on the family farm, which is home to three generations of the Vogel family and which is part of wine cooperative. This group of producers sell their wines under a shared label.
On arrival, the group were welcomed by young Mr Vogel, who gave a tour of the terrain. Among the many measures taken to promote pollinators, there were flower strips and wild verges. Some areas had abandoned cherry trees, which were not managed but still produce flowers and fruits for the birds and the bees. With what is left, Mrs Vogel makes juices that provide a source of income in addition to the core business of various wines.
Nature and community
Although the farm is not strictly organic, they try to maximise nature-friendly practices. In keeping weeds away from the vines, they do not use covering tarps, because these would leave behind tonnes of microplastic. Instead, the farm leaves the vines to stand tall in winter rather than the conventional method of cutting them low. As a result, the vines crowd out the weeds and can be thinned later on to produce a great deal of fruit.
In addition to the wine production, the farm also does a lot of educational outreach such as school classes. Farm tours and wine tastings also supplement the income from wine. The farmers are really interested in having the community understand the importance of the management methods and the restoration measures. The RestPoll audience took an interest as well, which sparked a friendly debate on the pros and cons of these methods.
Policy vs practice
Given the presence of policy officers from the European Commission, the group tried to arrive at a shared understanding of how nature regulations work out in actual practice. EU regulations are meant for all Member States, but what happens on a Spanish farm is very different to what they do in Sweden. This fact has a bearing on regulation specifying what plants are allowed to be sown in between vines or when it is the right time to mow.
One example is a regulation stating that the ground has to be covered by a certain date in autumn. However, farmers may harvest at the beginning of September if there is fair weather or as late as October otherwise. As a result, they may have to till and sow plants that sprout quickly, while nature- and pollinator-friendly flower mixtures take more time. RestPoll has partners in various countries, so set deadlines are not efficient to everyone.
Tasting the fruits
To settle the discussion in good spirits, the group took a walk back to the warehouse where the refreshing wine was produced. They entered an old wine cellar which was built in the 1500s and is still connected to the village castle. Of course, there was wine to be tasted: white, red, dessert and non-alcoholic wines. Instead of the “small snacks” advertised, a whole buffet of local food produce accompanied the drinks.
After tasting the final wines, the group made their way back to the bus halfway the hill. Not only had they sampled the fruits of the restoration measures, but they had gained a practical insight into the working method of a farm doing its part to preserve pollinators.
