Located on Bizard Island, Terre Promise is a 1 acre land, part of Bord-du-Lac incubator Farm. The farm is shared by various organic agricultural companies, including a fruit tree orchard and nursery, an edible forest, vegetable growers, and beekeepers. Resources and skills are shared between partners and they can work together if they wish to do so.
The soil, a clay loam, is filled with stones a conventional farmer would shriek at. But since no plowing is done on Terre Promise, there is no risk of breaking any tractor! Instead, we use rocks as natural barriers to direct waterflow and as heat convectors, releasing their warmth to the plants at night time. Many creatures wriggle under the pebbles! Toads and reptiles help us keep the pest and insect number in balance.
There is an old root cellar dating from the beginning of the 20th century on our parcel. It was in a pitiful state when we found it, after so many years of neglect. The granary door was gone, the roof had rotted away because of water infiltrations, the walls were covered with signs left by squatters who had sought refuge therein. Rubbish littered the floor. Mice had made their nest in the wax of old beehives forgotten inside. With a group of friends and volunteers, we rolled up our sleeves and worked hard to give the cellar its true purpose. Today, we are proud to use it in the way our ancestors did. During summertime, workshops are also held in this heritage landmark!
We find inspiration in permaculture and African Zaï for our own gardening techniques. We work with nature and not against nature. In times of plenty, we share the harvest with our family, friends, friends of friends… We never forget that the fruit belongs to everyone and nobody owns the earth.