in Charente-Maritime, the success of participatory projects on farms

En this sunny autumn day, Danielle and Marie, 70 and 56 years old, left La Rochelle for a morning to reach the town of La Ronde, about 30 kilometers to the north. Boots on their feet and a small gardening shovel in hand, the two Rochelaises took part this Saturday, November 16, in the participatory project of the Urban Farms collective, among the market gardeners of Gaec bio La Chalogne.

This operation is part of the “Ramène ta strawberry” program, launched in 2021 by the association, which aims to organize half-days of discoveries of local farms working in short supply chains and agroecology. The two partners of the farm, Mathieu Brunet and Philippe Baudon, entrusted Danielle and Marie, as well as around twenty other participants or regular customers, with the harvest of beets and celery as well as the cleaning of a cold greenhouse used for summer crops.

“We like to chat, pick, cut…”

After listening carefully to the instructions given by the market gardener, everyone was able to put their hands in the ground. For Danielle, picking beets is child's play. What is the technique? “First we pull out the plant, then we remove the awns, then we cut the collar. Finally, we sort according to size,” replies the septuagenarian.

“The atmosphere is very good, we had great discussions, it’s better than a session with the psychologist! »

Picking vegetables to provide a little helping hand to farmers seems essential to him. “It allows some people to realize that there has been a lot of work on the part of market gardeners and farmers before the vegetable ends up on the plate. We are here because the producers bring us our baskets every week and feed us. » It's also the perfect opportunity to start a weekend off right, by taking your mind off things. “We like to chat, pick, discuss, cut, be in the fresh air… We change our fatigue and clear our heads a little,” recognizes Marie.

After a good hour of picking celery with other volunteers in a nearby plot, Agnès, 52, also has a smile on her face. “The atmosphere is very good, we had great discussions, it’s better than a session with the psychologist! There is humanity, we know that we are there for a good cause and that what we do has meaning,” says the woman who lives a few kilometers from the market garden. “I like working with flowers in my garden and there, I discovered this activity. I like interacting with people, especially enthusiasts like Mathieu. »

And it's an understatement to say that the Charentais-Maritime market gardener loves his job, he who cultivates around sixty varieties on his site spread over an area of ​​two hectares. He offers his vegetables for sale to individuals in the form of Amap (Association for the Maintenance of Peasant Agriculture) or at relay points. “We occasionally welcome friends or family for participatory projects, but it is very pleasant to see the interest shown by other people in our profession, knowing that there are several of our subscribers among them but also people in the discovery”, welcomes Mathieu Brunet.

A varied ecosystem

The farmer therefore takes the time to explain the correct method to the harvesters. “The idea is to extract the vegetable from the ground, wash it with water from our farm's well and store it in good conditions, between 4 and 8 degrees, until we can put it in our baskets. » The market gardener is talkative and does not hesitate to go further in the exchange, recalling the importance of the ecosystem around the site. “Many trees and woods have been preserved by the previous owner, which allows us to have an attractive place for small and large animals. This varied ecosystem allows a better life for each of these species. »

Working the land while learning things is the objective of these meetings which have nevertheless had the merit of attracting nearly 1,000 people since 2021. And Maggy Leveque, member of the Fermes Urbaines association to conclude: “The objective is to seek out new profiles and more young people. We still have 25 projects left to complete by the end of 2025.”

Already 45 participatory projects since 2021

The Urban Farms collective has set itself the objective of organizing approximately one meeting, like the one this Saturday, November 16 at La Ronde, per month. In total, 45 participatory projects have been organized by the association in 28 farms in Charente-Maritime since 2021. Note that this project is financially supported by the Agglomeration of La Rochelle, the Communities of Communes Aunis Atlantique, Aunis Sud and the Ile de Ré as part of their Territorial Food Plan (PAT), as well as by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and European funds.