During a weekend visit last summer, I had the pleasure of meeting Jean-Cédric Jacmart, a man who has experienced several careers and life changes. For the past ten years, he has settled in the quaint village of Desnié, located in the province of Liège, Belgium. Here, amidst the rolling hills, Jean-Cédric founded “Le Petit Monde de Desnié” (the Small World of Desnié) a permaculture micro-farm. On his vast 9-hectare land, nature, humans, and living organisms harmoniously interact and coexist. This immersive experience let me discover the values and philosophy behind permaculture, a lifestyle inspired by nature to create sustainable ecosystems with minimal reliance on fossil fuels.
Permaculture is much more than gardening. It’s an entire life philosophy inspired by nature to (re)create more harmonious and robust ecosystems, as independent as possible from fossil fuels.
In Belgium as elsewhere, climate change is a fact and we may have 40 C degrees in summer. In Jean-Cédric’s place it can be cooler thanks to the hedges and trees. When he developed Le Petit Monde de Desnié in 2014, there was practically only grass and a few scattered trees. He has planted over 5,000 and plans to plant even more to reforest his land. The property has completely transformed in service to nature. It has become a veritable refuge for animals and insects. Wildlife has reclaimed its rights. “Almost every day, a stag and doe come to roam and nibble on comfrey in my vegetable garden,” he says, showing images from his night camera.
The most spectacular transformation for him has probably been the ornithological change and its resulting acoustic difference. The song of birds is everywhere. “Do you hear that? There are chirps everywhere,” he says before adding, “When there are no trees, there are no birds, it’s as simple as that. Before, they’d cross the property without being able to land. When we set up the poles for the agroforestry system, we already saw birds on them the very same day. The change was instantaneous. It’s incredible, the power we have to promote life by transforming the landscape!”
High Biological Value
Jean-Cédric also dug a pond that brings beauty and tranquility to the landscape, but not only that. “Since the pond was built, there are seven insect species that didn’t exist before. Adding water to a system completely changes the ecosystem.” There are rare species and insects on the farm’s heights as well. “The upper part of the property is considered a high biological value meadow.” he explains.
In the farm, there are also 40 varieties of hedges with specific functions, such as creating microclimates, providing shade for animals, reducing wind and erosion, enriching the soil with humus, and recreating evapotranspiration (which involves air condensation that can create rain). Hedges are thus a valuable ally in the fight against climate change. They also allow livestock to eat more than just grass, thanks to the fruits, leaves, and bark available to them.
Permaculture
The foundation of Jean-Cédric Jacmart’s farm is based on the principle of permaculture, namely “transforming the landscape, the environment for the better.” But that’s not its only definition. It’s difficult to limit the meaning of permaculture to just a few lines. It’s a complex and comprehensive notion. It’s a philosophy, science, and art of living that allows intelligent production while preserving and protecting biodiversity. Permaculture also involves considerations on how to live well tomorrow with much fewer resources and how to share them equitably.
The Founders of Permaculture
According to Jean-Cédric, almost no one in Francophone countries understands what the “real” permaculture of Bill Mollison and David Holmgren is. These two academics launched the movement in the 1970s in Australia. According to Bill Mollison, permaculture is “an ethical design approach aimed at building sustainable human habitats by imitating the functioning of nature.” They started with the observation that in nature, everything grows without chemical inputs. The idea is to abandon such fertilizers and create ecosystems that are more respectful of resources.
Permaculture is based on three fundamental ethical values: caring for the earth, caring for people, and redistributing surplus equitably. Isn’t it great? These principles can be applied at individual, family, community, and various life aspects. One of the starting points of Jean-Cédric’s reflection is the question of resources and the fragility of our food supply systems. Studies say that in case of crisis (and we have been living in chaos for a while), in three days the stores would be empty. If you live in cities, you are incapable of producing your own food. It may seem trivial, but we are in a world where resources are finite. Moreover, in Europe, most resources we use don’t come from here. How will we live in the future? It’s a real question..
Permaculture is an invitation to recreate ecosystems as autonomous as possible. It can be considered a sustainable solution in the face of climate, geopolitical, supply, and other uncertainties that we may face in the upcoming years. “The world of tomorrow will be more robust if territories are robust,” adds Jean-Cédric. On his land, nature unfolds in peace without human intervention. Fruits continue to grow, hedges develop, and hay is of high quality. But simultaneously, the farm operates at a slow pace. There are no sheep or draft horses in the landscape. The vegetable plot is at rest. Jean-Cédric takes time to reflect on the future of his farm. Slowing down, taking the time to observe his environment, and readjusting his needs are also part of permaculture.
Permaculture Design
Jean-Cédric, a graphic designer by training, is also a permaculture designer. A profession that he is passionate about. He helps others create productive, supportive, and self-sufficient living spaces for future generations. It might seem laborious to rethink a system as virtuous as possible in permaculture. But for Jean-Cédric, having a very long-term vision allows not to have to restart certain things and to do it correctly from the start. “In fact, permaculture design is about anticipation, preparing to live correctly in a world that may be less abundant,” he says.
According to him, the key factor is to succeed in the design without exhausting oneself. “The challenge is to recreate systems with intellectual and physical engagement, but with less difficulty than the old ones, thanks to today’s agronomic, scientific, and technical knowledge,” Jean-Cédric explains. This could perhaps revive an essential but declining profession.
For him, it is essential to recreate farms and living places like his own. “It’s heartening to know that people maintain this connection to the land, that there are still places where animal traction can be done and where one can self-sustain. The biggest challenge is human, it’s the cultural transformation.” Permaculture is above all an inquiry about the lifestyle one wants to adopt. It is also an invitation to reflect on a tomorrow’s world that is more respectful of life. Hence the interest in creating life oases, more virtuous and respectful ecosystems for future generations.
Are you ready to dive into the world of sustainable agriculture and discover how you can make a positive impact on our planet? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below and let’s build a greener future together!
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Thank you for sharing. Earth was the first perfect resource that still sustains all living things. This is a perfect example of how we can return to wisdom we knew, before the world imposed it’s “better way”.
Wise words earnestlydebra! Thank you for commenting!
It sounds like a wonderful place. I love the ideology and agree that we need to restore our relationship with the land, but I don’t see how that’s possible in a world where buying a home of any kind, let alone a home with a garden or any amount of property is out of the reach of many people.
I see your point Michelle. But in Belgium buying a property in the countryside is much cheaper than in the city. In Italy you can find old houses that you can buy for 1 € under the conditions that you refurbish it and you move to live there because they want to repopulate the most remote areas.
It’s pretty much the opposite here, especially in Ontario where I live. Cities are expensive, but rural properties are also unaffordable for the average person. You can buy land cheaper in places like Saskatchewan or the far north but there is very little work there (not to mention the winter climate is horrible), so unless you will be fully self-sufficient it’s a non-starter.
We have much to learn about living sustainably by learning from Indigenous people. The know the land in a way the western culture just does not understand. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer is an encouraging starting point in living in a world that is changing due to climate change. If we don’t treat the earth with care how can we expect it to sustain us. When growing crops looks more like mining the soil than tending it and extracting minerals creating wasteland we totally forget the critical need to let the earth heal itself.
Wow! What an inspiration concept and interesting property! Imagine the world if everybody who could make permaculture happen did, or at least did what they could. 🤯 We hear so much about irreversible damage we’re causing to the environment, but it’s great to hear stories like the one about the birds returning so quickly with the re-addition of trees. I think nature and ecosystems are more resilient than we give them credit for. Thanks for a great post!
I agree that nature is more resilient than they tell us. Last year I participated in a conference called « Let nature do its job » meaning that nature can heal itself if the humans leave it alone. Thank you for commenting Todd!
That sounds like a great conference!