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 107