Rural Europe on the move English_chap7_13 | Page 24

CHAPTER 8
Travelling farmers -
a new generation
Usually it is almost impossible to
peasant farmers. “Access to land for
start farming without family heritage. newcomers and new farmers is a major
But as they had worked as volunteers problem for young people who have
at Terre de Liens (Access to land not inherited a farm from their parents.
families settling in the neighbourhood. network) in Savoie, they knew about It remains a crucial point throughout
Céline Fournier and Maxime Leportier the various initiatives and legal Europe,” says Céline. “We have been
are an example. They are part of an possibilities to gain access to land and able to settle here with the help of
initiative called ‘paysans voyageurs’ a farm, with support from civil society many people who support newcomers
- travelling farmers. After travelling initiatives. Their new settlement was in farming. We may at some point wish
through Latin America, visiting and possible through a type of community to move somewhere and it’s perfectly
working on farms and local initiatives, sustained farming. possible that other young people can
Jeanine is also proud to see young
they decided to settle in Thénésol
near Alberville.
To help them settle down take our farm over. This could be a new
as farmers, they called upon a form of making farming more attractive
solidarity savings system called for young people and to revitalise rural
‘GFA’ (Groupement Foncier Agricole) areas.”
to access a three-hectare farm.
Contributions to the cost of the farm
came from their families and friends
but also from an event called ‘Le
grand bivouac’, a festival where young
people share their experience of
travelling the world and working with
12. GFA - Paysans Voyageurs : the farm
13. The mobile henhouse
14. End of a day of collective work
to support Céline (3rd left)
and Maxime (1st right) in July 2019
“Access to land for newcomers and new
farmers is a major problem for young people
who have not inherited a farm from their parents.”
Céline Fournier
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