A capitalization booklet finally out !

Since 2019, Envol Vert, through the Au Pré de Mes Arbres project (APMA), has been supporting farmers who have chosen to put trees back at the heart of their farms. It has been six years of meetings, exchanges, planting and impact. Six years of collectively building a project that is close to our hearts, a project that is now coming to an end.

To keep track of the progress we have made, with you and with them, and to pass on what we have learned and shared, we have created a capitalisation booklet. This booklet is a tool for those who want to continue the momentum around farmers and agroforestry in their territories.

At Pré de Mes Arbres, groups of farmersmeet, exchange ideas, advise each other and move forward together. It is a project that has been nourished by these collective moments. This dynamic has made it possible to find a space for dialogue, to break out of isolation and to feel the support of everyone in choosing a more sustainable future. Creating a collective dynamic is very different from providing individualised support.

Based on our six years of experience, we propose a three-year, 20-step calendar to support a group of farmers from its creation to the planting of an agroforestry system. This calendar is the first of eight technical sheets included in the booklet.

Here is a list of some of the information sheets you will find in this booklet:

The support offered, like the APMA project, is a long-term endeavour. It takes three years to introduce agroforestry, set up a system and see results. This allows for observation, diagnosis, testing and adjustment without rushing.

The key stage of support is diagnosis. It is necessary to understand the needs of the farm and the context in which the farmer finds themselves. It is particularly important to approach this stage with a comprehensive and appropriate questionnaire:

The APMA project is not just about support, it is also about raising awareness in order to increase its impact. We have organised farm visits, training courses, planting projects, and even a festival dedicated to agroforestry (the FAGOT). These unforgettable moments are the very essence of the Envol Vert association’s project: learning, observing, training, understanding and sharing around nature, agriculture and our territory. The booklet lists the costs and benefits of each of these different actions so that readers have all the information they need to launch their own awareness-raising initiatives. It should be noted that planting projects have long been one of the flagship actions of Envol Vert’s strategy, and are therefore the subject of a dedicated technical data sheet.

Finally, this booklet also presents four case studies on the implementation of agroforestry systems in the context of laying hen production, dairy cows and market gardening. These are sources of inspiration for people wishing to set up agroforestry systems at home. You can learn about the questions that arose during the implementation of these systems and the solutions that were found.

Even though the Au Pré de Mes Arbres project will conclude its final phase in the middle of the year, the story does not end there. This is not a conclusion, but an invitation. Indeed, this final phase is dedicated to passing on this momentum to the farmers themselves.

This freely accessible booklet encourages the continuation of these dynamics in other areas, drawing inspiration from past experiences, daring to plant and supporting farmersin our regions to grow a more vibrant agriculture. We hope that those who read it will be inspired to join the movement and collectively put trees back at the centre of the field.