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 unabashedly. 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 farm at Lilbosch Abbey consists mainly of arable farming with some small-scale side branches, including our pig farm. A few years ago, it proved increasingly difficult to keep pigs in a monastic way. 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 and added to this, 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 consumers and their tastes. If any one of these aspects becomes unbalanced within the Livar concept, it damages the sustainability of the overall concept.
Because a growing market demanded more Livar pigs than we could responsibly raise within our limited monastery walls, it was decided to keep Livar pigs at other locations as well without compromising Livar's social responsibility in any way.
Since 2007, the Abbey has formally taken on the task within Livar to oversee 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.'
Abbey shop Lilbosch
In the abbey shop, interested consumers can buy products made in its own abbey and sourced from Trappist abbeys at home and abroad. The range includes various delicacies such as fruit juices, jams, honey, herbal liqueurs, beers, wines, patisserie, pre-packaged beef and cheese. Various personal care products and religious literature are also offered. In our abbey shop you will find a small but tasty range of Livar meat. We offer freezer-fresh packed products such as bacon, minced meat and pork chops, pure nature, i.e. without marinades or other processing. We also offer chilled meats in consumer packaging. Everything is from the trusted Livar pig: raised with care and respect, and you can taste that. Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, a fixed basic range is available throughout the year, always of high quality.
Opening hours abbey shop:
- Wednesday and Thursday: 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm.
- Friday and Saturday: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm.
- 24 & 31 December, Good Friday and Easter Saturday: 10am-2.30pm.
