Andrea Rieder

When her grandchildren aren’t running around her, her guests are well looked after and the animals in the barn are happily munching on fresh hay, Andrea Rieder likes to sit on the little bench in front of the house and enjoy the peace and quiet. “With the pace the world moves at these days, that sometimes just does you good.” The farm is her life, her family is what matters most, and nature is her most precious asset. Your heart lifts the moment you step onto the farmyard. You immediately feel at home here and sense a deep connection to nature and tradition. It’s almost as if you were turning a page in a nostalgic children’s storybook:

The farm, surrounded by meadows and wooden fences, framed by fruit trees and flowering shrubs; hens cluck as they strut around the house whilst the cat ‘Muizi’ lazes contentedly in the sun. Just then, Andrea’s husband Martin comes chugging round the corner on his tractor. “There’s always plenty to do, and that’s a good thing,” smiles Andrea, picking up little Anton. When her (daughter-in-law’s) daughters are at work, she looks after her grandchildren. As a family, you have to stick together to make sure everything runs smoothly. “We’re there for one another. After all, there’s nothing better than falling asleep knowing that we’re all healthy and able to live our lives. And that includes work.” As a pub landlady and farmer, she feels, as she puts it, “absolutely brilliant”. Most people go on holiday once a year. Andrea knows that this is the most precious time of the year.

Cooking is a passion – working with healthy food is a joy. “I love cooking, sometimes for the whole family and sometimes for our guests too.” When I place the frying pan with wonderfully fluffy Kaiserschmarrn on the table, it’s not just the children’s eyes that light up. Speaking of frying pans: “Oh dear, the potatoes,” she says, and no sooner has she said it than she starts bustling about in the kitchen. “I’ve got to put them on straight away, otherwise there’ll be nothing for lunch,” she smiles. Andrea cooks just as her mother taught her. “In Pinzgau, we cook by feel, just like this: a handful of flour, potatoes, a bit of salt and a splash of milk (it has to be hot, otherwise it won’t work), knead the dough lovingly – but not for too long – and then we pop another log on the fire so we’ve got the ideal temperature…”. It’s a good thing Andrea also runs cookery courses. Whether baking bread and doughnuts, rolling out Nidei or making ‘muasn’ – as the people of Pinzgau say – she shares valuable tips on how to make these Pinzgau specialities a success. “I’m delighted when people tell me how well the bread has turned out and what joy they’ve discovered in cooking and baking.”

In fact, fresh herbs go into Andrea’s cooking pot with almost every dish. “Nature is our most precious asset. That’s why we must all treat it responsibly.” She finds herbs and their effects particularly fascinating – whether as healthy seasonings or remedies. Herbs were grown in Hollersbach even in the past. Primarily, these were used to produce herbal cosmetic products.
“When this came to an end, I had the idea of continuing to grow the herbs after all. A few like-minded people and I took up the idea, developed it further and eventually founded the ‘Hollersbacher Kräutergarten’ association.”
Spanning around 8,000 m² today, 500 plants from various thematic areas can be admired, sniffed and tasted. “The power and benefits of herbs are fascinating.” You wouldn’t believe what all thrives in the Pinzgau. “We guide visitors through the world of herbs and, together, make ointments and herbal salts which they can then take home with them. It’s not just visitors who appreciate this offering. ‘The people of Hollersbach identify with their herb garden,’ says Andrea proudly. Especially in summer, it is a popular place for locals and visitors alike, for young and old, to relax, unwind and enjoy the experience – surrounded by wonderful scents and vibrant colours – and the buzzing of bees. “For anyone who’s ever wondered just how important bees are to us humans – the bee nature trail is a wonderful addition,” Andrea is happy to suggest to her guests. Without bees, the world would look very different indeed… “but set off on your own journey of discovery and experience…”

Time flies when you’re with Andrea in her parlour. She makes you feel right at home. The herbal tea (homemade, of course) has a soothing effect on the stomach. Meanwhile, little Anton is longing for his grandmother’s undivided attention. What is happiness? Slowing down a gear, taking a deep breath and finding joy in life’s little things.