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Thursday, 7 January 2021

The Shared Community Garden

Founded in 2016, on a parcel of land owned by the municipality near the river, the Jardin partagĂ© de Preuilly sur Claise ('shared garden of Preuilly on the Claise') was created to provide a free space for inhabitants who wanted to garden, and to educate them about organic gardening. It also operates as a hub for social exchanges and sharing. 

Community garden, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.

The garden is run on permaculture principles, and they offer classes or advice in companion planting, mulching, composting, and use of liquid manure (Fr. purin). They have also hosted the local kindergarten, showing the kids how to sow broad beans, peas and lettuce, then a month later having them back to see how the seedlings are progressing.

On Saturday 16 January at 2pm they will doing a community tree planting activity, which anyone is welcome to join.

Community garden, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
The community shared garden in November.

They invite locals to drop off their kitchen waste into the compost bin on site, asking only that you add a layer of dry chipped plant material from the chipper bin, so that the compost has a good mix of materials.

Archery range, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Next door to the community garden is the archery range.
 

The community gardeners began by appropriating, with the Town Hall's permission, a large planter by the Place des Halles. They planted and maintained vegetables, scented and pollinator plants, and shared the produce. Having proved their commitment, the Town Hall then offered them the plot of land near the river that they now use. The garden is no dig and welcomes new helpers.

Community garden, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
In the foreground the village pond (Fr. plan d'eau) and behind the community garden is the River Claise.

You can check out what they are up to, and contact them on their Facebook page [link].



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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

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2 comments:

chm said...

Do people have to share their harvest with the municipality to feed the needy?

Susan said...

No, it's shared amongst those who volunteer at the garden.

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