Exploring Agriculture, Land and Labour Around Zurich
The common days in the beginning are dedicated to exploring agricultural territories, villages and farms around Zurich. In conversations with locals, farmers, workers, pioneers and experts, we will learn about current agricultural practices, land ownership models and labour organisation.
The common days are followed by a period dedicated to individual fieldwork in respective student teams.
- Common Day 1
Exploring Hirzel and Einsiedeln
- Common Day 2
Working on the Huebhof and lecture by Irmi Seidl
- Common Day 3
Visiting Strickhof and lecture by Philippe Sauvin
- Individual Day 1
Field Research
- Individual Day 2
Field Research
- Common Day 4
Kloster Fahr and State Archives Canton of Zurich
OUR FIRST DESTINATION: THE REGION OF HIRZEL WITH ITS GREEN, HILLY LANDSCAPE, WHERE LEISURE LANDSCAPES (HERE A GOLF COURSE) BLUR WITH AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
AT HIRZEL, MILK PRODUCTION IS THE MAIN FARMING ACTIVITY. THEREFORE, PASTURES, COWS AND BARNS CHARACTERISE THE REGION.
Photograph: Leon Bloch.
Photograph: Leon Bloch.
VISITING THE JOHANNA SPYRI MUSEUM IN HIRZEL.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
JOHANNA SPYRI, SWISS AUTHOR OF HEIDI, GREW UP IN HIRZEL. THE PASTORAL LANDSCAPE OF HIRZEL HAS PROBABLY INSPIRED SPYRI WHEN SHE WROTE HER BOOKS.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
EINSIEDELN ABBEY IS THE LARGEST PRIVATE LAND OWNER IN SWITZERLAND.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
AT THE NEWLY FOUND COMMUNITY-BASED FARMING COOPERATIVE HUEBHOF IN SCHWAMENDINGEN, WE VOLUNTEERED TO ASSIST THE FARMERS FOR A DAY.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
WE PLANTED KOHLRABI SEEDLINGS.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
AND WE BUILT A SMALL BIODIVERSITY PATCH WITH STONES AND BRANCHES.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
IN THE EVENING, IRMI SEIDL, ECONOMIST AND EXPOERT FOR POST-GROWTH SOCIETY, GAVE A LECTURE ON THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN A POST-GROWTH SCENARIO.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
"IF AGRICULTURE IS TO BE PRACTICED ACCORDING TO ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PRINCIPLES…MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO WORK IN AGRICULTURE AGAIN."
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
AT THE STATE ARCHIVES OF THE CANTON OF ZURICH, WE LOOKED AT HISTORICAL MAPS, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND FORMER OWNERSHIP SYSTEMS.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
ONE OF THE SO-CALLED ZEHTNENPLÄNE, WHICH WERE DRAWN TO LOCATE LAND PROPERTY AS A BASIS TO LEVYING TAXES ("ZEHNTEN").
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
Photograph: Jan Westerheide.
