Community-supported and collective farming in Ariège

 The original vision behind La Grange Rouge was to develop a collective approach toward greater food resilience throughout the Rémillassé Valley.  We are now 13 members, 8 of whom have been cultivating 4.5 hectares of farmland since January 2021,  within an association structure that allows us to manage various activities centered on agroecology, animal-drawn farming, traditional farming skills, and wild, resilient art and craftsmanship. 

A place of resistance and transmission, we are rebuilding, stone by stone, a place of inspiration open to all, and together we are rediscovering the Commons—these lands whose purpose is to ensure the well-being of a region’s inhabitants.

Our Activities 

We prioritize animal traction as a sustainable and intelligent source of labor. It is with horses—and no longer with oxen—that we now grow our vegetables and haul timber in this small stretch of valley.  Ariès, Chouf, and Avane, the valiant horses, have contributed greatly to the development of this project. 

Nurturing Land

A small flock of Basco-Béarnaise sheep—hardy sheep from the Pyrenees—as well as two Jersey cows allow us to make cheese and yogurt.  In the fall, we use a mobile press to extract apple juice and cider for the year. We run a microbrewery and regularly produce delicious beers.  We harvest wild plants for food, but especially to treat both humans and animals throughout the year