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On a hill overlooking the city lies the courtyard of the Fäh family. It is the largest of St. Gallen. A hundred calves, cows and cattle, some sows, laying hens. They like to come here from the city below, the little ones to look at the animals, the big ones to eat at the edge of the forest. Others refer to their entrecotes and epaulets here. For three years, the farm family has been selling pork and veal directly to the farm. The idea comes from the wife of the farmer, Petra Fäh. She is a member of the board of directors of the Cantonal Women's Association of St. Gallen. She had to convince her husband, the skeptic, first. She dominates and displays a positive balance: "I have a higher hourly wage than in my profession as a medical assistant." Even though it's sometimes late in the evening in the basement and empties the flesh, the Afternoon, even a coffee.
Petra Fäh is one of the many women who change the face of agriculture. Women's participation in agriculture is increasing. "In the past, work was too difficult for many women because it required enormous physical strength.This changed with mechanization," says Sandra Helfenstein, media spokeswoman for the Swiss Association. Gender-specific ideas have also changed
The proportion of women learning as farmers has been increasing for years – just before the turn of the millennium it was still In 2017, 13.6% of apprentices were already women.Women are much more represented in the agricultural sciences with an emphasis on organic farming. the last four years has been steady at between 20 and 30%, while at the same time bioproduction is becoming more important, while the number of farms is decreasing, hundreds of new organic farms are added each year.
Married people must find a niche in the yard
How does agriculture change when it becomes more feminine? "Women are generally more sensitive to issues such as the environment, animal welfare or social problems," explains Sandra Helfenstein. "They tend to give more importance to these concerns – even as consumers – than to men."
While Swiss farms are increasingly specializing in traditional areas such as the dairy industry in recent years, internal diversity has increased – and here women are leaders. The Agricultural Report 2015 shows that it is mainly women who are responsible for areas such as hotels, restaurants and social work. Many institutions for people with addiction problems, learning difficulties or disabilities also work as agricultural enterprises. "Women contribute to the diversity of agriculture," says Regina Fuhrer, president of the Small Farmers Association. "If they had more political weight, this would also be reflected in the politics of the association, but in terms of their importance, women are completely underrepresented in peasant politics."
Regina Fuhrer knows what she is talking about when she says that women "need a lot of energy if they want to assert themselves in agricultural policy". As president of Bio Suisse, she was for ten years one of the few high-ranking women in the dense network of agricultural associations. And as a novice farmer – "I was a city-dweller, classic" – she was at times looked oddly by coworkers' colleagues.
Many have no agricultural doctrine
Female farming is often more creative and modern, is also because women are often geeks at first, says Fuhrer. If they marry in a yard, they have to find their place next to their partners and their in-laws. For example, by building your own branch of activity. Many have neither grown up on a farm nor completed an agricultural apprenticeship. This makes them more open to new ideas, says Fuhrer.
Increasingly, young women farmers go to their own farms through the family. That the son has priority, is no longer clear – he wants at all. Or they both come to the train. The Fuehrers have recently entrusted the organic farm to Burg Christian Bern to their daughter and their son.
After a divorce, the farmer's wife is in bad shape
Adrian Sidler is a business coach and heads the Zurich innovation program Innovativi Puure. supported by the canton. For him, women are often the best entrepreneurs: "They are harder and give up less quickly once they have implemented an idea."
For many women, their own model Business means above all else: more work. "In addition to housekeeping, running and kids, the farmer's wife simply runs the farm shop," says coach Sidler. "It's becoming increasingly important for women to do their own thing and make their own money – on the farm or out."
Provision can become a problem
In 2016, a report of the Federal Council on the situation of women in agriculture. He noted that divorce in particular is a risk. For the savings of a pair of newlyweds usually flow directly into the yard. It's not easy to separate that when you separate. In addition, child support and pensions can be a problem if the farm does not earn enough money.
So it's a good sign that something is happening slowly in farm management. Although 94% of all farms in Switzerland are still managed by men. But the number of women who are the bosses of their own business has increased by 4.6 and 5 percent, respectively, in the two years 2016 and 2017. And so much stronger than in previous years. (SonntagsZeitung)
Created: 14.07.2018, 21:12
Geisskäse, teas and a rustico for agrotourists
Transmit values: the agronomist and mountaineer Claudia Gorbach with his goats .
Photo: Stephan Bösch
When Claudia Gorbach studied at the College of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences in Zollikofen BE 20 years ago, she was one of seven women among more than one. hundred of men. "There was already a rustic climate, we women had to prove ourselves," says Gorbach, because most men grew up on farms, but not themselves. The proportion of women in Zollikofen is more than one-third, and Gorbach has more than proven herself, she has been running an organic mountain farm in Ticino Val Colla for almost six years.Three small stone houses, at 1100 meters from the sea, have been found in the area. altitude, only accessible on foot, less than one kilometer from the nearest town.Electricity is provided by the solar system.
At the farm lives the 49 year old man with her husband, ten mountain defenses, six Engadine sheep, three donkeys, chickens, ducks, a dog and four cats Gorbach's husband works four days a week as a remedial teacher in St. Gallen. Would not have had the idea to buy a farm in an isolated mountain village of Tess in, says the mountain farmer. Because you do not get rich with that. It was not so important to her either. "Biodiversity, life with animals, creativity, joy: these are the values I want to communicate."
The agronomist sells goose cheese, but that's not all. For three years, she relied on agritourism. She rents a renovated Rustico on her property to tourists. And she started a "Khaki project". "There are hundreds of khaki trees in Ticino, but very little fruit is used." Gorbach harvests persimmon, dries it and sells it. Herbs in the garden, it produces teas, salt and pepper herbal. It also offers a subscription service. Two to three times a year, she sends a surprise packet to subscribers with their own products. Income is enough to live. But it is good to know that there is also a second income. (fko)
Kita's children and lactating cows
Children need to know where the milk comes from: farmer Silvia Thalmann in her own chalet Chälbliland. Image: Daniel Ammann
Calling Silvia Thalmann, a young voice responds: the girl. She asks for patience, through the listener a clutter of brilliant children's voices, finally the mother is on the phone: "Thalme". At Thalmann's farm in Thurgau Amriswil, he is rarely calm, how should he. Here, the farming family lives with about 100 cows and cattle, a donkey, a dog, cats and chickens, horses and ponies, some "chips" and goats.
Since the family opened a children's garden on his organic farm last fall, everything is even more alive. The idea of "Kita Chälbliland" comes from the girl, who trains to become a kindergarten teacher. It is the first agricultural nursery in the canton of Thurgau. "It was important to us that the whole family was behind," says mother Silvia Thalmann, who grew up on a farm and was trained as a home-based nurse. Thalmanns do not think of a strict division of labor. Not only do the mother and daughter work with the children, but Father Rolf sometimes runs a play group. Sometimes the children ask him, "Where is Buur Rolf?" Mother Silvia is still on the ground, sometimes it's not so bad: do something without three kids claiming one at a time.
Aged 45, married 20 years ago on her husband's farm, she says, "We could also milk, milk, milk, have more and more animals." But the quality of life does not have much to do. "But if we can show younger kids that milk does not come from the Migros shelf, and if they come back later than schoolchildren, then that is the best reward."
Her husband Rolf is the manager and owner of the farm, he succeeded his parents. Some women farmers hire their partners to work as social workers. Silvia Thalmann goes on: "We use all the income together, but yes, maybe I'd better protect myself."
The question of whether the court will ever be prosecuted by children is uncertain. The son is an apprentice agricultural mechanic, currently he is more interested in tractors than in cows. But it was the same for the father. Until that he takes pleasure in agriculture. Or maybe the girl is interested? "If you want to take over the farm," says Silvia Thalmann, "it's because they like doing it. There is no other way. You have to put so much in the pawn. "(Thu)
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