La Ferme de la Coume

La Coume Farm

There we go, 5 people in 2 cars on the small moutain roads where it's one car at a time, we're heading for Banios in the Hautes-Pyrénées. The road is getting steep and crooked under the splendid weather. Quite a tedious journey as we pass ridges and meadows. Oh there it is: a sign to the Coume farm!

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Sophie and her outdoorsy complexion welcome us and introduce us to the collective project settled here. Well, why here?

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This farm was born in 2003: Benoit and Veronique Thiry launched the project and bought the farm and surrounding land.

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http://endehors.net/news/la-ferme-de-la-coume/ (in french)

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The others joined five years ago. Today, 4 woman and two husbands are the associates in charge of the place. At their disposal: accommodation (stables that were turned into apartments), and a specific agricultural workshop for each of them: market gardening, cattle breeding (cows, sheep, pigs), cheese and meat processing, canning, herbal teas. The farm rely on biodynamic principles.

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Furthermore, the association "La Hound" created an educational project offering trainings for adults (personal growth, art, creativity...) as well as stays for children, including activities (performances, music, tree houses...). This activity adds another resident to the farm, reaching 7 inhabitants which include 6 farmers. Beyond a workplace, this place has become a living environment with the couples' children, trainees and woofers. Sophie first discovered the farm as an intern for a year and decided to stay and extend the experience. The underlining idea of the place is to welcome anyone who foresee a project in the field of agriculture. They share an economic system, workplaces, meals... Moments where they can meet and discuss their collective projects and the organization.

They have been narrowing down their goals and shaping their project through a chart which relies mainly on the following principles:

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• Biodynamy

• Work together as a group

• Make a living out of our work

• Take care of the landscape (maintain walls, paths, brushing...)

• Host and support people si they can discover the professional field of agriculture.

• Live a simple life, relieve weight from Earth's shoulders

• Raise our consciousness and be surrounded by living creatures and the elements (spiritual approach)

• Internal rules relying on the chart for operational aspects : work schedule, holidays, cooperation, each person's role, responsibility and commitment. It is re-examined each year.

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A fraction of what's produced on the farm will be used by the inhabitants, to which they add fruits for jams, beehives for honey and hens which provide fresh eggs and meat. However the main goal goes beyond becoming self-sufficient but to have a strategy consistent with their specific territory. (No cereals since the area is not suited to this crop and the only few leveled plots are dedicated to market farming.) Expanding the network with the locals is crucial, especially through trade. Yet bartering is not one the main goal (it does happen though), they are fine with using the "money" medium. One of the objectives for the agricultural project is to achieve economic sustainability so they can make a living out of it.

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Each year they discuss a set of criteria to share the income generated by the project (needs, time worked, each workshop's turnover...) everyone marks down how many hours they have worked. in 2013 the income was been divided into 6 equal shares regardless of the fact that certain associates work part-time (children). On the other hand they get accommodation and some "pocket money" from the income generated by the farm.
 

In terms of organization, 15 minutes are dedicated to scheduling the workday every morning.

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On Mondays a meeting between the permanent and temporary inhabitants (wwoofers, interns) is held to organize the week (gear, farm work, trip s downtown) to and give a feedback on the previous week.  On Thursday mornings  the groups does a reading together to learn more about a subject they agree upon (e.g: bee keeping). On Thursday evenings, the permanent inhabitants gather on their own to discuss the project's objectives.

Sophie tells us: "Punctuality is a reflection of the love you have for others"

In the Winter, where farm work is more scarse, half-a-day meetings allow the group to discuss big decisions regarding the farm (chart, rules, when somebody leaves). The inhabitants will also share updates on their work on the project. Eg: Sophie will be living the project in 2 years ton settle with her partner : who will replace her? Is it an opportunity to rethink the organization?

 

They have developed a tool for decision-making: in 2011 the group took part in an non-violent communication and sociocracy course they then adapted  - the collective ha been working according to it for 2-3 years. This a 4-step method:

 

1-         Defining the objective (eg: building a new shed)

 

2-         Assessing each person's impressions of the project -> using a "talking stick" (you're only supposed to talk when holding the stick, and pass the stick around) so no one gets interrupted when they speak.
 

3-         Several discussions on the possible ways to reach the objective - using the "talking stick" again.

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4-         Someone shares a proposition and the group discusses it to shape in a way the whole group agrees with, or a another proposition is reworded untilagreement is reached.

A break can happen during the process so people can wind up and take all the new ideas and reach a better compromise.

To learn more about the tools for sociacrocy (in french): 

http://universite-du-nous.org/a-propos-udn/ses-outils/

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Each person has a department under their responsibility and manages it on their own. The key is to find the right balance between the project and the manager to leave them some freedom. Trust, respect and a good communication are crucial.

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It's now been 5 years that Sophie has been in charge of ewe, landscaping (brushing, fences...) and processing the meat. She explains us she has been studying agriculture because she dreamed of becoming a farmer. Volunteering as a wwoofer allowed her to discover biodynamic agriculture and work within a group. She says that biodynamic farming is a way to live and work in accordance with the environment, natural cycles and the ecosystems. 

 

This method which as been designed by Rudolf Steiner during the 1920's increases the natural phenomenon and uses homeopathy. To answer a question regarding plant diseases for example, Steiner explained that is was not the plant which was sick in the first place but rather its environment and especially the ground. The explanation for a plant's so-called "disease" could be found in the health of said ground and environment. He also underlined the influence of cosmic rhythms on plants and animals.

After him, several researchers got interested in those phenomenon and were able to find links between the time of seeding, planting or tillage and the efficiency and quality of farming goods. Maria Thun has been exploring the principle of ideal days for leaves, fruits, flowers or roots and their connection with the moon's position relative to the constellations of the Zodiac.

 

This principle is applied today on every lunar calendar with varying precision. Hence, the lunar calendar for biodynamic seeding is a vital and easy tool to use. Of course, farmwork remains a priority rather than the calendar, given the weather conditions on the fields. 
 

Once a year a meeting between the biodynamic farms of South-West France is held, a good oportunity to share tips with your fellow farmers, but above all to craft mixtures from plants and animal organs to influence and increase the efficiency of compost.

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Learn more: http://www.bio-dynamie.org

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Before she leaves and after a good meals composed of the farm's products, Sophie offers us 2 activities: repairing fences or cleaning the calve's pen. We split into small groups, some more keen than others under the bright sun. At tea-time we are lucky enough to witness and even give a hand for the milking of the sheep! While some of us shop for delicious goods, some others stare worried at the fast approaching dark clouds above the landscape. The windbegins to blow hard. Quick! Every one hurries to the cars while the first drops of rain are falling. Driving down the mountain has been rough but the group keeps wonderful memories of the farm.

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Recipe for Thyme's Syrup: Let some thyme brew for a whole night (1L), then boil it dwn with sugar. Serve with water.