Krautwaschl (Greens):

“I actually never wanted to go into politics”

Plastic-free gem: Sandra Krautwaschl has made a name for herself as an activist and author.(Bild: Jauschowetz Christian)

The top candidates for the Styrian state elections on November 29 - in person: Styrian Green Party leader Sandra Krautwaschl (53) reminisces while mowing the scythe.

First the blade has to be sharpened. Sandra Krautwaschl scares away chicken "Rosa" and starts mowing. "The scythe has to graze along the ground. With the right technique, it's easy," says the Styrian Green Party leader. "Since we've been doing it this way, we have a lot more insects and birds in the garden."

Krautwaschl lives in a real gem. The garden gate of the old farmhouse in Gratwein-Straßengel is surrounded by a rose bush, while the cats "Seppi" and "Meri" scamper around between the house and the barn. The 52-year-old politician has lived here with her husband Peter Rabensteiner since 2001, and their three children have already moved out. Bunches of herbs dangle in front of the entrance to dry. "We've never really renovated the house," she says, "only the windows are new."