The Holzer Permaculture is a branch of permaculture developed independently from the mainstream permaculture in Austria by Sepp Holzer. It is particularly noteworthy because it grew out of practical application and absolutely detached from the scientific community.
Sepp Holzer started reorganising his fathers property according to ecological patterns in the early 1960s after he took over the farm. As an adolescent he conducted layman experiments with plants native to the area and learned from his own observations.
As of 2010 he still lives on the same property which has expanded from 24 to 45 hectares and works successfully according to his methods together with his wife.
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It is difficult to make out differences between the methods and practices of Sepp Holzer in contrast to the more scientific and theoretical permacultural mainstream.
One aspect is the bold abandonment of horticultural principles like intercropping plants with very high and very low pH requirements (Rhododendron with roses).
One aspect is his specialisation to the local climate of his farm in an area with 4°C on the average and -20°C in the winter. His designs are mostly aiming at raising temperatures and creating micro-climates with rocks, ponds and living wind barriers.
Another aspect was the necessity of creating terraces on his farm's hillside leading him to the use of heavy machinery.
He also maintains a great ratio of animal to human labor. Working his farm with only two people and deploying animals to do excessive parts of the common labor. As an example: He uses swine to plow his fields for sowing.
Interesting is his extreme use of the intercropping method. He mixes 30 or more different types of seeds in a bucket and tosses the mix richly onto a larger area.
Situated in Ramingstein on the slopes of Mount Schwarzenberg his farm called "Krameterhof" lies at varying altitudes ranging from 1100 to 1500 metres above sea level.
The exceptionally harsh climatic conditions in the area are inappropriate for farming. Nevertheless he has managed to cultivate a variety of crops and even exotic plants like Kiwis and Sweet Chestnut.
The Krameterhof is less an operational enterprise in terms of crop-yield, although it does provide numerous produce for the community, but rather a fully functional showcase or research station for permaculture (both in regards to its size).
Endangered livestock species and rare alpine- and cultural plant species are integrated into the farm.
"The Rebell Farmer"
"Sepp Holzer`s Permakultur"
