I was born in Barcelona to German parents, with a French grandmother and a Russian grandfather. I met my husband, who was born in Ibiza, when he was involved in a project for the Whitbread Round the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean Race) with his 20-metre sloop, and after that he convinced me to move to Ibiza. I have never regretted it!

I love the nature and the energy of this island. Ibiza is all about creativity, it’s an absolutely inspiring place to be. I adore the size of the island, everything is at your fingertips. It suits my personality and I feel free to do anything, anytime, without much planning ahead.

My former job at Lufthansa felt meaningless all of a sudden, leaving me no time for my family xor personal projects. I left it to pursue a higher goal, converting our property first into an ecological and regenerative agricultural project and then, into a small boutique hotel.

I’ve learnt everything from Charles Dowding, who pioneered it. First: Soil is undisturbed so that its organisms can work and multiply. Most soils already have structure for roots to grow and nutrients to feed plants. Billions of fungal threads, nematodes and earthworms -to name but a few- are working right under our feet. We need to help them to help us. Second: Organisms are fed with organic matter on the surface, just like in nature, but faster. The idea is to feed the soil, not the plants, and allow soil to work its magic. Nutrients become available when needed by plants. Roots ask fungi for food and moisture, and fungi work best when undisturbed. Third: Plant feeding is about biology (such as fungi) more than chemistry (nutrients/minerals). No digging increases the plant’s ability to find food. Compost mulches serve as a rapid source of food for soil organisms and boost their activity, thus improving soil structure. In other words, the no-dig system is a form of regenerative agriculture beneficial for sustainability, speed, simplicity and productivity. It is based on giving back what has been taken.

In this sense, it’s never enough. We are small, but no detail is too insignificant and no effort is too big. Within our possibilities, we try to invest in the best options to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our care for the environment. If we are seen as an example of how individual effort and vision may contribute to a collective endeavour, then that makes us very happy.

There’s a quote by M.F.K. Fisher that I really love and is related to this: “It seems to me that our three basic needs, for food and security and love, are so mixed and mingled and entwined that we cannot straightly think of one without the others. So it happens that when I write of hunger, I am really writing about love and the hunger for it, and warmth and the love of it and the hunger for it… and then the warmth and richness and fine reality of hunger satisfied… and it is all one”. For me it represents a way of living, a lifestyle. I am so grateful for what nature gives us, I treat it with the utmost respect and enjoy it. I am happy with just enough of everything, but it has to be the best. My preferences have been shaped over the years and now I narrow down to what is good for me and makes me feel connected to the universe, and when I say ‘me’, I mean ‘us’, all of us. I have no time for anything else.

Ibiza is a free-spirited island, anything goes. This means that you may choose any path in life and feel great. In my case, I am a quiet person who loves privacy and quality over quantity. I’ve learnt from the Stoics to keep always a bit hungry for everything, so it happens I’m forever curious and have always appetite for new projects and meaningful endeavours. I don’t need stuff.

I love learning about new options based on natural ingredients. Years ago, I used  just water and Mandelkleie, a well-known German almond bran. But I developed vitiligo more than 20 years ago, and therefore I use some coloured SPF.

When I was younger, I really had no time for it. Now, I see my daughter and young people are more concerned about a healthy lifestyle, doing yoga and sports and concerned about healthy eating. For quite a few years now, I’ve been doing my morning stretches, push-ups and sun salutations. Then I take a shower, which always ends up with cold water, something I love and couldn’t do without! Afterwards, I walk my dog along the beautiful paths to Santa Gertrudis. It has a strong meditative effect on me and prepares me for whatever is to come. If I’m lucky, I find someone in the village to drive us back home.

Absolutely. There is a work behind joy and happiness. I meditate every morning and am deeply grateful for my life. I feel very privileged.