Bucolic news

You might just about see my neighbour's SIX Blonde d'Aquitaine cows in the middle/left of the picture below. They have recently been joined by a small flock of Egrets.

Agriculture is in a pretty poor state here at the moment. There are still a few cows about, but otherwise not much happens. The sunflowers are a joint affair between non land owners and farmers, and some maize is grown. Otherwise hay is just about the only universal crop; but for who they make it, I'm not sure. Much of it remains in the fields until it turns black, then it is taken away somewhere to rot.

I know three local farmers whose farms will come to a full stop when they either retire or die; there is no-one to take over whatever farming is still done.

So much good productive land is now left to grow weeds and brambles; it really is a very sad sight. Just 50 or so years ago when I first arrived in my village it was a very different affair. There were vines everywhere, fields of wheat tobacco and maize, pigs, ducks, geese, and huge veg patches that grew everything the family needed to get through the whole year. Every farm was self-sufficient, but, at the same time, I imagine that no-one took a regular salary.

They still do harvest chestnuts. It is a favourite crop of local farmers as it really takes no work other than mowing maybe twice a year; then much of the harvesting is done in Autumn by noisy machines.

It is rare these days to see a chicken or a duck in a farmyard; and as for pigs, they are long gone.

I cannot understand what the government thinks it's doing. Why import so much food when it could easily be home grown? There is so much perfectly good productive land that is simply doing nothing, and there are so many knowledgeable famers who are simply twiddling their thumbs.

There are two large fields within a few yards of our cottage that have been left unproductive. This one above, which is about 3 acres of really good flat arable land, and another bigger one in front of us that has been completely over-run by Brambles and small trees. Such fields are not exclusive to around us; they are everywhere.

Many of the more entrepreneurial farmers embraced tourism and have restored old houses, or converted farm buildings into holiday accommodation; but even this is now in peril. The EU is making it more difficult for British tourists to come to France, and I've seen very few Dutch cars around. As for those tourists who used to visit Spain, they are now looking elsewhere; where they and their Pounds or Euros are more welcomed. 

Decent restaurants are becoming rarer here, and there is very little for a tourist family to do. There seems little reason to come here any more. It used to be such a popular destination.

I find it all very sad.