News & Specials–Herbs for a Good Life

Many plants don’t require much work. Herb expert Remo Vetter explains how to discover a slower pace of life in the herb garden.

Nestled among lush green hills lies the village of Weissbad—just a few kilometers from the cantonal capital, Appenzell. Far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and city traffic, a magical tranquility reigns here. And, of course, the air is filled with the scent of herbs—for which the Appenzell region is famous. In the herb garden of the Hotel Hof Weissbad, Remo Vetter (65) is in his element. Known as “The Lazy Gardener,” this gardening expert has lived in the area for many years with his wife, Frances (59). “The Lazy Gardener” means—well, the lazy gardener. 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 naturopathy pioneer Alfred Vogel (1902–1996) brought the couple to the Appenzell region in 1982 and served as their role model and mentor. For nearly four decades, Remo Vetter directed the Alfred Vogel Health Center in Teufen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden. There, together with his wife Frances, he established a medicinal plant demonstration garden that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Idleness with a Plan

Remo Vetter has developed a style of gardening based on regular, brief sessions of work. In between, there’s plenty of time to indulge in healthy idleness. “I observe nature and intervene as little as possible. I only take action when it can no longer help itself.” After all: “Nature doesn’t need humans; it regulates itself.” If you tend to the garden briefly each day, you can prevent many issues that would otherwise require a lot of effort. Weeds, for example. “A little chopping with the swing hoe in the morning is enough,” explains Remo Vetter. “And they don’t even start growing in the first place.” Of course, there’s more to do in a Vetter garden than just weeding. But the herb expert deliberately treats it as a break from everyday life. “The garden is a retreat for my wife and me,” he explains. “There, we can be free, invite friends over, and experience nature up close.”

A huge herb garden

The Vetters are happy to share their extensive knowledge of gardening—through courses and books, as well as in their roles as consultants and designers. The couple who manage the Hotel Hof Weissbad also hired them. Damaris (55) and Christian (62) Lienhard are among Switzerland’s most successful hoteliers, thanks in part to their creative ideas. And they wanted a 1,000-square-meter herb garden. Naturally, this was for the restaurant of the wellness and conference hotel, which holds 16 Gault-Millau points. But the beautiful garden is also a favorite spot for guests. Here, the plants grow completely naturally, and Käthi Fässler (55), Gault-Millau Chef of the Year 2009, uses them to conjure up delightful culinary experiences. The hotel’s garden also features the raised beds that Remo Vetter swears by. They retain a lot of heat thanks to a core of coarse material such as garden waste, leaves, and herbs. As a result, species that normally prefer to grow in the south thrive here in Weissbad at an elevation of 800 meters. The beds are edged with native larch wood, the paths are covered with bark chips, and garden materials are reused as part of the natural cycle.

The beds in the herb garden are bordered with local larch wood, and the paths are covered with bark chips, which makes for clean working conditions. That’s one of the “Lazy Gardener’s” tricks. The wood chips suppress weeds and keep snails away at the same time, since snails don’t like rough, dry surfaces. The clearly defined borders of the beds and the wood chips also prevent guests from getting their shoes dirty. And so you’ll often find Remo Vetter in light-colored clothing, wearing a Panama hat and wielding his favorite tool in the garden—the swing hoe—which he uses to rake through the beds.

His gardening philosophy focuses on “flow” rather than hard work, on the enjoyment of life and respect for nature. “Flow” describes a feeling that arises when performing a task with full concentration. According to Vetter, anyone who wants to try this kind of gardening for themselves shouldn’t start too big. A herb garden is ideal for this. The expert recommends that everyone start a herb garden. Of course, because of the fresh flavor. “But also because it’s simply wonderful to pick the herbs before a meal to use them in cooking.”

Of course, this works on a balcony, too. “And even on a windowsill.” When gardening in pots, Remo Vetter says it’s important to check regularly to make sure the plants have enough water. “Because the soil in pots dries out faster.” Another tip: “Don’t plant or sow the herbs too close together in a pot—they need space to grow.”

Just as important is preparing the containers: “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 more easily.” Between the drainage layer and the soil, he adds a thin, well-permeable geotextile. “Potting soil works well for herbs; you can enrich it with a little sand.”
Most herbs are so-called light feeders. That means they don’t need to be fertilized too often. However, potted plants need more fertilizer than their counterparts in “open” soil. Remo Vetter uses stinging nettles and comfrey as plant food, which is good for the soil. “The first immune system is the earth. Healthy, living soil is the source of fertility. Healthy plants grow in healthy soil for healthy people.” His recipe for a quick fertilizer: Steep stinging nettles and comfrey in a 1:10 ratio (i.e., one kilo of fresh plant to ten liters of water) in the watering can for 24 to 48 hours. Water herbs and flowers with it undiluted.

Favorite Herbs

Which herbs you choose to plant naturally depends on your own taste. If two plants share a pot, you should make sure they have similar needs. “Two herbs that shouldn’t be placed close together are chives and parsley,” says Remo Vetter. Parsley actually thrives best on its own. If you want to play it safe, give each herb its own pot. “That’s practical because it lets you place each plant in a spot that suits its needs. Plus, herbs like lovage and mint grow vigorously and need space.”

Where Is the Good Life?

Remo and Frances Vetter do everything mindfully and with pleasure. That has been their goal from the very beginning: “To find the good life!” Do you have to move to the Appenzell region to do that? Of course!—that’s what the Appenzellers would say. But maybe not. “In our search for the good life—the perfect place—we traveled a lot, only to realize that this place doesn’t actually exist geographically on the map,” says Frances Vetter. “The good life isn’t out there somewhere in the wide world, but right here and now, within ourselves.” And in our daily work in the garden. “For us, it’s a form of relaxation. We honor nature’s ancient laws and its fascinating healing powers, and we enjoy culinary highlights featuring the delicious flavors of our garden herbs.” So you can find the good life even with just a few pots of herbs on your windowsill.

Text: Katalin Vereb for Coopzeitung, Issue 25, June 2021
Photos: Dave Brüllmann