“What future for my farm? » The question of the transfer of agricultural holdings is a key issue for the future of the countryside. This theme will be at the heart of a friendly and enriching evening, Thursday December 5, at 8 p.m., at the associative café Le La Itou in Mont-Saint-Jean and managed by the Terre de Liens association.
Land as a common good
Founded in 2003, Terre de Liens is the result of a meeting between solidarity finance, organic agriculture and popular education. The association was created to ensure the preservation of agricultural land for future generations. Its action is based on an innovative model: acquiring agricultural land (thanks to citizen savings) to withdraw it from the speculative market, preserve it and rent it to farmers who do not necessarily have the necessary funds to purchase. Land then becomes common property.
Since 2008, the association has relied on autonomous regional branches, federated at the national level. In Burgundy-Franche-Comté, the association has 550 members, 80 volunteers and four employees mobilized to support farmers and raise awareness of the importance of preserving and passing on this land. “We organize what we call “transmission evenings”, moments of open-hearted exchanges, where we emphasize the human aspect rather than the technical side,” explains Sophie Labbé, employee at Terre de Liens.
A system of sharing knowledge It’s Itou
The event on Thursday, December 5 will take place in the association café Le La Itou. Since 2007, run by the La Coudée association, it has been a lively space where residents, ideas, and initiatives meet. This associative café offers a varied cultural program and various practical workshops. Whether it’s sewing or yoga workshops, summer camps or debates on environmental issues, there’s something for everyone at It’s Itou. Five workshops are organized by professionals, the rest are local initiatives. “It’s a system of sharing knowledge. You can learn Irish dancing, basket weaving, take part in wandering gathering walks where two women cook a complete menu with wild flowers, or even discover the renovation of dry stone walls. It all depends on the wishes of the residents,” underlines Barbara Liagre, coordinating employee. THE It’s Itou has already hosted events around the agricultural world, such as “farmer aperitifs” in collaboration with the Confédération paysanne. This is the first time that she has joined forces with Terre de Liens.
“It’s a subject that should be of interest. Our peasant aperitifs brought together 25 to 30 people, several of our farmers are at the end of their career and there are also many young people looking to settle down,” adds Barbara Liagre.
The evening will begin with a warm welcome at 7:30 p.m. Then, at 8 p.m., discussions will begin including a film with testimonies from farmers. Additionally, a witness farmer will share his experience.
“Transmission is a sometimes taboo subject, which farmers do not dare to talk about. Some even come from far away to chat in a place where they are sure not to meet anyone they know,” confides Sophie Labbé.
For any information or registration, tel. 06 95 13 32 60 or at [email protected]
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