Dear Companions, hello!
As we continue our journey in market gardening, we keep cultivating, growing, and discovering new things that we want to share with you!
Our Day at the Crabe
I grant you that, the name doesn't sound very plant-like! The Crabe is a Jodoigne-based non-profit organization active, among other things, in training and market gardening. They organized an open house at the Château des Cailloux where their (large) vegetable garden is located. Numerous stands were spread throughout the park of the Château. Some sold fruits and vegetables, others demonstrated useful gardening techniques, such as the preparation of plant extracts, and still others offered tastings of dishes, like nettle pancakes. Delicious!
In addition to these stands, the event was accompanied by activities, a bar, a food truck, and guided tours of the nearby gardens as well as the tunnel greenhouses.
Dad took the opportunity to enroll in a training course on the management of a ecological vegetable garden while I was interested in a very hands-on training to become farm worker in organic vegetable farming. Unfortunately, I did not meet the criteria to qualify for this training, which is aimed at long-term job seekers who do not have the CESS.
Our visit to the Walloon region
This week we presented our project to Madame du Bus at the Walloon region. It was a very pleasant, informative, and motivating meeting. Madame du Bus was very supportive of our project and gave us a lot of advice for the next steps. We now need to get in touch with the municipality to finalize a few administrative points, but overall, all systems are go to start the activity concretely. 💪
Courses A and B
Behind this somewhat obscure title lies a training program on agricultural techniques and a program in agricultural management and economics. Basically, it's the basics for anyone looking to start a career related to agriculture. I will most certainly take these courses at the FYF (Federation of Young Farmers). Who knows, maybe in a year or two, you'll see me on Love is in the Meadow!!! 😋
Our garden
Speaking of the meadow, the farmer has just harvested the last potatoes from the field that will soon be used for our activity.
This "play area" of 30 ares will consist of two tunnel greenhouses, a water feature, a pen for ducks and chickens, and numerous planting beds. We will show you the plan in an upcoming blog.
In the meantime, here is a video of the tractor harvesting the potatoes. Enjoy! This is the last time you will see a tractor moving on this land. Now it's time for permaculture!
Hugo
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