Marlene Vissacearly forties, tests hydronomy, the alliance of water and agronomy.
She anticipates, thinks about the climate of tomorrow to believe in her organic futuresheep breeder.
We are in this beautiful department of Aveyron, in Tayracnot far from the Viaur metal viaduct between Carmaux and Rodez. Not far away, Rodez is worth visiting with its Guggenheim of Aveyron: the wonderful Soulages museum (I have Soulages and nature in store for you or how Aveyron made Soulages look when he was little).
Marlène Vissac is on the heights, on the now scalped ridges of Ségalapoor land, originally rye land.
We have turned the logic of the soil upside down through mechanization, fertilizers, corn, soya; we grew veal there.
But not Marlene, who makes do with what the earth and sky can give.
It fights against water and wind erosion from the south wind by planting, choosing the right pioneer, fodder and melliferous trees which fertilize the soil – which itself will retain water.
Marlène Vissac is herself a pioneer, while reinvesting the knowledge of elders from a century ago, before fertilizers – which had to nourish whatever the conditions.
She created her peasant agronomy school, Phaceliaafter managing land in an arid environment.
It addresses the living professions and of course water, which is the common thread of all agriculture.
It regenerates, heals the earth and therefore animals, plants, humans: a single health in short.
She is also a dowsersmells like water and helps it stay in place. She plants shade, water to have beautiful light tomorrow.
To go further
Reporterre article “This peasant woman who wanted to cultivate water” (9/08/2024)
“Eloge du ver de terre”by Christophe Gatineau (Flammarion)
“In Praise of the Bee”by Christophe Gatineau and Sylvie Corré (Flammarion)
Earthworm Protection League
Aveyron Tourism
The Segala
Music programming
- you go away -Manu Chao
- The sheep – Melissmell
