Lavender dream in Adlstraß: Natural paradise is attracting more and more visitors!

Lavender dream in Adlstraß: Natural paradise is attracting more and more visitors!

In Adlstraß, a small town near Dorfen, the largest lavender field in southern Germany covers an area of ​​3.3 hectares. Farmer Matthias Tafelmeier planted 80,000 wild lavender plants here in 2019 to meet the challenge of drier summers. This concept is based on his idea, which he developed during his apprenticeship. Wild lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is particularly robust and frost-resistant, which is why it was the perfect choice for arable soil that is poor and allows water to seep away quickly [sueddeutsche.de], [wochenblatt-dlv.de].

But the lavender field doesn't just offer flowering plants. It also serves as a valuable habitat for wild bees, butterflies, lizards and many other animals. Tafelmeier emphasizes that lavender is not only an aesthetic enrichment, but also contributes to the promotion of biodiversity. In July, guests can enjoy the intense scent of lavender flowers while staying in this biodiverse ecosystem [sueddeutsche.de], [wochenblatt-dlv.de].

Production and marketing

Lavender water and lavender oil are obtained from the flowers, which Tafelmeier produces in his own distillery. In the first year of production (2021), the harvest was modest, but he invested in his own facility after technical problems arose with rental stills [sueddeutsche.de], [wochenblatt-dlv.de]. The possible uses are diverse: from cosmetics to room sprays to applications in health promotion.

Despite the success, Tafelmeier has no commercial goals in mind. His main focus is on preserving nature and the medicinal plant lavender. In the farm shop, visitors can not only buy his lavender products, but also try aronia berry juice. However, he does not plan to market it widely through natural food stores [sueddeutsche.de].

Visitor management and environmental awareness

However, the increasing popularity of the lavender field also has its downsides. More and more visitors are coming, which leads to unwanted garbage, wild parking and trampled plants. Tafelmeier has therefore drawn up rules of etiquette and plans to install signs and internet information to raise awareness among visitors. Dogs are prohibited in the field to protect the delicate lavender [sueddeutsche.de].

An important aspect of the project is the commitment to species-rich nature. Through his work, Tafelmeier wants to motivate people to support small farms and create awareness of organic farming and landscape conservation [wochenblatt-dlv.de]. In Thuringia, lavender cultivation is also being tested to promote biodiversity, which underlines the positive influence of lavender on biodiversity [dbu.de].

Overall, the lavender field in Adlstraß not only contributes to biodiversity, but also to the local community. With his commitment, Tafelmeier ensures that this tradition is preserved in a rapidly changing world. This is the only way to ensure that future generations can also enjoy the blooming of the lavender fields.