PLANT
While recent years have seen an influx of younger and older folk moving into Les Basques, it is not just a modern phenomenon. The back-to-the-land movement of the 1970s in part paved the way for today’s neo-rurals. Yet today’s reality is somewhat different than the one 50 years ago.
Watch as Maurice talks about going back to the land.
Many members of the Les Basques community engage in agriculture, and access to land plays a big role in this. With hands elbow deep in the dirt, people plant vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs in their own gardens, in shared spaces or local community gardens to have access to fresh produce during the summer and stack the rest of their harvests in their root cellars or freezers for the long winter months.
Taking pride in growing your own food and withdrawing in part from the industrialized food system motivates many to at least strive for individual food autonomy. It is not to say that growing your own organic produce is easy. When sowing season arrives, farmers and gardeners alike disappear to work intensively on their lands. Strong community ties make the process easier as support is widely available, and work exchanges routinely carried out. In the end, nothing is done alone.
Beyond plants, some decide to embark on the tumultuous adventure of raising livestock. Turkeys, chicken, rabbits, ducks, geese, pigs and cows can be found in coops or running free on pastures. As sentimental bonds are formed with these animals, butchering days becomes both trying and emotional.
Watch as David and Louis-Philippe work on and discuss their agricultural projects.
Listen as Iléana reflects on questions around raising turkeys and on life and death.
Members of the Les Basque community try to develop innovative projects that will sustain them financially, while staying true to what they believe in. For example, Gabrielle Saint-Pierre started her herborist and catering company, La tête dans les herbages, with the help of government programs such as Jeunes volontaires and Soutien aux travail autonome.
Listen to Gabrielle who talks about her experience as an entrepreneur in the Les Basques region and view her pictures.
