#HowWeLive: Charging station for body, mind and soul

"You have to look for niches in agriculture these days," says Anita Stauder. She treats herself to a little time out for half an hour and looks proudly at what she and her husband Christian have created over the years. At the property on the Hühnersberg (or Hirschberg) in Lendorf and at everything that has been created around the mountain farm at 900 meters above sea level. It is precisely these niches that have become the elixir of life for the family of four. "Farm holidays offer everything. You don't need to serve up anything that has to be reinvented," says the hostess, who has been running her parents' farm together with Christian since she was 19 years old. "For a long time, we were younger than our guests," she smiles, without ever having regretted this step. On the contrary. Many things at the Stauderhof are a little different and special.

Artax, Waterloo and Co.

For example Artax, Waterloo, Valentin, Felix, Sammy and all the others. The alpacas, which at first glance seem exotic in this environment. Even the landlord was initially skeptical when Anita returned home from an excursion to an alpaca farm six years ago with this idea. Christian is now also "on fire" for the animals. There are 12 of them in the barn and in many ways they are an attraction for visitors from near and far. The four-legged friends native to South America can be seen more and more often in our part of the world, which is probably because they are so versatile. They are suitable for animal-assisted therapy, as robust landscape conservationists or as breeding animals.

Alongside mohair and cashmere, alpaca fiber is one of the highest quality and most sought-after raw materials in the world and is valued for its properties. The wool cools in summer and warms in winter, is suitable for allergy sufferers and is hard-wearing.

The Stauderhof has not only become a popular excursion destination with its guided alpaca hikes, children's birthday parties and excursions, but also because of the various products that are made from the fiber: Wool, soap, shoe insoles and herbal products are popular souvenirs alongside culinary specialties.

On the trail to yourself

Alpacas have a calm, peaceful aura and therefore have a calming effect on the human psyche. "By taking time to watch them graze, play or rest, you can learn to be in the here and now and take your mind off stress and hectic life," explains Anita. The fact that guests also find it easier to switch to deceleration mode in this way has encouraged the Stauders to play this niche even more intensively. At the certified Green Care time-out farm, people can ground themselves and strengthen their health skills. The alpine pastures, forest and the farm with its many animals act as sources of strength. In line with their qualifications, the two of them focus on exercise in nature. In addition to the alpaca hikes, this also includes herbal hikes to places of power around the farm and relaxing meditation sessions. Motto: On the trail to yourself, as the offer of the time-out week on the mountain is called. Sustainability, closeness to nature and regionality are also combined in the latest niche products: cosmetics made from herbs are a big hit in workshops.

Refuel "offline"

Deceleration and simplicity have become the overall program for vacations and time out at the farm. TV and unnecessary luxury are deliberately omitted in the rooms. An old telephone box in the house serves as an "offline forest cell" for a time without a cell phone. In "Do it Yourself" workshops, products are processed according to old traditions. Numerous activities for children give parents in need of relaxation the time they need for themselves. The Auszeithof is a recharging station for body, mind and soul.

Alpaca hikes in winter

Anita and Christian also offer guided alpaca hikes in winter. These are suitable for the whole family and last approx. 1.5 hours. More information about the alpaca hikes at the Stauderhof here.