France Lyon
Food production

La Bergerie Urbaine : Become an urban shepherd

Associative

La Bergerie Urbaine

< back to initiatives

Context

The idea of this project is based on the absence of livestock farming in the cities, which indeed lasted until 1900. Nowadays, there is a great chance for urban and rural livestock to develop mutually in the city due to the increase of urban crops. 

Project

The “Bergerie Urbaine” (Urban Sheepfold) offers itinerant pasture activities, especially in parks. Guided by one or two shepherds, the herd would go around the city, stop by outside buildings and schools, walk through parks and wastelands and graze in the fields.

Implementation: animals are well domesticated and accustomed to move in an urban environment. The idea is for them to coexist with humans and cars. This way, sheep from the Urban Sheepfold will be able to find a diet rich in grass with no chemicals. This association operates in several green and public spaces, such as schools, nursing homes and further areas where grass grows.

Results: It has been proved that the presence of animals improves biodiversity, fertilizes soils,  reduces the use of maintenance machines, enables an atypical animation and creates real social links. Both children and adults can come into contact with animals  anytime. Moreover this animal treatment allows the sheep to graze on grass free of chemical products.

In the long term, the sheep will be raised only with grass and without chemical products. It will facilitate the marketing of the meat. 

Means: This association is financially supported by local authorities, social housing and various businesses. Several initiatives including training administrative and technical implementations contributed to the final actualization of this project.

Association’s needs:

  • An accurate website accessible 24/7 
  • Grazing area for sheep (from 1000 m² to 10 hectares)
  • Storage equipment and shelter for animals (minimum 120 m²) including water and electricity, toilets, office and housing on site with internet access

In conclusion, the herd and urban grazing may bring 3 main benefits: a greener city, happy residents, and healthy food for the animals. The association welcomes the herd to participate in events around the city proposed by the association itself.

Project leaders

This creative project comes from Roger des Prés’ idea with the “Ferme du Bonheur” (Nanterre - 92). This initiative was developed thanks to the help of the CLINAMEN association and Urban Shepherds (La Courneuve - 93). Created in 2019, six people first established La Bergerie Urbaine's management committee, which included an ecologist, a manager, a nature protection technician, a logistics manager, a communication and development consultant, a grocer responsible for short circuit feeding, a marketing and computer graphics manager.

This association is also the result of volunteers’ work that contributed to the product distribution chain.

In case of no sheep’s grazing , the animals are moved to a sheepfold of several meadow hectares. The success of this association was also achieved thanks to the partnership with a social structure in the northern part of Lyon. Furthermore, La Bergerie Urbaine is now developing and implementing a project based on education for young people that live in precarious situations.

The Little Extra

Agricultural activities are financially autonomous, which allows every volunteer to participate in the operative and funding process of the association.

Written by Clémence Guignard, LFC volunteer - April 2019.

Last modification : 30 Mar 2020.

La Bergerie Urbaine

59 Rue de Fontanières 69100 Villeurbanne France

This association based in Lyon aims to demonstrate that it is possible to use the many natural spaces in cities to produce food while practicing a healthy and friendly physical activity.

Contact