On the farm

Our farm

Our Astlehen farm is located in the Forstau Winkl exactly where the road no longer rises. When you have reached the highest point, you can already see the dung heap on the right side of the road, followed by the stable and farmhouse. Despite the flat road, our fields are pretty tough. In rainy summers we fear that the tractor will slide over the steep meadows. So sometimes we better use rakes and pitchforks. For our animals, this commitment means that they can count on their fixed hay meal twice a day in winter.

Frisch gemäht – Astlehenhof — Freshly mowed field on the Astlehen farm

Hennen und Traktor im Einsatz — Hens and tractor in action

Der Bauernhof im Winter — Our farm in winterdays

Kalb beim Trinken — Kalb drinks milk from his mother

Our fields are surrounded by cow pastures and coniferous forests. Chanterelles, porcini mushrooms and lots of other sponges grow there, but we don’t trust them and prefer to leave them where they are. There are deer, foxes and all kinds of rodents which we are very pleased to see as long as our chickens, supplies and trees are not touched. Every summer, Adam fights relentlessly against the mouse invaders in his beloved pond hut on the edge of the forest.

Fischteich am Astlehenhof — Fish pond at Astlehen

Blick vom Balkon in Richtung Winkl — View towards Forstau Winkl

Mother Barbara has her own enemies. Every mild summer evening, she sneaks through the garden with a flashlight to fight the slugs. She lives for her beautiful farm garden and invests an infinite amount of work, time and love in gardening. Salad, carrots, potatoes, peas, beans and everything that suddenly thrives here due to the terrifying climate change are growing.

Ask Christian, Barbara or Adam if you feel like exploring the farm.

Schneebedeckter Garten und Wiesen am Astlehenhof — Snow-covered garden and meadows at the Astlehenhof

Frisch beschneiter Bauernhof — Farm in winter

Herbst am Astlehenhof — Astlehen farm in autumn

The animals

We have six “Pinzgau” cows and some young cattle. In winter they are mostly in the barn, but are allowed to go outside every day to stand around in the snow and realize that it is actually more comfortable inside. They are fed twice a day, the barn is mucked out, strewn again and the cows are milked. In summer, most cattle are on the mountain pasture, usually in the area of the “Oberhütte“. Every week they are searched to see if they are doing well and to bring them salt.

Zwerghennenmutter mit Küken — Dwarf hen with chicks

Junge Hasen mit Hasenmutter — Young rabbits with mother

Our chicken herd provides us with eggs that local egg connoisseurs also like to buy on site. There are cats and rabbits to pet, play and feed. Goats to annoy and to be annoyed and a few smaller chickens with a rooster that once lost its voice out of fear of the hawk.

Ask Barbara if your children would like to help with the stable work.

Activities around the yard

Ask us about it (with arms and legs, our English is unfortunately very bad)

Grilling by the pond
Explore the area
Children can help with the stable work
Feed and pet animals in the petting zoo
Swing, play in the sandpit, slide
Tobogganing, bobsleighing, playing in the snow