There are around 25,000 farms in South Tyrol, mostly fruit and livestock farms. The farms are mostly small, with about half of them being smaller than 5 hectares, and 80 percent are run by families. Additionally, 65 percent of the farms are located at over 1,500 meters above sea level, mostly in steep slopes, which makes farming extremely difficult. Surprisingly, despite the adverse circumstances, the "dying out" of farms, meaning the percentage of abandoned farms, is significantly lower than in the rest of Europe. This is certainly due to the traditionally deep sense of attachment to their homeland among South Tyrolean farmers.
Despite all the love, working on a mountain farm still presents a great challenge and is not always manageable without help. Today, about two-thirds of South Tyrolean farms cannot survive solely on agricultural yields.
One way to earn extra income is through tourism. The income from renting rooms or holiday apartments, or from operating a tavern, often ensures the survival of the farm. The production and direct sale of their own products, such as cheese, bacon, yogurt, bread, honey, or schnapps, often represent a small but urgently needed additional income. In order to ensure appropriate quality standards, the "Red Rooster" brand was established. The "Red Rooster" guarantees the highest quality and maximum transparency in the areas of farm holidays, taverns, and farm products.
However, not everywhere is it possible to earn money through tourism, and so many South Tyrolean mountain farms are fighting for survival. The Volunteer Work Assignments (VFA) association is dedicated to supporting these farms. Following the Swiss model, it arranges voluntary workers to stay and work on South Tyrol's mountain farms in exchange for room and board. The work can be very diverse, including harvesting, making hay, working in the stables, household chores, or caring for children or the elderly. The demands should not be underestimated: making hay, especially on steep slopes with a scythe, is hard, exhausting work. But it also clears the mind and helps regain a sense of what is essential. It is also simply beautiful to be able to help people who have fallen into economic hardship through no fault of their own. Perhaps this kind of "farm holiday" is an fulfilling alternative to the all-inclusive club vacation, especially in our time so focused on the search for meaning.
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