Organic Farm Switzerland: A Visit to Biohof Alpbad in Sissach
09.September 2026Where are we, and what do you grow here?
We’re at Biohof Alpbad, home of Johannes and Magdalena Hostettler and their children. The farm sits in the rolling hills near Sissach in the Upper Baselbiet, surrounded by old high-trunk fruit trees. The Hostettlers are the fourth generation to run it. Next to the farm is Restaurant Alpbad, which brings the farm’s produce to the table, though Magdalena and Johannes focus only on the farming side. They have farmed organically since 1988.
We meet at their front door, where Magdalena and her daughter Juliane warmly welcome me and invite me on a tour. Alpbad is a mixed farm: mother cows, high-trunk orchards and crop fields all work together.
Magdalena walks me across the yard to the winter wheat field behind the barns, 2 hectares in total. The organic seed is called WIWA winter wheat and comes from Sativa Rheinau, a seed producer with an organic and biodynamic background. The fields rotate between wheat and alfalfa or clover.
With a half turn, I’m looking straight into the open barn. Eleven mother cows live here right now; Dorothea and Alma are two of them. One more cow is in a separate stall, only hours away from giving birth. The rest of the herd stays together, some standing, some lying peacefully in the straw.
Magdalena explains that the cows are farm animals, just as the fields are farmland. The suckler cow herd produces meat that is sold directly from the farm: salami, dried meat and Landjäger from the mother cows, and mixed organic beef packs from young animals about a year old. As for the grain, part of the bread wheat stays on the farm and most goes to the Maisprach mill. The 2 hectares yield about 11 tonnes of wheat.
The calves are raised on their mothers’ milk, then move on to hay and grass. “We’re not a fattening farm,” says Johannes, who has just joined us. The animals get no corn silage. The silage they do use, he explains, is an extra source of feed, fermented and a bit like sauerkraut.
Magdalena also shows me the beautiful orchard, with cherries, apples, plums and pears. The best fruit is sold fresh; the less perfect fruit becomes traditional cider and schnapps. This year, sadly, there will be no cider for Bioflix: the apple harvest was too small. Even the Glockenäpfel shrank, Magdalena says.
She points to the pressed leftovers from the farm’s own cider, and to barrels of plum and cherry mash waiting to be distilled.
What’s on your mind at the moment?
The family lives from its own farm, so it has to pay off. Magdalena explains that they aim to sell directly and keep the full value of their work on the farm.
Why does this matter? Farmers receive the full price customers pay instead of sharing it with retailers and wholesalers. For small farms, this is often the only way to survive without having to grow massively.
How do you care for high-trunk fruit trees?
The trees are pruned in winter. Pruning builds a stable crown, keeps the tree healthy and ensures a good harvest.
The Hostettlers work with buyers like the Biofarm cooperative, which Magdalena describes as a very reliable and appreciative partner. Biofarm is committed to protecting soil and the environment, including high-trunk trees, which give birds and insects an important habitat. The farm sells cherries and plums to Biofarm, which accepts small deliveries, around 100 kg, and pays fair prices.
This year’s heat and drought were hard on Alpbad too. Animals and plants suffered. What does drought mean for a farm, and which plants will grow here in the future? Farmers work close to nature, and they feel every change.
How do you deal with a shortage of feed?
n July and August, the cows mostly stayed in the shade of the barn, Magdalena says. Yet to everyone’s surprise, the herd sometimes wandered into the blazing sun at the hottest time of the afternoon. The grass dried up and there wasn’t enough feed in reserve, so extra hay had to be bought from Italy. Magdalena shows me the empty gaps in the hay barn, which is normally full and holds the winter supply.
The family has its own spring on the property, and water management is something they watch closely. This summer, the municipality of Sissach also asked residents to save water.
Johannes thinks a lot about the future of farming. Small farms create diversity and matter, he says; bigger isn’t necessarily better. We currently use too many resources: energy, water, electricity, land. And when feed runs short, farmers can even be forced to slaughter animals.
What does working in harmony with nature mean to you?
Johannes sums it up:
Food comes from the work itself.
Working with the rhythm of a sowing calendar, such as Maria Thun’s.
Working with animals and plants means understanding and using cycles of food and waste, for example turning organic waste into fertile soil.
Knowing about manure and building humus, so nutrient cycles can work.
Facing the organic processes of life, and of death.
Learning to live with unpredictable weather and climate.
Straw, dried on the stalk, that keeps the animals warm as they rest and sleep.
The cows are treated with homeopathy; antibiotics only in emergencies, Magdalena explains.
Speaking kindly to the animals is a given here; they are never “just livestock”.
In suckler cow farming, the calves and young cattle are slaughtered at 11 to 15 months. They are personally accompanied and given a dignified end.
Our tour ends in the processing room, where fresh plums are being sorted and weighed. Magdalena warmly thanks Bioflix and everyone who cares about farming and supports their work. Later, Juliane and Marie Louise join us too. I’d also like to thank the family for their time, the tour and the inspiring conversations.
Which movements from country life come to mind in autumn?
Gathering plums and nuts.
Bending down from head to toe, reaching out and picking them up.
What We Learned from an Organic Farm in Switzerland
Our visit to Biohof Alpbad showed us how much knowledge, care and heart goes into every product. For four generations, the Hostettler family has worked in rhythm with nature, surprises included. The heat of summer 2026 made it clear how vulnerable small farms are, and how much our support matters.
That’s exactly why we at Bioflix want to bring farms like Biohof Alpbad closer to you. Our stores offer organic products from local farms, whenever it suits you. Every purchase supports small farms in the region. And we hope to see Alpbad cider back on our shelves next year.
Did you find this story interesting or inspiring? We’d love to hear from you!
See you in store soon, and have a lovely autumn!
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