Claus Zetl
We have brought politics to market 
Claus Zetl is a founder member of our association” Ökologisch Wirtschaften”. He was the chairman of OW between 1990 and 2006. Claus is one of the pioneers of organic farming on Pellworm, and today he brings organic products to various farmer’s markets, on the mainland and on Pellworm.
When you were elected chairman of OW, you were already the chairman of the Pellworm CDU (Christian Democratic Union). Did you dare take a risk?
I did. I took the risk. As a matter of fact the established politicians were rather sensitive to our ideas, true to the motto : “The greenies argue against everything, but they are unable to earn their keep.” I wouldn’t have risked to fall between two stools, if we hadn’t been backed by so many Pellworm islanders.
There was also a lot of support from the other side of the dyke. This strengthened our solidarity. But it was not before I held the double chairmanship that I became really aware that at that time party politics on Pellworm were ultra conservative.
At the same time you went into the conversion of your farm . Another risk for you.
No. The greater risk would have been to proceed as hitherto. I had had this accident through pesticides dust, when I was spraying my field. Now I understood. Silke wanted the conversion to organic farming - also with regard to our children. Hans Momme and the other farmers, too, wanted to stop the use of chemicals. It was just the right moment to cross the Rubicon.
At that time you were fattening pigs. That is what your son does today . Where’s the difference?
We have actually come back to the same point. My father-in - law did the same job, 30 years ago. Our son Hauke has 200 fattening stands for pigs. He has sheep, and he cultivates feed grain. All this on an organic basis. A pretty conservative approach, if I think about it.
You run your farm shop, you sell organic products on the weekly market on Pellworm and on two markets on the mainland. Have you become a trader?
I do enjoy my job. I don’t only sell the products that people prefer to buy. I also get to talking with my customers. And I am up on what people think. It is part of OW’s strategy. We have moved politics from the offices to the market square. This is where I meet the senior physician from the clinical centre in Heide, the tramp who wants a carrot for his cur, and now and again I meet Peter Harry who is convinced that big politics are only done in Kiel. If you make time for a chat, and if you are not only keen on selling your products, it dawns on you what path things will take.
What path will they take?
I think that people wish for more communication. They are fed up with the big shopping centres . They want to have a direct relation to the region. They want to know, where their food comes from. At the market stand next to me a young woman from “Das Alte Land” (“The Old Land”) sells her products. Then there is the man from Glückstadt and the man from Husum. Each of us has his special offer and his typical chat on top.
But we haven’t been very successful with our local produce from Pellworm
Unfortunately we haven’t. I recently visited the BIOFACH fair in Nuremberg. When I saw the great variety of dairy products from the Upländer dairy on Jogi Jakobi’s stall, I suddenly felt sad. We, too, might have had the same diversity in many sections. I was thinking of our vegetables, our flax, our meat and our dairy products. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. We were either too naïve or ahead of our time. We may have had the wrong staff. What would I know?. But we are on the right track. Our guests ask for typical local produce: ewe’s milk, sweaters, sheep skin and cheese, made on Pellworm. They are not interested in the standard food they can buy in the City Market.
But many Pellworm islanders like to do their shopping on the mainland, where they can make a good bargain.
I know, I know. Thrifty is nifty. I keep commuting between Pellworm and the mainland, and I am well aware of what those shoppers bring to the island. Some islanders think that our island milk is too expensive ; so they get it at Aldi’s.
Below the line their wish of making a good bargain costs us dear. But I don’t believe that we have already missed the boat. Our young people haven’t yet been gripped to the marrow by their disappointments. One day it may occur to them that they will have to refine their products on Pellworm island and market them locally, if they want to get their money’s worth.
Would you advise your children to do politics that support this view?
I would. But not like we did. We struggled, we sweated away, and they kept us on tenterhooks. We came up with ideas and made proposals, but they fended them off, until we grew tired. When our mayor comments on the energy concept today, he says,” Everyone else discusses the issue - we tackle it.” You can either be annoyed at this, or you say,” Okay, it has taken us 20 years; now we have finally gotten there. .
If you do politics, you must be ready to acknowledge other people’s achievements. The local council have never adequately appreciated our commitment for the island . We have been useful to Pellworm’s interests on many occasions . And we have been a worthy representative of our island on the Expo 2000, the Green Week, the Biofach fair. Our commitment has served us all.
What was and what is still important for you?
I have happy memories of that surprise birthday party in the Ohnsorg–Theater in Hamburg. You had lured me there, and suddenly you were all on the spot to celebrate my birthday with me . Even though there is not much activity in our association at the moment, our friendship has lasted . And what is most important : We are not only good at celebrating all sorts of events. We can also rely on one another in times of need. That is essential. And what about our prospects for the future? I think that our mutual support should continue to be our basis within OW and outside. We should maintain the dialogue with our neighbours and guests. I act up every day, and I have a good mind to do some acting, when I have stopped going to markets.
