Les Amis Culteurs: Creating social ties around organic vegetable gardens in the City of Marseille

Context

Les Amis Culteurs is an association founded in September 2015 by 3 Marseille friends concerned by climate change and looking for actions for an alternative lifestyle in an urban environment, in search of… local realization! Since then, the team has evolved, changed, integrated new active and passionate members.

The objectives of the association:

• Develop urban ecology, biodiversity, urban greening, by creating vegetable gardens and a local circular system (better management and reuse of waste, both organic and non-organic).
• Raise awareness of the problem of seeds, make available free and reproducible seeds.
• Develop natural alternative methods of cultivation (lasagna cultivation, crop rotation, green manure, natural treatments, plant association, biodynamic calendar, composting, etc.)
• Encourage the social and intergenerational bond between inhabitants / occupants of the same residence, the same place, the same neighborhood
• Weave a network of exchanges in favor of a better living environment and a short-circuit, greener and healthier diet.

Project

Means:

• Participatory workshop to make planters from recycled pallet wood
• Training workshops in lasagna layer culture by recycling urban waste that is very present in the city center, compost, permaculture, natural treatments, plant associations, biodynamics,
• Visits to green places (urban waste digester and Savournin soil manufacturer, Jardinot 13015, etc.)
• Free and reproducible seedbank and seed exchanges

Two major projects:

• Jardin alimen’terre at the CHRS: This project aims to revegetate a space in the Accommodation and Social Reintegration Center (CHRS). Workshops have been held once a week since the beginning of February 2017 and welcome young people from the Beaujour Asylum Seekers Reception Center (CADA), as well as residents of CHRS la Roseraie à la Rose. With the association's volunteers, they organize the space while learning the techniques of composting and mound cultivation.
• School project: Example in 2018 with Arthur Rimbaud College (13015) - February to June - cycle of animation of educational and practical workshops to support the Sustainable Development Club in establishing a garden and compost (1st prize floral college obtained out of 26 participants, in June 2018). Or the Copello Nursery School (13005), garden project - Planters creation workshop with the parents' association.

Project leaders

Valérie GOUDARD - President / Teacher Melenn MAUPU - Secretary / Energy Advisor Thomas MARTIN - Landscape architect Cécilia LAZRAK - Volunteer in charge of events and documentary monitoring Héléna TREMBLAY - Volunteer Solène ILL - Volunteer

Projects are carried out in partnerships with:

• Les Colibris: movement based on empowerment, it encourages everyone to "do their part",
• Garden Passers: promotion of natural gardens, shared gardens and artists in the garden,
• Restaurant Les Ondines
• Building Belzunce: association of residents of Fernand Pouillon's Building Canebière,
• Robins des Villes: advocates for a shared, pleasant city accessible to all,
• ESAT La Valbarelle: Establishment and Work Assistance Service,
• The Bulk Bar: zero waste and anti-waste grocery / restaurant.
• ...and many others

Last modification : 09 Jul 2020.