Hans-Jürgen Müller
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Organic farm and green local and state politics
International flair and cosmopolitanism
When, at the beginning of 1978, the decision was made that I wanted to continue my agricultural training with university studies after completing my apprenticeship, there were several reasons that spoke in favor of Witzenhausen as the place to study. The course of study was to be practical and provide me with new perspectives and insights after my experiences on my parents' farm and in the training business. However, the environment was also decisive for the choice of the place of study. The international flair and the cosmopolitanism associated with it immediately fascinated me on my first visit to Witzenhausen. At that time, organic farming was still a marginal topic. The first chair for organic farming was not established until I had finished my studies. During the semester breaks, I initially worked for a contractor and applied pesticides. But the driving forces for turning to organic farming were already at work and I soon joined them. Formative for me and many others in this direction was the influence of Prof. Engelhard Boehncke. In addition, my interest in agricultural policy was fueled in Witzenhausen. Onno Poppinga and Götz Schmidt from the Kassel Department of Landscape Planning were not innocent in this. In general, I felt it was a great advantage to study at the then very progressive Gesamthochschule Kassel with its wide range of courses.
Gut Fahrenbach - largest organic farm in the town of Witzenhausen
After an interlude as a community service worker at the Kassel Student Union in Witzenhausen, the decision was made: My professional future does not lie on my parents' farm, but in a new project fed by the ideas I took with me from my studies in Witzenhausen. Together with two other fellow students we founded an organic farm with 53 hectares of arable land on Gut Fahrenbach and developed it into a successful project over the course of 35 years . So successful, in fact, that we now run this farm, which is now a part of our company. So successful that we were able to hand over this farm, which has since grown to four times its original size, to two Witzenhausen graduates at the end of 2017.
Involvement in politics and organic associations
During this time, we not only developed the company together, but also helped shape our social environment in many ways. I myself was involved on a voluntary basis in Witzenhausen's local politics, in the town council and magistrate. Later, in the Bioland Association, both at the state and national level, and even later I was the managing director and chairman of the Association of Organic Farming in Hesse, the umbrella organization of organic farming associations active in Hesse. Thus, we have accompanied and helped shape the development of organic agriculture, not only on the farm, but also in the association's work.
Cooperation between the Court and the University
The fact that our farm was so close to Witzenhausen turned out to be a great advantage. Our farm was sought after as an internship and training farm by the students of Witzenhausen, because we have always maintained a close relationship with the university. A very good cooperation developed with the first experimental farm for organic farming in Neu-Eichenberg and we participated in numerous experiments and research projects of the Department of Organic Agricultural Sciences.
Especially during my work in and with the organic farming associations, I got to know many agricultural engineers trained in Witzenhausen and realized that the education in Witzenhausen has developed very well. The decision to focus on organic agricultural sciences in teaching and research in Witzenhausen at an early stage and in a sustainable manner was extremely important for the location. Those responsible can only be congratulated on this step.
Relatively late, but equipped with a lot of professional and life experience, my professional life changed once again at the age of 62. Not least because of my commitment to agricultural policy, I was elected to the Hessian state parliament for B90/Greens. There I now try to stand up for my agricultural policy goals in another important position. And in my Witzenhausen regional office, how could it be otherwise, a graduate of the Department of Ecological Agricultural Sciences from Witzenhausen is now also working.
Comments
Saro Gerd Ratter: Thank you for this interesting contribution and congratulations on your great career! Since last year, I am also volunteering in local politics as a city councilor and speaker for biodiversity. Best regards from Weilheim i.OB.
Christian Röser: This contribution - like all the others - is really very inspiring. What leads me to this comment is the fact that here someone actively represents in politics the ideas and values that we share as Witzenhäuser. In these stormy times for society but also for politicians* a really hopeful sign! We need more of them to shape our future not only in our actions in agriculture, economy and society but also in our politics. Many greetings and good luck!