When a panel van rolled onto the Brunners' farm for the first time three years ago, it was by mistake: the driver had got lost. Today there are two official pitches behind the cowshed, and Vreni Brunner says something we hear from hosts so often: «I never thought it would be so lovely.»
How it all began
«That lost camper back then asked whether he could stay the night,» Ueli Brunner recalls as he hoses down the milking parlour. «I said: fine by me, but the tractor starts at half past five.» In the morning the guest was standing in the barn with two cups of coffee, watching the feeding. «That is when I realised: they don't want a campsite at all. They want to see how we live.»
The Brunners came to Parkn'Sleep through a neighbour. Registering, taking photos, setting a price: «our youngest did it at the kitchen table in an hour,» says Vreni. Since then the pitch has been booked almost every night from April to October.
What has changed
Financially it is «a nice bit of extra income, not a lottery win,» says Ueli: it pays for the kids' dentist and the new milking machine servicing. Something else matters more: «We are a farm in the middle of nowhere. Now in the evenings people from Hamburg, Lyon or Zug sit at our fountain and we talk. That never happened before.»
By the way, the eggs in the farm shop fridge are sold out every morning. «We got five extra hens just for that,» Vreni laughs. «They are all named after regular guests now.»
💡 Want to offer a pitch yourself? A level meadow or farmyard is enough to start with. You will find everything you need on our host page, and setting up takes about an hour.
The Brunners' rules
Three things are written on the laminated note on the barn door: arrive by 9 pm, dogs on a lead (because of the cats), and anyone who likes can help with the feeding at half past six. «Half of them actually get up,» says Ueli. «You almost have to force coffee on them to get them to leave again.» He grins. «First came a camper. Now friends come. Some of them for the third time.»
You will find the Brunner family's pitches in the network under «Hofplatz Emmental», with a bit of luck including a visit to the barn.
