Rural Europe on the move English_E_version_all | Page 111
Surviving below sea level
queue of sheep trot by. They are our
lifeguards on duty, as they keep the
grass short so that the roots get deep
enough and the sea cannot easily tear
holes in the dike. Behind the dikes
“We used the spirit of opposition against
the regional authorities to prepare for marrying
wildlife protection with sustainable farming
and renewable energies."
we grab our bikes and say goodbye.
Good to see youngsters who feel so
attached to this remote place. “We
love this life of freedom in nature” still
resonates, when I cycle back to our
farm.
Making change
despite headwind
Biking on Pellworm, no matter
should become a National Park, ‘No Wirtschaften! means ‘Ecological
National Park – freedom for Frisians!’ Economy!’. It carries the exclamation
stickers were found on every shop mark as a call to action and transition
and car. Farmers and fishermen feared from rather unsustainable farming
restrictions and mobilised against the practices, depopulation and mainland
government’s proposal. dependence, towards a decent
For us, a group of islanders from
livelihood for all islanders gained from
all walks of life, this conflict was like renewable energies, organic farming
an ‘energiser’ for a civic movement and soft on-farm tourism within a
towards more sustainable island unique and vulnerable ecosystem.
which way you go, is a struggle development. Just as seagulls take against the wind. Maybe this climate off best by running against the wind, islanders and from our tourists. But
has formed our stubborn Frisian DNA we used the spirit of opposition the process of transformation was not
having to stand up against gusts against the regional authorities a ride with backwind. In the beginning
and sea. It may therefore come as to prepare for marrying wildlife the mayor and local government saw
no surprise that in the late 1980s, protection with sustainable farming us as troublemakers and dreamers,
when the Regional Government of and renewable energies. In 1989 we and they placed many hurdles and
Schleswig-Holstein suggested that founded our non-profit organisation barriers to our ambitions. But stubborn
the entire mud flat of the Wadden Sea ‘Ökologisch Wirtschaften!’. Ökologisch as we are, we pushed on.
We had support from many
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