Autarkie & Me • Episode 22 • Self-sufficiency

Self-sufficiency with rare plant varieties

The “Autarkie & Me” broadcast of 08.10.2025 goes one step deeper into the topic of self-sufficiency in the area of health and nutrition – and thus also economy and finance. This time Lukas Heilingsetzer, a crop plant breeder, is a guest in the Radio SOL studio with impressions from his Botanical Garden of Useful Plants, while gottfried joins via video.

From his youth onwards a life dedicated to plants

Building up and maintaining a Botanical Garden of Useful Plants consisting of hundreds of different plant varieties, combined with livestock for the natural care of the garden. In the “Autarkie & Me” broadcast of 08.10.2025, Lukas Heilingsetzer talks about his path from his youthful beginnings to the current state of his farm.

Here is an overview of how it all came about, in his own words:

• In 1993 I bought a farm in the Bucklige Welt (Lower Austria) and renovated the old farmhouse, which had been uninhabited for 16 years.
• In 1995 I joined Arche Noah and Arche Austria (associations for preserving crop diversity and rare livestock breeds).
• From 1995 I began keeping and breeding endangered old livestock breeds and producing seed from rare old vegetable plants, which I put into circulation via Arche Noah.
• From around 1997 I also began propagating rare fruit trees.
• In 2016 I acquired 2 more old farmhouses and another 23 ha of land and had completely renovated them by 2023.
• I have been collecting crop plants since 1993; my personal collection bears the name “Botanical Garden of Useful Plants”.

In the Radio SOL studio, in conversation with gottfried (joining via video) and Gerhard Pellegrini, he talks about his vision of life and gives us a small insight into his very extensive expertise on useful plants.

At the centre: a long-term orientation

“My vision is a functioning household economy that enables us to survive in a crisis and, at the same time, a botanical collection that is available to society should there be a wish to fall back on old and rare genetic material.”

Lukas Heilingsetzer, crop plant breeder

Realising this vision requires a high degree of responsibility and care, since possible risks must be taken into account when mixing old and rare plant varieties, as well as plants from distant regions.

Particularly noteworthy is the possibility of buying seedlings from the farm in order to build up a regional food supply from home-grown produce.

The health advantage this brings can be seen in comparison with industrial production. This advantage also makes it possible to give home-grown products to others without using money, for example on the basis of a gift economy in one’s social environment, in exchange for other products.

A few examples of the industrial production of plant products:

Pesticide dispute: perfect apples and their toxic dark side | Die Story | Kontrovers | BR24 (German)

Pesticides on apples: why many fruit growers don’t do without them | Marktcheck SWR (German)

The plastic sea of Almería | ARTE

Impressions of the Botanical Garden of Useful Plants

We are open to farm holidays, vacations, family celebrations and parties, internships and time out, retreats, yoga, meditation and self-exploration, process work and self-awareness, vision quests, but also drumming, dancing, singing and making music, cooking, making fire and swimming, as well as visits by school classes and youth groups!

Anyone who would like to get in touch with Lukas Heilingsetzer directly is welcome to contact him or visit him on his farm in Thernberg.

Lukas Heilingsetzer

Ofenbachgraben 64 2832 Thernberg Austria

Phone: +43 2629 3342 and +43 681 20209771

Email: lukas.heilingsetzer67@gmail.com

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Radio SOL is a radio station from Austria offering a varied programme focused on positive content. It concentrates on topics such as health, sustainability, culture and awareness. The station aims to spread inspiring content and offers a platform for discussion and information that promotes the well-being and quality of life of its listeners. Radio SOL is known for its commitment to the community and its support of projects and initiatives that promote a sustainable and conscious way of life.

GAIA and Radio SOL have been closely connected for years. Both organisations are committed to informing readers and listeners about important topics such as renewable energy, healthy living and ecologically sustainable approaches.

With the series “Autarkie & Me” (Self-sufficiency & me), Radio SOL opens up the messages and projects of the Society for Self-Sufficiency (GAIA) to a wide audience. Together we promote innovative solutions and practical approaches that help people lead a self-sufficient and sustainable life. The broadcasts are in German.