Gardens and nature

Farm gardens, such as those found in the Austrian Open-Air Museum in Stübing, were protected by a fence right next to the house and, as kitchen gardens, formed a unit with it. The farm garden provided essentials: vegetables, herbs, medicinal plants and later also flowers to decorate church or family festivities. In the course of its history, it was also subject to various "fashions". What did not prove successful or became useless disappeared from the variety.

Experts assume that horticulture began in our country around 5,600 BC. The first Neolithic farmers probably cultivated lentils, peas and opium poppies in small gardens near their houses. For a long time, however, people fetched their herbs from the wild. Garden culture developed further in our latitudes, especially under the influence of the Romans. After the Middle Ages, foreign plants were introduced. At that time, it was mainly useful plants with a high nutritional value or new medicinal and aromatic herbs that attracted attention. The pumpkin and the potato, for example, were introduced from America and thus changed the diet permanently. In the 15th and 16th centuries, gardens were also enriched with flowers. From the 18th century onwards, so-called "apothecary gardens" emerged as models for the farmer's gardens. In these, new plants from the colonies, such as tomatoes or courgettes, also became established, but initially remained reserved for the bourgeoisie and only came into the gardens of the "simple" population with the educational and school gardens in the 19th century.
 

The annual cycle of the gardens

In spring, we start clearing the garden of leaves and branches in the middle/end of March. The soil and the beds are prepared, plants are sown or brought forward in the plant tunnel. In mid/late April, the planting of vegetables and flowers begins. From the beginning of May, the properties such as the Hanslerhof are decorated with balcony flowers (fuchsias, lilies, tuberous begonias, petunias, balcony prince, mountain carnations). At this time of year, the hedges and roses in the museum grounds are also pruned. Summer is the time for weeding out perennial plants and also for garden and flower care. The vegetable harvest can begin and at the same time attention is also paid to crop rotation. In autumn, the clearing begins. The compost that is prepared throughout the year can now be applied and the gardens are made ready for winter again.

Plants have always been vital for humans and animals. Accordingly, knowledge about their active ingredients and forms of preparation was extensive.

Herbs and spices

The rural population had to rely almost entirely on folk medicine knowledge, on remedies from nature. Medicinal herbs were indispensable in daily life. The peasant doctor, who was summoned in case of more serious illnesses, had more varied knowledge about ointments, tinctures, oils, plasters or powders. We owe descriptions of spices used at that time to the cookbook of the Roman Apicius. Even two millennia ago, savory and lovage were indispensable for roast lamb. Garlic cloves with mustard seeds, coriander and dill were pickled in vinegar as seasoning. In the late medieval cuisine of the nobility and bourgeoisie, seasoning experienced a heyday. Spices such as pepper, nutmeg and cloves were considered a status symbol and were a sought-after commodity. Ordinary people also

Scented and coloured plants

Scents can influence our moods and our state of mind, but they can also accelerate the healing process of diseases. They beguile or strengthen concentration, have a relaxing or invigorating, warming or cooling effect, they attract or drive away. The Romans brought this knowledge to the world. The essential substances are extracted from tiny oil droplets that are stored in flowers, leaves, stems and roots. Here you can also discover special fragrant plants: the original form of the black hollyhock can be found in the educational herb garden near the hammer mill. The Madonna Lily grows in the Paule Smokehouse. Different types of carnations and roses grow in every garden on our open-air site, in numerous colours and with wonderful scents. Dyeing plants such as the dyer's chamomile, the dyer's woad or the dyer's woad are mainly found in our herb and teaching garden.

For natural plant protection, beneficial insects should settle in the garden. They fight pests or promote the pollination of fruit trees and garden plants for a rich harvest. Some insects can even do both. To attract beneficial insects, you need to offer them both food and suitable habitat with nesting, breeding, retreat and overwintering sites. "Insect hotels", rose balls or flower pots hung upside down and filled with wood wool provide a home for a variety of useful insects.

A Natura 2000 protected area is located on the museum grounds. The eastern course of the Enzenbach stream, which flows through the valley, was found to be the breeding habitat of a highly endangered dragonfly species. With a body length of almost 10 cm, the damselfly is one of the largest dragonfly species in Europe. The larvae settle in the areas with calmer currents, where they lie in wait for prey such as insect larvae or stream fleas.  After 3 - 5 years, the larvae leave the water via tree trunks and branches before they burst their larval shells in dry conditions and develop into winged dragonflies.