With heart and expertise

In between data protection, watering cans and committee meetings, there is still room for a good portion of creative drive for Martina Achzet.

It’s getting late again. For a long time, they have talked, discussed and debated. And then, slowly but surely, one or two points of view shift. A little, maybe only millimetres – but still. The moment when people start thinking outside the box is a very special one.

Getting her fellow human beings there is both a motivation and a challenge for Martina Achzet. “If everyone wants to put forward their own interests above all, then the voice of reason is also needed. And that happens to be me,” says the Doctor of Law.

Martina sits for the CSU in the local council of her home town. In the mornings, she looks after all legal issues and topics such as data protection and compliance at GP JOULE THINK. The mother of three primary school-age children is also a member of the Women’s Union. And because passion and dedication do not end there, she is also treasurer of a non-profit association that preserves seed-resistant fruit and vegetable varieties.

This gives rise to a sneaking suspicion that Martina can never actually sit still. “My husband sometimes says that. But it’s just not true.”

For her, it is also about shaping things. Martina is on the municipality’s finance committee. “Sometimes, sums in the millions are discussed. These are important decisions.” And even if she has some long evenings – she never tires of her office. “Sitting at home and complaining – that doesn’t get you anywhere. If I want to make a difference, I have to do something about it.” Municipal politics is very well suited for this, she believes. “You can’t compare this with state or federal politics. I also bring in a perspective here that would otherwise be overlooked.” That of working parents, for example.

Martina’s evenings often revolve around (local) political issues. On the weekend, it’s off to the garden: either with all the kids to the father's 800-square-metre allotment, which can always use lots of helping hands, or to “Die alte Gärtnerei” (The Old Market Garden). The association is committed to promoting natural kitchen gardens. There, Martina propagates and preserves old fruit and vegetable varieties with like-minded people. The name says it all: “Our association founders actually acquired an old market garden. We grow the plants in the greenhouses and we can store the seeds in the vaults below in a wonderfully dark and dry place.” At the beginning of the gardening season, they sit together and separate the sprouts – this is called pricking out – all by hand. The plants get to grow a little and are later sold at their own spring market. There are about 5,000 of them and business is booming. “Nothing is left over,” Martina reports, not without pride. Known as “preservationists”, they take on a variety and obtain new seeds from it for the next year – for the future. Lectures, campaign days and dialogue at spontaneous regulars’ tables fill the association’s life throughout the year.

Seeing something grow and flourish, maintaining what is good, advancing something new – these are the pivotal moments in Martina’s life. You can’t help but get the impression that her day has more than 24 hours in it. Honestly, can you really sit still, Martina? “Of course, I can! For about half an hour.” But that’s more than enough.