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Many plants don't require much work. Herb expert Remo Vetter explains how you can discover a slower pace of life in your herb garden.

The village of Weissbad lies nestled among lush green hills, just a few kilometers from the cantonal capital of Appenzell. Far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and city traffic, a magical tranquility reigns here. And of course, it smells of herbs, for which the Appenzell region is famous. Remo Vetter (65) is in his element in the herb garden of the Hotel Hof Weissbad. The gardening expert, known as "The Lazy Gardener," has lived in the area for a long time with his wife Frances (59). "The Lazy Gardener" means just what it says, but anyone who thinks he just lies in a hammock while she does all the work is mistaken. The two work hand in hand and are very active.

The pioneer of natural medicine Alfred Vogel (1902–1996) brought the couple to the Appenzell region in 1982 and was their role model and mentor. Remo Vetter ran the Alfred Vogel Health Center in Teufen AR for almost four decades. There, he and his wife Frances created a medicinal plant show garden that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Idleness with a system

Remo Vetter has developed a type of gardening that is based on regular, short tasks. In between, you have plenty of time to indulge in healthy idleness. "I observe nature and intervene as little as possible. I only really take action when it can no longer help itself." Because: "Nature doesn't need humans, it regulates itself." If you tend to your garden briefly every day, you can prevent a lot of work that would otherwise be necessary. Weeds, for example. "A little chopping with a hoe in the morning is enough," explains Remo Vetter. "And they don't even grow in the first place." Of course, there is more to do in a Vetter garden than just hoeing. But the herb expert deliberately does it as a break from everyday life. "The garden is a place of retreat for me and my wife," he explains. "There we can be free, invite friends, and experience nature up close."

A huge herb garden

The Vetters are happy to pass on their extensive knowledge of gardening. They do so in courses and books, as well as in their roles as consultants and designers. The managing couple of the Hotel Hof Weissbad have also engaged their services. Damaris (55) and Christian (62) Lienhard are among the most successful hoteliers in Switzerland, thanks in part to their creative ideas. And they wanted a 1,000 square meter herb garden. Naturally, it was for the restaurant of the wellness and seminar hotel, which has been awarded 16 Gault Millau points. But the beautiful grounds are also a favorite place for guests. Here, the plants grow naturally and Käthi Fässler (55), Gault Millau Chef of the Year 2009, conjures up wonderful taste experiences from them. The hotel garden also features the raised beds that Remo Vetter swears by. They store a lot of heat thanks to a core of coarse material such as garden waste, leaves, and herbs. This allows species that normally prefer to grow in southern climes to thrive at an altitude of 800 meters in Weissbad. The Vetters garden exclusively using organic and sustainable methods.

The beds in the herb garden are edged with local larch wood and the paths are covered with bark chips, which makes it easy to work cleanly. This is one of the tricks of the "lazy gardener." The wood chips suppress weeds and keep snails away, as they don't like rough, dry surfaces. The clear demarcation of the beds and the wood chips also prevent guests from getting dirty shoes. And so you often find Remo Vetter in light-colored clothes with a Panama hat and his favorite tool in the garden, the pendulum hoe, which he uses to scratch the beds.

His gardening philosophy focuses on flow rather than hard work, on enjoying life and respecting nature. Flow describes a feeling that arises when you are concentrating on an activity. According to Vetter, anyone who wants to try this type of gardening should not start too big. A herb garden is ideal for this. The expert recommends that everyone should start a herb garden. For the fresh taste, of course. "But also because it's just wonderful to pick the herbs before eating and use them to cook with."

Of course, this also works on the balcony. "And even on a windowsill." When gardening in pots, Remo Vetter says it is important to check regularly that the plants have enough water. "This is because the soil in pots dries out more quickly." Another tip: "Don't plant or sow the herbs too close together in a pot; they need space to develop."

Preparing the containers is just as important: "To prevent waterlogging, you need a drainage layer." To do this, Vetter drills additional holes in the pots with a masonry drill bit and fills them about one-third full with gravel, twigs, or clay shards. Only then does he add the soil. "This allows excess water to drain away better." He places a thin, well-draining fleece between the drainage layer and the soil. "Potting soil is good for herbs; you can enrich it with a little sand."
Most herbs are what are known as low-nutrient plants. This means that they do not need to be fertilized too often. However, plants in pots need more fertilizer than their counterparts in the "open" ground. Remo Vetter uses nettles and comfrey as plant food, which is good for the soil. "The first immune system is the earth. Healthy and living soil is the source of fertility. Healthy plants grow in healthy soil for healthy people." His recipe for a quick fertilizer: mix nettles and comfrey in a ratio of 1:10 (i.e., one kilo of fresh plants to ten liters of water) and leave to stand in the watering can for 24 to 48 hours. Water herbs and flowers with the undiluted mixture.

Favorite herbs

Which herbs you want to plant is, of course, a matter of personal taste. If two plants are sharing a pot, you should make sure they have similar needs. "Two herbs that should not be placed close together are chives and parsley," says Remo Vetter. Parsley feels best on its own. If you want to be on the safe side, give each herb its own pot. "This is practical because it allows you to place each plant in a location that suits its needs. Herbs such as lovage and mint also grow vigorously and need space."

Where is the good life?

Remo and Frances Vetter do everything consciously and with pleasure. That was their goal from the very beginning: "To find the good life!" Do you have to move to Appenzellerland to do that? Of course! – That's what the Appenzellers would say. But maybe not. "In search of the good life, the perfect place, we traveled a lot – with the realization that this place does not exist geographically on the map," says Frances Vetter. "The good life is not somewhere out there in the wide world, but here and now with ourselves." And in our daily work in the garden. "It's relaxing for us. We respect the ancient laws of nature and its fascinating healing powers, and enjoy culinary highlights with the delicious flavors of our garden herbs." So you can also find the good life with a few herb pots on your windowsill.

Text: Katalin Vereb for Coopzeitung, issue 25, June 2021
Images: Dave Brüllmann