“We are on the way to eco-labelling!
» Nathalie Joly, director of the Henri-Breton private school group in Bar-sur-Seine (Aube), wants more than ever to introduce her students to the protection of nature.
For that, what could be better than planting trees with a farmer in the neighboring town of Polisy?
“Previously, they learned the technical terms,” underlines the head of the establishment.
“Pralining (soaking the roots in a clay mixture before planting), dressing (a technique for pruning the roots before planting)… And they studied the biodiversity of the soil in Life and Earth Sciences with their teacher.
»
This transmission of knowledge took place thanks to the intervention of farmer Diane Masure, first in class, then at the heart of her farm “La Grange au Bois”, this Monday, February 5.
On site, cereal production, but also seeds for other farmers, grasses for pasture, or even rapeseed and hemp.
The challenge proposed to the students?
Plant a hedge!
“The national initiative of the Children and Trees association made us want to do it with the CM1, CM2 and 6th grades.”
To supervise budding gardeners, students from the Crogny forestry school are called in as reinforcements.
Like Charlotte Spiquel, currently training as an agroforestry consultant technician: “We want to make young people aware of the importance of planting trees to limit global warming.
It also brings in fauna and flora, it’s really great!
» smiled the young woman.
“That’s what I like about this job, gently reconciling ecology and agriculture.
»
A first learning of resource management
The schoolchildren get involved in the game. “Here, there are horses in the meadow,” explains Manon, 10 years old.
The trees must be edible otherwise it won't work."
Gloves, shovels and rakes in hand, everyone brings their stone to the building.
“We are going to plant nearly 200 trees!
» exclaims Gabin, 10 years old.
“We put straw on it so as not to water too often,” adds Hippolyte, 9 years old.
A first step towards learning resource management.
“In one, two or three years, they will be able to come and see the trees grow.
In ten years, they will be able to say that they were the ones who planted them.
And in 100 years, their great-grandchildren will say that it was grandma or grandpa who planted the trees,” smiles Diane Masure.
This project is close to the heart of the operator at a time when farmers are defending the survival of their profession.
“When I asked them what the farmers do, they told me they are on their tractors… It was a bit restrictive!
» she laughs.
“They make it possible to produce food, but also clothing or housing with hemp.
» Without forgetting the little-known virtues of the profession on greenhouse gases: “Producing allows us to capture Co2 to transform it into organic matter which will go into the soil.
This allows us to have fertile soils which will restore biodiversity.
»
“We must not demonize things”
Vice-president of the Association for the Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture, Diane Masure promotes on a daily basis a practice focused on the technique of soil conservation, by plowing less, diversifying crops and covering the soil with plants.
In-depth work shared in the profession, too often ignored by the general public.
“I started doing open days because of the biased discourse about farmers,” she regrets.
Also read Agricultural crisis: has the executive thrown ecology into oblivion?
At a time when the use of phytosanitary products is being debated again, Diane Masure, who tries to do without them as much as possible, points out the obvious.
“Phytosanitary means
who takes care of plants
.
You should know that it is very expensive for the farmer.
If we use it, it’s because we need it.
When you have small alfalfas that are germinating and getting eaten by insects, you either watch them get eaten or you treat them.
Refusing phyto is like categorically refusing a medicine, we must not demonize things.”
The farmer hopes that this day will create vocations.
“Given how their approach to the earthworm and the earth is, I think there’s still a bit of work to be done,” she laughs.
“But it’s obvious that they will remember this day.”