Echt - Lilbosch Abbey
Take a look at the Livar farm at Lilbosch Abbey!
Our brothers from the Abbey, are happy to share their story about working with Livar and their special way of life:
"We, the monks of Lilbosch Abbey in Echt, like all Trappist monks and monials, endeavour to live the essence of life purely and unapologetically. Only in this way is the deepest characteristic of man laid completely free: that man is involved in the mystery of God. This irradiates not only the hours of our communal and personal prayer and meditation, but the whole of our monastic life, right down to our work. Throughout the centuries, monks have wanted to live off the proceeds of their own manual labour, but in doing so they have looked for forms of work that fit their attitude to life. At Lilbosch Abbey, in accordance and continuity with the centuries-old monastic tradition, we consciously choose agriculture and animal husbandry as our monastic work. The respectful treatment of animals, the dependence on the weather, the silence of nature, the organic and existential connection between earth and humility and obediently giving space to the inherent nature and beauty of plants and animals. These are all for us both conditions and opportunities for the monk's labour to become true monk's work."
"The agricultural business at Lilbosch Abbey consists mainly of arable farming with some small-scale side branches in addition, including our pig farm. A few years ago, it proved increasingly difficult to keep pigs in monastic fashion. At that time, the opportunity presented itself to cooperate with Livar. While fully retaining our own concept and values, Livar then incorporated our pig farm into its business, adding, above all, high content processing and marketing. This cooperation enabled us to keep our pig farm for the Abbey. Partly because the cooperation from Livar was always handled very carefully and respectfully, the Abbey became a Livar shareholder from 2007."
"Our Abbey and Livar have struck the right balance between respect for nature and economic return in good consultation. This respect is expressed not only in animal welfare, but also in the form of respect for the environment, respect for the monastic community and respect for the consumer and his taste. If one of these aspects becomes unbalanced within the Livar concept, it compromises the sustainability of the overall concept."
"Because a growing market demanded more Livar pigs than we could responsibly raise within our limited monastery walls, we decided to raise Livar pigs at other locations as well without in any way compromising Livar's social responsibility."
"Since 2007, the Abbey has formally taken on the task within Livar to monitor the ethical, moral and social aspects of Livar pig farming."
"From the road past our abbey, one has a clear view of some of our pigs in their outdoor enclosure.
