Sponsored. This article was produced in paid cooperation with Waldviertler Hanfkuss.
Judith and Claus traded Vienna for an old farmhouse in the Waldviertel in 2019 to grow hemp and produce CBD oils. Since then, little has gone according to plan—yet Waldviertler Hanfkuss endures. This is their story.
The two met in 2009 at the Sziget Festival in Budapest. A decade later, they left Vienna for the Waldviertel with a clear mission: cultivate hemp and produce CBD oils. Today, under the name Waldviertler Hanfkuss, they run a small operation that shares daily life with a four-person family, a working farm, and an ongoing series of renovations.
A House Without Right Angles
They live and produce in an old farmhouse in Rottenbach. Right angles are hard to find there. The walls run in gentle waves, and in the basement, hundred-year-old plaster occasionally falls from the ceiling. According to Judith and Claus, the building is nearly 900 years old, and they fully expect it to spring more surprises. The house mirrors how they describe their own path: nothing runs in straight lines, but rather in meandering courses.
A Start Marked by Setbacks
In 2019, they enthusiastically converted an old pigsty into a facility with grow lights. But the startup looked nothing like they’d planned. Production stalled, and shortly after came the COVID-19 pandemic.
They didn’t give up, but they had to diversify. In 2021, Judith retrained as a teacher, working as a career changer. Too many crises had struck in succession to rely solely on CBD sales. The energy crisis followed, along with increasingly restrictive regulations on CBD product distribution and marketing.
Renovating for Independence
The past years have been defined by construction sites. They replaced the facility’s floor and switched to LED panel lighting to cut power consumption. Most recently, they added 36 photovoltaic panels with battery storage. The goal is to cover daily electricity needs from their own production soon—a significant undertaking in the Waldviertel, with its long, dark winters.
They approach further investments cautiously. A renovation of the residential house is planned, while geopolitical tensions and new EU regulations around CBD create uncertainty. They’re determined to avoid overextending themselves financially during this unstable period.
What’s Inside the Bottles
They offer oils with 5% CBD under the name STILLE and 10% CBD under the name LEICHTIGKEIT. Depending on the product, MCT oil or grapeseed oil serves as the carrier oil—the latter sourced in Demeter quality according to the manufacturer. The operation offers these as aroma oils, and an analysis certificate is available on their product page.
When asked why they continue despite all setbacks, the answer is straightforward: because of the people who buy their products and keep ordering.
Chickens, Geese, and a Beaver
When production quiets down, the farm continues. Chickens, turkeys, and geese are part of the daily routine. Vegetables and fruit grow in the fields, while roses and old trees shade the garden on hot summer days.
They’re particularly enthusiastic about the wild portion of the property. A beaver has built a dam on the Marbach stream there, creating a small wetland landscape behind it. They hope this increases biodiversity and that they’re contributing their part. „Good things take time,“ as they write.
Why Small Operations Face Headwinds
From their experience, Judith and Claus draw conclusions that extend beyond their own farm. Small businesses face particular difficulties when hemp cultivation lacks clear regulations, and where regulations do exist, they tend to create disadvantages for distribution in Austria.
We’ve described this regulatory patchwork in detail before. How the EU Commission assesses Austria’s approach to hemp flowers is shown in our report on how ARGE CANNA failed in Brussels. We’ve also covered where CBD approval as a novel food stands at the European level in our piece on the first positive EFSA opinion.
Visitors Welcome
If you find yourself heading to the Waldviertel, you’re warmly invited to stop by the farm and get a sense of how life works there. More about the operation and its products can be found on the Waldviertler Hanfkuss website.
They genuinely welcome the exchange. Judith and Claus are open to questions and happy to chat—whether by email, phone, or in person at the farm.
Note: This article reflects the status as of September 14, 2026, and is neither legal nor health advice. It contains no health or efficacy claims regarding the products mentioned, which the manufacturer offers as aroma oils. Information about the farm’s history, the building’s age, and the products is based on representations by Waldviertler Hanfkuss.
Hast du schon einmal CBD-Öl verwendet?
Sources: Information and images from Waldviertler Hanfkuss (submitted September 2026); product information from the manufacturer’s website; original reporting.
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