Alexandra Oberascher, organic farmer at the Vordergrubenbachhof in Hintersee
Colourfully spotted and squeaky happy, Nicki the farm cat rolls over the grass with pleasure and stretches her belly into the sun. She would love to do somersaults, she looks so happy. Alexandra Oberascher in her pretty dirndl dress smiles: "You get the impression that the young farmer of the Vordergrubenbachhof enjoys it when everyone feels good. And that includes the animals, because otherwise it wouldn't be a farm.
Happy chickens? Happy guests!
Besides Nicki, seven hens and a rooster, two rabbits, two goats and three mother cows with their calves live on the organic farm. The latter, however, spend the summer on the farm's own mountain pasture and only return to the valley in September.
It is pure idyll: lettuce and strawberries thrive in the garden, a trampoline, pool and sun chairs are ready for the holiday guests on the freshly mown lawn, and the flowers sway their heads in the wind. Hectic seems to be a foreign word here: Apart from the murmur of the stream and the happy clucking of the chickens, nothing can be heard. Nothing at all!
Homemade for breakfast
And the idyll is not deceptive - even at second glance, all seems right with the world in Hintersee, a village of 450 people in the Fuschlsee region. The village is small and seems almost cute. Everything is spruced up, just like the Vordergrubenbachhof itself. The organic farm is well-kept and you quickly notice: Alexandra and Hermann Oberascher do their daily work with a lot of love.
The farmer herself comes from the Lämmerbach valley and "married into it" only a few houses away. But that was 19 years ago: As a young mother, the wife of two sons very much enjoyed being able to combine work and family at home in a practical way: "My mother-in-law already rented out rooms to holiday guests and we are continuing this tradition. In the meantime, there are two holiday flats in our house in addition to the three rooms." The Vordergrubenbachhof is a 4-Flower Holiday Farm and that says a lot about the high quality: For breakfast, there is a lot of homemade food such as jams, spreads and bread, and guests even have access to a small wellness area with sauna.
A farmer´s Life
When Alexandra Oberascher talks about her daily routine, she does so with ease and passion. But if you listen closely, you will notice: here sits a hard-working woman. Besides the small animals, the cows and calves have to be looked after twice a day. If they are on the mountain pasture in summer, Alexandra Oberascher pays them a visit once a week by mountain bike. Her husband Hermann and their two sons take care of the meadows and the organic hay for the cows as well as the forest that belongs to the farm.
Alexandra Oberascher is responsible for the guests: She gets support from her mother and her mother-in-law. "Especially when there is a room change, there is a lot to do," she says. Preparing breakfast, baking cakes, cooking, watering flowers, washing clothes, ironing - all tasks that Alexandra Oberascher seems to be able to do with ease.
In Hintersee the hiking area is on the farm's doorstep
What guests appreciate so much about the Vordergrubenbachhof is its proximity to nature and this tranquillity far away from any noise. "People can set off from the front door for hikes to the many alpine pastures and peaks of the Osterhorn group, and there are also many excursion destinations in the Fuschlsee region and the city of Salzburg is not far away," says Alexandra Oberascher.
Especially young families with children, but also couples love the rural idyll. Some regular guests have been coming for over 40 years and are now in the third generation. Even Arab guests have stayed at the organic farm. Alexandra Oberascher is happy about all of them: "I like the interaction with the people and I like the idea that the world is our guest. Even at my house, rooms were rented out to guests and my sons are growing up the same way. The guests are part of our farm.
"And when it's quieter in the off-seasons, I look forward to the time when the house fills up again."
Wintersport in Hintersee - the "Silent Night village"
With its lake and hiking area, the pretty village of Hintersee is a true gem for nature lovers. And guests also like to check in at the Vordergrubenbachhof in winter: skiing, ski tours, snowshoeing - in Hintersee they rely on 100 percent natural snow - there is rarely as much snow anywhere as here. "The cross-country ski trail also runs right behind our house," says Alexandra Oberascher. "Hintersee also has something very special to offer: Joseph Mohr lived here as a vicar from 1827. He is the author of the famous Christmas carol 'Silent Night, Holy Night'. There is a Joseph Mohr House in the village and a circular route to the new chapel. The Christmas market in the village is especially nice, where we farmers' wives are represented with a stall." The Vordergrubenbachhof is also full over Christmas and New Year's Eve - with guests who prefer the family atmosphere at the farm to a hotel stay.
Nicki, the farm cat, doesn't like snow very much: In winter, she prefers to perch on her cosy sheepskin. Hardly any guests pass by without stroking her once. But until then, she enjoys the sun and the summer idyll. Just like the guests who, after a short Kneipp round in the stream, plop happily into the deck chair, close their eyes and just listen to this unspeakable peace.
Vordergrubenbachhof Familie Oberascher
Telefon: +43 (0)6224 360
E-Mail: info@urlaub-hintersee.at
