Martina Reinsch, Caroline Schumann, Dr. Andreas Butz
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Eco-competence in the southwest
Martina Reinsch (MR), Caroline Schumann (CS) and Andreas Butz (AB) studied in Witzenhausen at different times. Today, they work together in the Organic Farming Unit at the Agricultural Technology Center Augustenberg (LTZ), a state institute that is also part of the Competence Center for Organic Farming Baden-Württemberg (KÖLBW).
The choice of studies
MR: I studied in Witzenhausen from April 1985 to the end of 1987. My start in Witzenhausen was with the BPS II (Professional Practical Studies) at the department "Methods of Alternative Agriculture" in the working group "Non-chemical Plant Protection". I had already completed my intermediate diploma at the University of Göttingen. From there, we - a few students - had often cycled to Witzenhausen to listen to Hartmut Vogtmann, who had been a professor in the Department of Agriculture at the GhK (Gesamthochschule Kassel) since 1981 and held what was then the world's first chair in organic agriculture. I chose animal production as my major (there was not yet a major in organic agriculture).
AB: After an apprenticeship in vegetable production on an organic farm near Ludwigsburg, I studied in Witzenhausen from the winter semester of 1999 to 2005 and chose organic agriculture as my major.
CS: I started the winter semester 2001 slightly late, because my return flight from Canada, where I had done the BPS I, was delayed due to the attacks in the USA. After that, things got off to a relaxed start and I chose to major in organic agriculture.
The professional career
MR: My professional career was probably typical for Witzenhausen students: After three alpine summers as a dairymaid in Graubünden/Switzerland, I worked for four years in development cooperation: With the German Development Service I worked as a development worker in a resource conservation project (Projet Agro Ecologie) in Mali. After my stay abroad, I completed a postgraduate course (environmental protection and spatial planning) at the Technical University of Dresden to improve my chances on the German job market. Thus, I managed to enter the agricultural administration of Baden-Württemberg via a cross-border project at the Institute for Environmentally Sound Land Management (IfuL) in Müllheim (South Baden). Today, I am deputy head of unit in the organic farming unit at LTZ/KÖLBW.
AB: I was a research associate at the Department of Ecological Plant Protection. I did my PhD there in 2010 and was still lecturing and doing research as a post-doc. In 2012, I went to the LTZ and did applied research in conventional crop production on legumes, cropping systems, irrigation and agri-environmental measures, where I headed the Crop Production Unit. In October 2020, I went back to my roots and now head the Organic Farming Unit at LTZ/KÖLBW.
CS: In addition to my studies, I have worked on farms, in the library and as a cheesemaker on the alp. After my studies I was in New Zealand and got a job at the Ministry of Agriculture Baden-Württemberg for orchard conservation. This was probably also because I planned and supervised the orchard plantations on the Frankenhausen domain as a student assistant for several years. At the ministry, I was offered a traineeship in agricultural administration, which I completed in 2011-2013. Afterwards I built up a technical school for organic agriculture at the then new KÖLBW near Freiburg and taught master students for a total of 6 years. As of 2017 I joined the LTZ/KÖLBW in plant cultivation research and since 2020 I also represent the German side of an institute for cross-border cooperation in environmentally sound land management with Switzerland and France.
Memories of the student days
MR: My time as a student in Witzenhausen certainly pointed the way for my professional career: I was able to pursue my interest in organic agriculture and contacts to the "Älplerszene" and international agriculture were made during my time in Witzenhausen, through which I was able to enter professional life and realize some of my dreams.
AB: With my time in Witzenhausen I associate exciting people and exciting conversations, a diversity of ideas, the "eco-cosmos Witzenhausen".
CS: Critical-constructive minds, club, campfire, bite-proof panel discussions, dogs, children, horses, knitting and breastfeeding Studies, thermoses falling over in the Great Assembly Hall, great cinema, tropical greenhouse, tegut, horsetail, market, conferences, WiTa, conversations on the Werrabrücke...
What was particularly important?
MR: I remember the study period in the "familiar" Witzenhausen as very pleasant, as a field of experimentation and a source of inspiration in many respects. The time was important for my personal and professional development and I am happy that in my current job I have come full circle and am once again working in the field of organic agriculture.
AB: What I took with me was thinking in networked systems, the necessary tools for applied research and the love of my life with the children that go with it, as well as many good contacts to this day.
CS: I have taken with me the courage to think critically and to act constructively, while keeping an eye on soil fertility and not losing my grip on the ground - and not forgetting the joy of life and the enjoyment of good food despite all my commitment. And what has remained is a great network that I like to draw on.