Foire aux plantes Maisons, 24 April
Well the first Foire aux plantes is to be held in Maisons is going to happen on Sunday 24th April. The idea all started when our Mayor, Florie Blanc called the three farms in the commune to see if we wanted the Intercommunity to put up signs advertising our activities.
I called round the other producers, Paul and Vero from Pique Rouge, who are organic tree growers, and Sam from the Jardin de Naounes, who grows soft fruit bushes, plants and vegetables, to see if we couldn’t get three signs, one for each of us but with all three farms on each one, then each entry to the village can have a sign with us all on it. All readily agreed, if the signs could be made out of some sustainable product, like wood, rather than aluminium or plastic. The Mayor agreed with our point about having signs in keeping with our organic approach and the application is now working it’s way through the Intercommunity machinery. We will see when we see. Nothing happens fast in French local government.
In the process of these discussions Sam proposed that we should maybe organise a plant festival in Maisons. There are a few problems with the idea, the commune of Maisons is quite large in terms of size, but most of it is forest and hills, no so large in terms of populations, less than 40 people live in it. So any successful event has got to be able to attract people from outside the commune. Secondly the village itself is not very large, true we have a new social centre, but there is no much space around it, Parking in the villages is virtually none existent, fine in the times of horse transport not so good our times of large SUVs and hunters 4X4. We do have a lovely lake, but access is difficult, it is 300 metres from the road along a rough track, and there is very little electricity there. The Mayor has a project to revive the old village square which is off the main road with what could best be described as interesting access for vans. But it has potential. Hautes Corbieres Gourmandes organised a Summer market in it last year and it was very successful. Thirdly Spring is crowded out with plant festivals, particularly around Easter and May Day, and it is election time. After a bit of umming and ahhing we settled on the 24th April, from 10am to 5pm, the day of the second round of voting, the 17th is the Prades plant festival, May Day is Montjoi; and the 7th is Felines plant festival, so we would be before the local festivals.
We have decided to try and stick with local producers, there are now quite a few plant producers and people who dry, distil, macerate and transforms plants in the area 14 have said they will come. The date is difficult for anyone who is an elected councillor as the rules are quite strict on that four have to be in the election room at any one time, and most small villages only have 7 councillors; But all told we are very happy with the response. As well as the plant folks other local producers are also coming to bring beer, wine, woven baskets, honey, cheese and bread. E are doing a small bar and a 10 euro grill at lunch time.
A naturalist has agreed to do a guide walk around the village, from 10;30 to 12;30, we have workshops on making paints from plants, how to graft trees; and how to make floral water.
With help from the Mayor, and with Paul’s design skills we have printed off a hundred posters and lots of leaflets which are already out and about.
If the weather is good it should be a lovely day, lets just hope we get enough clients.
If we, and the other stand holders are pleased we hope to re do an Autumn event and turn it into a bi annual celebration of local plant producers. So keeping our fingers crossed that the first Foire aux plantes, Maisons will be a success.
Here is the list of plant producers so far.
Pique Rouge Maisons
Arbres et plantes AB
Tel 0682907474
Domaine de Montrouch, Maisons
Plantes aromatique et medicinale AB
Tel 0582194031
Le jardin du Naounes Maisons
Plantes et legumes
Tel 0664351876
Abri-Herbs Soulatge
Plantes medicinale naturel Tel 068 5651155
La Ferme du Verre Double Padern
Plantes et Maraîchage
Tel 06.60.79.00.86
L’Abroresence Cucagnan AB SIMPLE
huiles essentielles , herb seche, Kombucha
Tel 0686 56 27 32
Les Canelles AB Tuchan
Huiles essentielles , huile d’olive bio
Tél : 06 89 48 76 26
La Cabane du Berger Fontjoncouse AB SIMPLE
Plantes medicinale et transformation cosmeitques
Tel 0609 38 68 74
Le Pas de Sève Lagrasse AB SIMPLE
Plantes aromatique et simples
L’Echoppe de Sylvie AB
St Laurent de la Cabraisse
savons de l”agriculture local Tel 0679 22 23 52
Le Livre Naturopathe Davejean
Produits ecoresponsables et soin quantiques
Tel 0636 05 62 97
