Scattered across a plain in Rollingen, buildings of organic and ecological design house a multitude of animals and activities. This is the Kass Haff educational and biodynamic farm, which, in addition to its agricultural activities, also houses a nursery class, a cheese factory and an organic shop.
Kass Haff’s organic and biodynamic philosophy implies an organisation centred around the needs of the animals. Tom Kass, co-founder of this multi-faceted farm, explains, “we don’t change the animals to operate in the conditions we want, but we adapt to the animals’ needs (…) This is normal on an organic farm, but even more so on a biodynamic farm”. The entire farm has been designed around the customs of biodynamic farming. It was built without any earthworks to respect the land, and only green electricity is used to meet energy needs. The layout of the site allows all the animals freedom of movement on site, but has also created a friendly atmosphere to welcome visitors young and old to this peaceful hamlet.
Yes, Kass Haff is not just a haven for the animals, it’s also a source of inspiration for its almost daily visitors who come to learn about farming life. “For us, it’s everyday life, but for them it’s something extraordinary,” comments Tom, whose aim is “through this, to create a large group of people who are involved in what happens on the farm”. One or two groups of children visit Kass Haff each day, where they are invited to take an active part in various tasks such as feeding the animals, collecting eggs or cleaning the pens. It is with cows, chickens, pigs, goats and donkeys that the children forge a bond, for the duration of a day, to grasp the importance of this farming practice. “When they leave, you can see their eyes shine,” adds Tom, “they come home and tell their parents what they’ve experienced, which involves the whole family.
Kass Haff seeks to bring together a wide range of people around the common goal of bringing this farm to life. As well as groups of young visitors, the farm hosts a nursery class, a cheese dairy and sporting and cultural activities such as yoga. All of which means that people of all ages can be welcomed on site. “With the adults, we can talk directly about what we do here,” says Tom, “given the way we work, it’s easy to talk because there’s nothing to hide and everything we do can be explained with arguments.
In June 2023, Kass Haff will join the community of the Impact Luxembourg label by receiving approval as a Societal Impact Company. “It’s a path that we started 25 years ago,” Tom explains, “we realised that we were doing a lot of things that benefited society as a whole, which on the one hand weren’t paid for and on the other hand weren’t known about. Being an SIS is another logical step in our development of the farm.”
Indeed, over and above the respectful farming practices adopted by Kass Haff, the farm is a hive of biodiversity. Operating on a closed cycle, the toilet flushes are fed by rainwater, the fertiliser comes from the animals, and the animals are fed with produce grown on the farm. The fields and pastures are rich in biodiversity. Kass Haff cares for all living things.
To support Kass Haff, simply visit the farm shop in Rollingen to sample their delicious, home-grown produce and vegetables. You can also visit the farm, where group visits, birthday parties and sporting activities can be organised on request. For more information, visit their website www.kass-haff.lu.
