Schlaf im Stroh, "sleeping in straw," is a hands-on way to experience Swiss farm life. For a family of five visiting a country where hotel rooms routinely allow only two people, perhaps with a toddler added in, it was a fun and less expensive way to visit rural Switzerland. As luck would have it, this particular farm was only a five minute walk from Heidihof and the Heidi museum.

The program started as a way for farmers to supplement their income while their cows were in the high pastures during the summer. "Beds" – literally space in the hay areas – could be reserved for a low cost and in the morning, guests receive breakfast.

At Herr and Frau Just’s farm, we were shown to a little hut between the barn and main house which was probably much like the Alm Uncle’s hut from Heidi: there was one main room, with a Kleiderschrank (closet) filled with extra bedding, available for a fee, a table with a corner bench and some chairs, and two sets of bunk beds. Up some narrow stairs, there was a bit of a hayloft: to the left and to the right were sleeping areas piled deep with hay and a very large sheet spread out over each area – enough space for our entire family to comfortably fit on just the right side. Additionally, over the main room was a loft accessible by ladder with large blue mattresses, with space for 8 more people.

This space was not wasted our first night! A university student travelling about on her own showed up and took one bunk; then later, two families with a total of four adults and seven additional children came, taking up the extra bunk space and the other sleeping loft. In the U.S., this would be extremely awkward, but in Europe, it was very matter of fact – think about elevator etiquette and boundaries, and extend it to a small hut.

Breakfast was not a giant spread, as we have had in German hostels, but was delicious and plentiful. There was coffee, hot water and teabags, and – to my children’s delight! – fresh milk from the cow, heated up to mix with Ovaltine or Nestle Quik to make tasty hot chocolate. Plenty of fresh bread, butter, homemade blackberry jam and jelly, thin-sliced local cured bacon, and fresh local cheese – well, really wonderful.

Overall, a lovely experience as a novelty, but probably not something we will repeat – it was definitely more comfortable than camping and would be perfect for the wandering hiker, but for a family, it is better for us to have a private space to which we can retreat at the end of the day.