The Foodscapes Collective

Name: Tini Vogt
Location: Bad Münder, Germany
Type of Farming: all kind of vegetables and berries, as well as fruits like apples, pears, cherries, plums
Years Farming: 22 years

Tini Vogt is a farmer based in Bad Münder, Germany, where she manages three different garden plots totaling approximately 800 square meters. She grows a variety of vegetables alongside fruit trees such as apples, pears, cherries, and plums. She also grows strawberries, raspberries, currants, blueberries, gooseberries, jostaberries, and aronia (apple berries). This season, she has also begun growing cut flowers.

An innovator and autodidact, Tini has built her practice through curiosity, experimentation, and a deep commitment to organic methods. She embraces a homesteading lifestyle, preserving much of her harvest through canning and jam-making, and continually finding new ways to make the most of what she grows.

Tini is also a published author (latest book: 12 Monate Gemüse Ernten) and has an amazing Instagram full of gardening tips and inspiration.

In recognition of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, The Foodscapes Collective is highlighting women farmers whose work sustains families, communities, and food systems. This series shares the voices and experiences of women farmers through short conversations about their journeys, and the meaning of growing food.

In this farmer profile, Tini Vogt reflects on her farming journey in Bad Münder, Germany, which began in 2004.

What first inspired you to become a farmer?

I never wanted to have a garden, but we got one with our house and had to do something with it. Because of food allergies I started to grow my own food. After a few years I got hit by the homesteader bug and wanted to grow enough food for the whole year. Now I grow enough food to share it with friends and family.

Who taught you how to farm? Where did you learn?

I read tons of gardening books (it was the time before YT) and tried literally everything what I read. I developed the best practices for me and my gardens over the years and wrote 2 gardening books about that. You can learn the most if you try everything and journal about and learn from it.

What does a typical day on the farm look like?

It depends on the season, in spring I prepare the beds, shovel dirt and manure, sow and take care for tons of seedlings and make plans. In summer I harvest, plant fall crops and process (can, freeze, dry and store) my harvests for winter. In fall I harvest and process my harvests, prepare the beds for winter, make different kind of composts. In winter I try to do some maintenance work, or work which I haven’t manage to finish during the seasons. it depends on the weather now.

What challenges do you face as a woman farmer?

There’s luckily only one thing I struggle with and that’s the access to land. So I am probably blessed that that’s my only problem! I could grow way more food or flowers, when I would have some more land. But as a small-scale farmer, no “real” farmer will give you a piece of land. But that’s a general problem here and not a typical women problem.

What does growing food mean to you? Is there a crop/product that feels especially meaningful?

Growing my own food means a lot to me. I know I can treat myself with the best and healthiest food, I am able to create my own food sovereignty. I know that my food isn’t sprayed and I can select my favorite seed varieties, especially heirlooms and no F1. It’s a kind of rebellion against the system, because when you’re growing your own food, you are not longer controllable. Plus I can take care of my piece of land, and steward it and make sure that there’s a healthy wildlife. it feels like I can make the world a tiny bit better, when I grow my own food.

What advice would you give to a young woman who wanted to farm?

If you want to farm, just go for it! Do your research, ask and visit people who farm, and just start where you are. You don’t need a fancy set up, just start. You’ll learn a lot on your way if you’re willing to learn from your mistakes. You’ll probably make many mistakes, but I promise you, it’ll get better with every season. Just go for it and don’t give up. You’re stronger than you think. Live your dream and build up your life in a way you like it!

Photos courtesy of Tini Vogt

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