Cited on HN 3 times, 2016–2020, never outright recommendedscore 0
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN cites it as a realistic example of productive mountain farming and of growing hardy crops in cold alpine conditions.
Josef Holzer walks through his family's Krameterhof, one of Europe's oldest permaculture farms in the Austrian mountains, with fish ponds, terraces, fruit trees and grazing animals. It showcases water management and microclimates.
“I think a more realistic approach to mountain farming would be what Sepp Holzer does in the Austrian Alps.” (HN, 2019)
I agree. But I don't think it's "tribes" exactly that create the effect, it's sustainable subsistence living within a community. You will find a few people doing a variation of it in every bioregion on the planet. I just came across this[1] video about Satayama, a Japanese village. They're not eating whale blubber, They're eating gourmet food and living in designer homes in paradise basically. Someone pointed me at Sepp Holzer the other day who is doing it in Austria[2]. There's a good chance someone is living that way within 100 miles of you. What's interesting to me is that I believe we are less than a decade away from a time when AIs will be able to instruct you, step by step, how to live sustainably on just your own power, with maybe $1000 worth of financing and access to a tool lending network. At that point a lot of "rules" of economics start to break down. [1] [link] [2] [this video]
Sepp Holzer practicing sustainable subsistence farming in Austria.
How much are you willing to pay for a head of lettuce? I have no idea about the logistics or costs for building hydro-electric indoor multi-storied farms on mountainsides, but it sounds like many millions of dollars. I think a more realistic approach to mountain farming would be what Sepp Holzer does in the Austrian Alps. [this video]
Realistic approach to mountain farming in the Austrian Alps.
Super awesome! I imagine that most of the time, you don't even need to dig giant trenches, though. Sepp Holzer grows citrus in the freezing alps above ground. Their average temp is 5C. [this video]
Citrus grown above ground in freezing alpine conditions.
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