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Farming and forestry at the Andechs Monastery
The role of the monastic estate has changed fundamentally since its reestablishment in 1850. At that time, it was the exclusive means of livelihood for both the Andechs and Saint Boniface monasteries and their staff. Nowadays, foodstuffs are produced for many people. In 1995, we switched over to organic farming under the guidelines of the Naturlandverband, an association of organic farmers. This approach calls for extra care and restraint in dealing with nature – aimed at doing justice to the task of preserving God’s creation, particularly for the monastic farms, and at promoting Benedictine traditions.


The farms and forests lying primarily around the Holy Mount have an annual precipitation of almost 40 inches (1 meter) and an average temperature of 45 0F (7.2 0C). The ground varies from alluvial soil at the Old Ammer River, to gravelly soil, all the way through to marshlands. The ground quality ranges from 35 to 45 points.

The monastery farm encompasses 150 hectares, of which 110 are cultivated, 25 cover meadows and pastures, and 15 enclose water and farmyards. The farms grow spelt, rye, wheat, oats, mustard, and beans and peas as fodder.

The Hofpfisterei bakery in Munich consumes all the organic grain harvested for making Andechser Brot (bread), Andechser Semmeln (rolls), and other baked goods.   
 

 
After 1990, cattle raising was given up in stages, and the barns were leased to the Metz family, a local farming couple. Since the Metz family also runs an organic dairy cattle operation, many cooperative ventures have emerged: To keep the cows in their natural environment, they are raised on deep straw obtained from the monastery’s farmlands; In return, all the dung serves as a fertilizer to maintain the monastic farmlands’ soil fertility and yield. Furthermore, the Metz family utilizes the clover patches and the monastery’s surrounding meadows and pastures as fodder for the livestock, and also cultivates the farmland for the monastery.

     
Remotely located grasslands, such as those in Wessbrunn and Pähl, are leased out. The farms look after the scattered fruit orchards around the monastery and also operate their own apiary.  A part of the produced honey  is used for selling in our "Andechser Klosterladen".

The fruit from the orchards is turned into our high quality liquor. The Florian-Stadl (Florian Barn), formerly a pigsty and hay barn for the monastic farms, is the current venue for the annual Orff Festival held each summer, and for concerts and a variety of events.

The estate also cultivates and administers 160 hectares of forests. In 1990 and 1992, gales inflicted severe damage, especially to the old conifers comprising roughly half the woods. As with the remaining areas, a mixed forest stand is now being grown on the barren fields that resulted. The necessary forestry work is outsourced. The monastery’s forests also comply with the German PEFC, the Pan European Forest Certification System for sustainable cultivation of forests.

For further information please don`t hesitate to contact Mr. Bernhard.

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