"They are interesting times now"

"We are on a tightrope walk and whichever is more powerful and got more subscribers - that path will open up for us all - safe or not. It's a decision we all take and we will either go here or there. I hope it is the right one we will end up on. We have to ensure that we will. They are interesting times now."

These are the words of an inspiring man I met last week here in Tyrol. And as always, I did not expect any of that.

My brother took me with him to meet this man. He thought that I (being an idealist - as he calls me) would immensely enjoy chatting to him. And I did. His name is Seppi. He owns a Gasthof (a countryside Inn) in the Tyrolean mountains and he supplies come soley from his own farm, he still owns and manages as well. Completely my cup of tea.

We went there as my brother was investigating a story for the magazine he is writing for as a freelance journalist. The topic revolves around regional and seasonal produce and which producers and farmer have given up on the "traditional" farming i.e. milk production (which is the biggest "farm industry" farmers here are into as it is also heavily subsidised and they believe only with this they can survive) and started to explore new ways, new production areas in order to come up with a product that is truer to the heart of their farm and at the same time give them the edge and help them to survive better as well. Seppi is the man who knows - many...so he was the first source to get more information. And I was lucky enough to be able to come along.

I have known for a while now what my beliefs are and what I want to foster - especially with regards to food production, farming, cooking and the likes. And with my brother being wired the same way I already had someone around who got it as well. And then I met Seppi.

Do you sometimes feel that you can see that there is, has to be, another way. That it is so vivid in your head that you don't understand why others can't see it and don't realise it. You live it and find it feels like it always had to be that way and don't understand when others say it is too much hassle. And then you meet someone and from the first mumbled words you know - they get you. They are one of you.

That's what happend to me. We had an amazing chat for a couple of hours. About all and everything - not only food and how it is being and should be produced, but also issues on society and global developments. You could feel that he is a "rebel" at heart and he found his area where he can live HIS "revolution". If he could he would do more, I guess. He poked my brother i.e. threw him bits of this and that always mentioning "you should do a story on this". He would love to shout out and tell everyone and he enjoys being able to share his thoughts with others who are just as inclined or even just starting to look for the path. And then he does know that what he is doing, the path he is following is the right one - for him. It is the only way he knows he can influence and make people reconsider.

When we left, I didn't say a word all the way back home - caught up in my mind and re-evaluating my approach. I know and believe we all need to start with ourselves and our intimate surroundings to foster change whatever form it is as only then it can spread, but also got the confidence and motivation again that I have started to tread on the right path. Now it is up to me how far I can go, how safe I can make it and how many I can induce to follow it.

I know exactly what Seppi meant by "safe or not" and "either here or there" - we've been on the wrong path before and it looks like a so well-tread and therefore only visible path again for so many. Most not knowing that behind the next corner, the next hill the path may disappear and we will have nowhere to go anylonger. It's up to us to ensure we heading the right way, making the right decisions. They are interesting times now - and oh so important.

I have my walking shoes, my walking stick and enough rope to keep me and many others safe until we get over the edge. I know when following what looks so untread, unknown and so "crazy" and at times scary we will come out on the other side and find the fields of joy, understanding and harmony. It will feel as if it was always meant to be that way. I believe. Do you?