Cultivating Rural Landscapes Together
Stefanie Ostermann, Landscape Architect at LAND Austria, on her voluntary work in the village renewal association in her home municipality of Krumbach in Lower Austria.
I have been a volunteer in the village renewal association of my home municipality of Krumbach (population 2,390) since 2021. My involvement began with the co-design of the promenade – a green connecting axis through the village. The aim was not only to create a link between important areas in the village, but also to provide a habitat for people and nature. The associated planting concept was my first contribution to the green and climate resilient enhancement of our public space.
Stefanie Ostermann, Landscape Architect, LAND Austria
Green change starts on your own doorstep
In 2022, I was elected chairwoman of the association – together with a very good friend (also a BOKU graduate, who is our ‘tree doctor’) and my father, who got me interested in nature at an early age, we form the leading team of the association. Since then, we have implemented numerous projects that combine climate adaptive, ecological, design and social aspects. Collaboration with the local population, the municipality, other local associations and educational institutions is particularly important to me.
Pupils from the Neue Mittelschule, Polytechnische Schule und Allgemeine Sonderschule Krumbach building tree pots
For example, together with pupils from the polytechnic school, we created mobile tree pots for the village center – a successful example of how creative ideas and young commitment can enrich public spaces.
Final outcome of the tree pots
Another project was an exploration of our cemetery. As part of my Master’s thesis, I developed a design for the ecological upgrading of the area as well as a new burial concept. As part of my work for the village renewal association, some areas have already been realised or are in the planning stage. In order to bring the topic closer to the population, a day of action was organised with tree plantings, guided tours, a film about the cemetery chapel and a joint finale with music, punch and bread rolls. We succeeded in rethinking a sensitive place and making it an experience for many people.
The community comes together to reimagine and improve the cemetery area
This project was honoured with an award from the Lower Austrian Village and Urban Renewal Agency (Niederösterreichische Dorf- und Stadterneuerung). I was also honoured with the Lower Austrian Village Hero Award for my commitment. This is a nice recognition for voluntary work. But for me personally, the real success lies in something much more important: That our projects strengthen the community and that we create real added value – for people, for the climate, for biodiversity and for many of the pressing issues of our time.
From left to right: Christian Stacherl, Mayor of Krumbach; Maria Forstner, Chairwoman of the Lower Austrian Village and Urban Renewal Association; Stefanie Ostermann, DorfHELDIN; Stephan Pernkopf, Deputy Governor of Lower Austria; Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig, State Councillor; Martina Laschtowiczka, Environmental Councillor of Krumbach | ©NÖ Dorf- und Stadterneuerung
We also organise workshops (e.g. building your own composter), maintenance work for the projects we already realised and planting campaigns. Currently we are working on a major new project: the redesign of the outdoor facilities at Krumbach secondary school. Together with a school class, we are developing a natural, multi-generational concept with new tree plantings, shrub beds, flower meadows, play and recreation areas to create a living classroom in the countryside.
With all these projects, we want to show that Village renewal is more than just beautification – it is a collaborative process that makes our villages sustainable, liveable and lovable.
Useful links
Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/dorferneuerung_krumbach/
Article cemetery-project: http://www.krumbach-noe.gv.at/Stolz_auf_unser_Dorf_-_Krumbach
Article promenade: https://www.kommunalnet.at/2021/12/03/natur-im-dorf-krumbach-pflanzt-bunte-klimaanlagen/
Website NÖ Dorf- und Stadterneuerung https://www.dorf-stadterneuerung.at
