Discover Maifeld's Treasures!

Experience Farming Along the Maifeld Bike Trail

What does a farmer actually do in the winter? And how do the different types of grains actually differ? Anyone who has ever asked themselves these questions—or has just become curious—should definitely pay a visit to the Maifeld Bike Trail. Along this popular route through the fertile fields of the Maifeld, new, lovingly designed information panels now invite you to marvel, learn, and linger.

Hands-On
Agriculture In Mertloch, near the water playground, you’ll learn fascinating facts about agricultural work throughout the year. When are crops sown and harvested, and does the farmer actually get time off in winter? The panel right next to it also shows what’s grown in the Maifeld and all the things you can make from these crops.
What used to be laborious manual work is now done by large machines—but what was it actually like 100 years ago? The sign in Münstermaifeld, right at the starting point of the Maifeld Bike Trail, takes visitors on a brief journey through time. Through a telescope, you can symbolically look back into the past and, at the same time, learn why the soils in the Maifeld are so particularly fertile.

Typical of Maifeld: The Potato, or “Krumbier”
Of course, no visit to Maifeld would be complete without the potato. A separate information panel is dedicated entirely to this wonderful tuber: from planting and harvesting to proper storage. Who can answer the questions on the flaps correctly? By the way, there’s even a recipe here for “Deppekoche”—by Günter Löffel (Löffel’s Country House).

From Asparagus to Sugar Beets—The Diversity of the Maifeld
Just in time for asparagus season, there’s now a display explaining everything you need to know about white and green asparagus—including when “Asparagus New Year’s Eve” is. Just a stone’s throw away: a real asparagus field and the Adams family’s farm stand in Polch, where you can pick up fresh asparagus right away.
Especially exciting for explorers of all ages: the display about sugar beets—or “Rummel,” as they’re called here. How much sugar is actually in a beet? What does the beet mouse do (no, not a rodent!)? And why is the sugar beet so environmentally friendly? All of this is explained in a child-friendly and entertaining way.
The information board on the topic “From Grain to Cookie” clearly explains how the grains that grow in the ears of wheat in the fields are turned into flour—and ultimately into a delicious cookie. Fittingly, the Griesson-DeBeukelaer Factory Outlet is located nearby.
Even truly exotic crops like the sweet potato are grown at Maifeld. Another information board explains how this is done, how they differ from the local potato—and, of course, there’s a delicious recipe to go with it!