pin_dropDREAM GARDEN TANNBERGElisabeth Mayr, Reitsham 16, 5221 Lochen am See

The scent of spring

When Elisabeth Mayer is outdoors, she sees her surroundings differently to many other people. She recognises goutweed and can hardly wait to make herb bread rolls with goutweed filling again. She has been looking forward to the coltsfoot blossom all winter - her recipe for sweet coltsfoot foam omelettes is her favourite.
It's not just about looking at them - nature has too many expressive flavours to offer. However, savouring the first plant of the year is always something special for Elisabeth.

Connection to nature

Elisabeth Mayer has a close connection to nature - a connection that many people have lost, even though this is where our origins lie. She thinks it's a shame that people are out and about without being able to recognise and use their green surroundings, without knowing what is edible, has healing powers or can be used in other ways. Elisabeth, on the other hand, has known these origins since she was a child and is very happy to pass on her knowledge.

"Flowers and leaves are as precious to me as gemstones."

~ Elisabeth Mayer.

The treasures of nature

As a child from Vorarlberg, she travelled to a Styrian mountain farm every summer with her grandmother. Grandma, a great plant lover, used the two months on the mountain to pick, harvest, collect and dry the plants.
The treasures were processed at home. The grandparents passed on all their knowledge about edible plants and herbs, their purpose and use.

From the meadow to the dream garden

She studied landscape ecology and offered wild herb walks.
For twenty years, she has been giving seminars in which she familiarises participants with local wild herbs and flowering plants - for culinary and cosmetic purposes. She bought a plot of land in Lochen am See 17 years ago - the size of a football pitch. Back then it was a plain meadow with a few trees. The result was the Tannberg dream garden - a natural idyll for people and animals. A garden where there are no weeds, only useful plants.

Expertise

Her repertoire as a "herb fairy" is extensive: garden tours, workshops, cookery courses and book author. She has written eight specialised books - specialist books published by Leopold Stocker Verlag "Wildfrüchte, Gemüse, Kräuter. Erkennen, Sammeln, genießen" is in its 6th edition, as well as flower cookery and annual books such as "Erdenfrau" and "Erdenmann", which was written with co-author Martin Wundsam.
www.kraeuter-fee.at/fachbuecher

The "Gartentage - Kräuterlust & Gartengenuss" is organised at the end of June and beginning of September. Interested visitors stroll from stand to stand and enjoy the Tannberg dream garden.

Elisabeth hopes to open people's eyes to the treasures of nature - to awaken curiosity, respect and appreciation for plants.