I was recently thumbing through certain pages of my 2008 book 'Je t'adore 24', when I was particularly taken by my description of the generosity and helpfulness of my neighbours, when I'd arrived here in 1972.
Life was very different back in the 70's. Hay bales were smaller and more manageable and we all helped to fill the barns before nightfall, small vineyards were everywhere and needed plenty of helpers at harvest time, and neighbours combined efforts to complete all sorts of tasks.
Today those bales are huge and heavy, and are left outside, the vineyards have long gone, and all those tasks that needed many hands are either done by machine, or not at all.
Most of my neighbours now concentrate on four main crops; Hay, Maize, Sunflowers, and Chestnuts. Some may keep a few cows, hardly anyone keeps Pigs Chicken or Ducks, and much of their land lies idle. A lot of the work is now done by contractors, and share-cropping is common amongst those who grow sunflowers. The only time that neighbours seem to assemble is when making silage, and several giant trailers are needed to follow the harvester.
My next door neighbour made silage from his Maize this year, which was immediately sold to someone else; leading me to suspect that his few remaining Cows will soon go.
Life is certainly quieter for local farmers, but no doubt the money still rolls-in from Brussels and its 'single farm payment'. However, so much has been lost in human terms. The camaraderie of times past has gone, the gastronomic competitiveness at harvest banquets has all but disappeared; and even the traditional cuisine of those peasant farmer's wives has been replaced by packaged Italian fast foods. Not one of my pukka farming neighbours now has Hens in the yard.
Having said all that, it's still a lovely place to live. The genuine natives of the area are still some of the most charming and generous that I've encountered, and, frankly, I still consider myself highly privileged to have been able to live here.
Times long ago.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to live in such a lovely place and I enjoy reading about your garden, walking the countryside and drawing
parsnip
It is a lovely part of the world. The vernacular architecture is wonderful, the whole area still very unpolluted, and the real locals all so friendly. Unfortunately, like everywhere, the changes are not always good.
DeleteFrench farmers milk the CAP payment to the hilt.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't everyone? I'm just back from my early walk with Billy, and have been looking at all the fields that do thing, yet are still paid-for by Brussels. Crazy.
DeleteNo. French farmers always have most of everything.
DeleteI think we have lived in the best of times.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that's right, and probably counts for all aspects of life.
DeleteFood for thought. Probably times are changing for the worse, but there are one or two things that are better - we do generally live longer to enjoy the changes! Ironic smily face if I could do one.
ReplyDeleteIt's always best to be positive; I do try to be.
DeleteIt is a nice tribute to some of the people who live where you call you call home. While it may be more dramatic in Europe and especially France, the same is happening all over the world.
ReplyDeleteAnd happening far too fast.
DeleteSounds familiar. I remember the old ways of hay-time and potato picking, hard work but the sights, sounds, smells and camaraderie will always be in my memory.
ReplyDeleteHere it was traditional to all eat together after a day's work with a neighbour. They were some of the most memorable meals I've ever eaten.
DeleteI spent a great deal of my teenage years on farms in the 70s. Yes, there were idyllic moments, but life was also hard, and profits on small farms were meagre. We never forget simpler times though.
ReplyDeleteI genuinely think that people were happier too, which came from that feeling of community.
DeleteSome of my (now gone) relatives grew up when villagers worked on the land in groups. Their banter could be agonisingly brutal unless you realised it was only meant in fun and tried to give back as good as you got.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbours all grew-up together, probably all went to the same local school, etc; they were like family, and behaved as such. Probably much like the people you describe.
DeleteWhat a pity rural life has changed so much. On the island it's still common for people to help one another but it's more done with the extended family and maybe a willing neighbour.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure on the big mainland farms things are now as you describe.
It is a real shame. I really appreciate that feeling that the neighbourhood is a friendly one and a shout will bring help....or a drinking companion for some
Sadly it's 'mostly' a thing of the past. Since the good old days, family rivalries have resurfaced, and some recently started. Fings ain't wot they used to be.
DeleteWe used to share Christmas, Bonfire night etc with our neighbours when I was a child. We've been in our current house 20 years and are just about on nodding terms with the neighbours.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased to say that the road where my house is in Brighton (UK) is very friendly, and community minded. At Christmas we do an 'advent calendar' with our front windows. We draw lots for the date, and each window is revealed in turn. We've done it for years, and the passers-by love it.
DeleteA book?
ReplyDeleteTwo actually.
DeleteWe saw a lot of gradual changes during our two decades in France. Our neighbour farmer had three sons and a daughter but, apart from the vineyard, none of them were interested in taking on the farm. I guess nothing stays the same.
ReplyDeleteSue, this is a real problem and I can't see how it'll be rectified. All our neighbours are the same, all the children have gone off to Toulouse or Bordeaux. We already have loads of land around us that is unused. The more beautiful, big, houses with plenty of level land will be bought by horse owners, but I suspect many of the smaller, less attractive, farms will be left to fall down as they were before.
Delete"What goes around...." For what it is worth, When I was a boy here in Iowa, there were farmers who did it 'all' - cows, pigs, chickens, various crops. Then, that all seemed to have gone away to be replaced by two main crops and monoculture. Towns died and farms got huge - but with almost no people to live on them, much as you describe and fear. I moved away to the cities to make a career and a living for my family. Now, however, decades later, I'm back living on my farm. The big guys are still getting bigger (although not more profitable) but the little farms are thriving. An observation is that people like living in a self-sufficient rural setting, and will find a way to do it. Our small communities are strong as ever and getting better. Have faith. It will come around in some fashion - eventually.
ReplyDeleteIf as a result of another abandoning of farms, the price of property should fall, then maybe we'll see some younger 'self sufficiency' smallholders returning; which would be good.
DeleteYes, it's the community that is missed the most....when I was a child we knew most of our neighbors. Today I know only a few ~ no one gets together and help is only available if asked for it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was small in my native village in Surrey UK, everyone knew me, but I (of course) didn't know everyone. It was nice that everyone said hello using my name. I remember it well. I don't suppose that happens any more.
DeleteI must say Cro that from your posts I have always detected that you were both very happy to live there.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of each day we sit outside on our covered terrace with a glass of wine, and give thanks that we live in such an idyllic place. We've recently had to cope with a few troublesome neighbours, but nothing changes the beauty of the area.
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