A sunflower cranes its neck curiously over the garden fence and a group of bright orange marigolds romp around in the shade. In between the lettuce there are carrots peeping out of the humus-rich earth and courgettes are allowed to run riot against the stone wall. Women wear flowery aprons and carry watering cans in their hands, while men in green wellies hold rakes. Mr and Mrs South Tyrol will be pleased, because it is in July that their work starts to bear fruit. Or vegetables.

When nature becomes a passion

'Gartln', or 'pottering in the garden' – perhaps South Tyroleans' greatest passion – takes on a variety of forms. It could be a permaculture project on the farm, an allotment in town, a vegetable garden in front of the house or – more recently – urban gardens on roof terraces and creative balcony projects. Yet the traditional version of the garden still dominates: the classic farm garden.

At first glance, this often just looks like a jumble of flowers, herbs and vegetables. Yet this soon turns out to be an appealing feature. And on second glance, a clearly thought-out concept may become evident, partly based on age-old knowledge. Blooming plants lend this philosophy expression, as most of them are not just for decorative purposes, but also serve as a natural pharmacy. Or they may be used as seasoning in authentic farm dishes.

And what exactly is a farm garden these days?

There is no clear definition and there are no clear boundaries. Yet every garden that leads passers-by to pause for a moment for a look and think back to when they were children at the sight of it could definitely be said to be one of these lovingly tended farm gardens. Nonetheless, they do have certain special features. A sort of crossroads dividing the garden into four beds is typical. This distribution of garden surface area means that crops may be rotated efficiently. Strong uptakers, medium uptakers, weak uptakers and loyal cultivars may be clearly distinguished from each other. Nature may be found in and around the garden. The classic style requires a wooden fence around it, sometimes a stone wall or hedge, too.

Do it yourself!

Self-sufficiency is the actual and original aim of a farm garden. Self-sown, tended and harvested produce becomes apparent when it lands on the plate thanks to its taste. In the past, farming families were reliant on it, while today it is a passion that inspires. A passion for good things, home-made things, nature.

There is one such farm garden thriving at Kasererhof farm in Perdonig in the South of South Tyrol. Annemarie Pichler indulges her passion there. Besides lettuce and vegetables there is also tempting fruit growing on raspberry bushes and fruit trees. A few rose bushes lend the colourful mix a harmonious appearance. “Actually, I am always in the garden during my free time. It is my hobby, perhaps even more than that. I can think of no better way to unwind”, enthuses Annemarie about her passion. When the time comes, it's not just herbs and vegetables that are reaped, but also pride and pleasure in a job well done. Simply with passion.

Take a holiday at Annemarie's or ask your favourite private landlord or landlady about their farm garden!