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Stephanie Petit
Published on
Nov. 15, 2024 at 6:16 a.m.
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“Eat well, bring people together, promote the region’s riches. Autumn gastronomy is a great opportunity for this,” assures Marie de la Ferme des Closin Bonnelles (Yvelines).
An adventure born in 2017
Pascal Valois has always known the Clos farm. Although he left the region for the South-West, the Bonnellois returned to his roots seven years ago. “I took over the farm in 2017. I wanted it to stay in the family. Removing the gate was the first thing I did,” he confides.
The farm is open to walkers, whether they are pedestrians, cavaliers or even cyclists. But above all, it is open to other producers. A rather atypical concept. “My job is honey. I don’t need land,” he slips. But for other producers, land is essential. And when you start in agriculture, it is difficult to find the funds to set up.
He had the idea of offering rural leases. This is how this sort of agricultural shared accommodation saw the light of day. Cécile and Vincent from Jardin Edulis, arborists and cultivators of aromatic and medicinal plants, among others, share sponsorship of the 2024 edition of Autumn Gastronomy.
See you this Saturday at the farm
A guided gourmet hike (10 km) to discover Bonnelles and Rochefort-en-Yvelines is organized to open the gastronomic festival at 9:30 a.m.
Lunch (starter, main course and dessert) is concocted by Aude de cuisine vivant. Information and registration: by reservation on 01 34 83 21 21 or [email protected]
→ From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.: a market of local producers and artisans takes place on the farm, open to all. Farm tours will take place at 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
→ 2 p.m.: visit to the vegetable garden with Romuald and Pascaline, market gardeners. Discovery of their work, the environmental issues, the production challenges that this represents.
A tasting will punctuate this educational and friendly moment. Min. 10 – Max. 30 people
→ 3:30 p.m.: Visit to the Edulis garden with Cécile and Vincent, arborists. Presentation of a exploitation of red fruits and aromatic plants. Tastings and sales of processed products on the market. Max. 30 people
→ 4:30 p.m.: Meeting with a beekeeper, Pascal. Interactive presentation of the beekeeper's profession, honey tastings. Max. 30 people.
The colocation has other members: the hop grower Johann, the market gardeners Romuald and Pascaline, the beekeeper Anton, the itinerant shepherds Olivier and Sonia (the 100 lands farm) and Cécile, a sheep breeder, among others.
The different farmers have in common with Pascal and Marie Valois a professional retraining in the agricultural world.
Promote agriculture
All the farmers on the Clos farm work in bio. Their work is highlighted by Les amis de la ferme des Clos. The dynamic Bonnell association is teeming with ideas to offer the general public tours and workshops on the farm all year round.
On the site, there is also a shop run by Marie. “We offer products from local producers and elsewhere, from artisans but also from associations like Bon et rebound,” she explains. To the boutiquewe also find the productions of the farm's farmers.
“For vegetables, for example, the margin is low and it’s a choice. People have the right to eat well. »
Meat (beef, poultry, mutton) is also sold to order.
Openness and welcome are part of the farm's DNA where it will soon be possible to spend the night. Gite, stopover room are planned. As you will have understood, the Clos farm focuses on honey production, tourist reception and that of other producers. “Creating life allows you to give life,” summarizes Pascal.
The first building to see the light of day on the farm was the honey house. The beekeeper wanted it to be hexagonal. “It is the strongest, rigid form with the least amount of material. It’s also symbolic, it reminds us of bees,” he says.
Promote biodiversity
“The lands are engaged in agro-environmental measures. The objective is to promote biodiversity,” underlines the beekeeper. With Pascal's hives, the farm has no shortage of pollinators. But agro-environmental measures have made it possible to see the return of “a diversity of the animal world: birds, insects. Ornithologists come to watch birds they can’t see elsewhere.”
Ferme des Clos: Chemin des Clos – 78 830 Bonnelles. Website: www.fermedesclos.comShop: Tuesday and Friday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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