Backing onto the Ménez-Meur estate, in Finistère, near the towns of Saint-Rivoal, Commana and Botmeur, in the heart of the Armorique Regional Natural Park (PNRA), is the hamlet of Saint-Cadou. A hamlet of 200 souls like no other, a “village within a village”, because it is located in the town of Sizun, north of the Monts d'Arrée, in wooded central Brittany and above all very agricultural land. And which is also differentiated by the dynamism of its population. While, in recent years, many rural communities have been declining, aging and becoming depopulated, Saint-Cadou has succeeded in strengthening an already existing dynamism. So much so that many local farmers and workers have settled there, often young people and young couples with children.
This land of certified organic farms – at least ten out of the dozen whose head office is located in the village –, which mainly sells in short circuits or in a triangular sector between Morlaix, Brest and Le Faou, has just set up a project collective land reserve, bringing together citizens and farmers, to perpetuate its activities and its way of life.
“This project was born from common concerns and problems,” says one of the project spokespersons, Adèle Flageul, producer of red fruits and organic jams. “Where we are, there is also a certain agricultural pressure. We recently realized, when a farm was put up for sale, that people could travel 60 km from their original farm to come and produce potatoes… Which does not fit into our model, in fact. Finally, even here, in Saint-Cadou, you have to be ready to react quickly. »
“We do not want to suffer from the model that tries to impose itself almost everywhere”
For the moment, several dozen people are involved in this new collective, which plans to submit association statutes at the beginning of March 2025, then develop a legal structure which could become an SCI. The idea is to raise awareness, but also to raise funds and to be reactive to protect farms or land which would soon change ownership, in order to consolidate the virtuous model of this very active and united village.
“We do not want to suffer from the model that tries to impose itself almost everywhere,” specifies Adèle Flageul. “There are a lot of small farms here. And, behind these, there are also many particular practices which shape the landscape and the lives of people – agroforestry, bocages, very little transport…” And little use of pesticides and health products. synthesis, it goes without saying.
“In short, the structure would be a lessor, but collective,” continues Adèle Flageul. “Since Monday, four working groups have already been formed to start working seriously. Ultimately, we want to include these lands in very precise specifications, and that they retain to life their agricultural vocation, even if there is a change of tenant or type of activity. »
Already supported by structures linked to agriculture, organic and training (Gab29, Siap, Terre de lien and the Confédération paysanne, among others), this project should begin to materialize next spring. Other structures such as individuals who want to support or join this “example” project, be simple sympathizers or active, even far from Saint-Cadou, are invited to contact the collective by e-mail.
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