Hello world,
Our little family (wife, soon-to-be born baby, dog, and I) have spent years farming over Canada (Yukon, British Columbia and Québec) and in Europe (we are originally from France and are now permanent resident of Canada). We have been eager for years now to own our farm and to return to the land. Now, as our family is growing, we are feeling ready to establish roots and ready for the simple life we have always wished to come back to. It is time for us to take care of our family and our community.
To us, farms are places for people to connect and engage in health programs that promote well-being.M. Fukuoka says “The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation of human beings.” (The One-Straw Revolution). We couldnʼt agree more. Community is highly important to us and so is the opportunity for people of diverse cultural background to come and be supported in their way of being. I appreciate the value of team-work and cooperation that farming instills and how it contributes to health that follows people throughout their lives. As farmers in northern BC communities we would draw on our wealth of life experience to provide the best food that this Earth can offer, and the best experience possible for each person we encounter.
What is our aim?
We are interested in setting up an experimental farm for community purposes, in which we would put into practice years of growing organic vegetables both in greenhouses and outside following different types of land management (depending on the farmʼs soil quality and its past usage). We also aim at having animals too (sheep, goats, laying hens, bees, etc.), though the first steps will be to focus on growing organic vegetables using permaculture concepts combined with drip-irrigation.
Where?
After having farmed in BC (agro-forestry and permaculture in the Bella Coola valley), in Québec (winery near Boucherville), in the Yukon (off-grid vegetable farm with no electricity nor running water) and in Europe (permaculture setup in Denmark and in France), we are longing to come back to Western Canada. We truly enjoy being surrounded by large landscapes, mountains and forests, and are willing to live remotely so Northern BC became our prime choice for settling down (ideally north of the Cariboo Regional District). We know that we would like to be closer to a smaller community (such as Quesnel, for example).
In terms of climate, we are looking for a drier place, where winters are snowy (but not as long as they can be in the Yukon!), and with long hot summers. We appreciate that the North demands different schedules of life between winters and summers, and we love to live in these two extreme worlds; the calm, dark of winter and the unstoppable summer blooms.
What kind of land?
We are looking for a remote 7- to 12-acre field with direct access to clean natural water, surrounding forests, and, if possible, with an access to electricity. Though, as we don’t want to narrow down our choices too much, we would like to consider all possibilities we might encounter. Therefore, depending on the location, the price, and the amenities, we may look differently at each offer. We also have in mind to maybe set up our yurt on the land (and therefore wouldnʼt need any house to come with the land). But, of course, this is all dependent on what is being offered. Anything can be of interest!
A little more about us:
I, Léon, was born on a family farm in south-western France 30 years ago where I lived for 17 years. I became a researcher in the field of agriculture, specializing in soil chemistry, geochemistry, microbiology and physics. I used to study their interrelation in terms of soil structures and farmland management. However, I left my position at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) a year and a half ago for ethical reasons.
“Modern research divides nature into tiny pieces and conducts tests that conform neither with natural law nor with practical experiences. The results are arranged for the convenience of research, not according to the needs of the farmer.” M. Fukuoka (The One‐Straw Revolution).
Because growing food isnʼt a game to be played with international corporations, I decided to pursue true science by other paths. I am now interested in implementing my knowledge on a farm to grow wholesome food in a more respectful manner.
My wife, Nolwenn (Nono), was born in Brittan 29 years ago. Even though she knows the ocean like the back of her hand, she has been very much attracted to the land and its alternative forms of growing food. Also, she has been involved in some French communities in which they were building alternative housing in a financially autonomous way. She used to run the budget there, putting into context the means and the needs of individual projects. Thus, to keep our farming project into reality, Nolwenn is there, reminding me about the feasibility of my ideas. She is the other side of the coin, the indispensable complementary side of a family project.
We are sincerely thankful for all opportunities that may come our way. Please contact: pabouyou@gmail.com
Agrarian greetings, Léon & Nolwenn
