19. L’alliance des courants
Here, resilience involves appropriation of forgotten natural dynamics, bringing age-old techniques up to date by adapting them to the contemporary world, and making optimal use of the least possible space in a closed circuit. The garden shows what happens when you combine permaculture with electroculture, two techniques capable of raising ruined lands from their ashes and of creating food self-sufficiency. The vegetable alchemy wrought by permaculture is increased tenfold by electroculture, an old though little-known procedure designed to capture energy from the sky and water. Permaculture has demonstrated that biodiversity and the combination of certain plants are beneficial to their development.
Electroculture adds extra stimulation, as is evidenced by the garden’s generous leguminous species and fruit plants. Static electricity is captured by copper prongs and communicated to the roots of plants in mid-growth. Three currents are at play here: alongside atmospheric electricity, wind and water energies act as stimulants across the garden. Screens channel air currents while a pump and piping system distributes water from a central pond. Very much in tune with the times, this garden is an invitation to recharge your own batteries!
DESIGNERS
Adrien Defosse is a landscape designer, member of the FFP (French Landscape Federation) with varied experience in consultation on and management of projects in France and abroad. After long experience in private design offices, he decided to take a post with the municipality of Loire-Authion as Public Space Manager, working with his team to develop fresh momentum in line with the quality of the spaces concerned (new charted plant palette, differentiated management, and assistance with anticipation of changes in vegetation due to global warming).
Emeline Duplant is currently a Greenspace Officer in the municipality of Loire-Authion. She started her studies with a Vocational Studies Certificate (BEP) and Professional Baccalaureate in landscaping at Lycée de Pouillé. With her Professional Baccalaureate validated, she went on to take a technico-commercial Advanced Technician’s Certificate (BTS) in ornamental plants at the ESA, followed by a Certificate of Professional Competence (CAP) in floristry in order to diversify her skills in the plant world. After working for 8 years as a flowers and plants supervisor in mass distribution, she decided to get back in the field again and joined the municipality of Loire-Authion’s teams in August 2022, specialising in project creation.
Raphaëlle Guitteau-Normand was born in Angers. Her schooling went smoothly until her upper secondary education, which she started off studying History of Art and ended up in Science and Laboratory Techniques. After reorientation, she opted for professional retraining in the field of plants at the National Centre for Horticultural Promotion (CNPH) in La Ménitré, with a Professional Certificate in Farm Management (BP REA). With her certificate in her pocket, she took a series of jobs in market gardening, plant nurseries and preparation of seed orders, taking care to balance her private and professional lives in order to spend time with her friends and family. She applied to the municipality of Loire-Authion in November 2019 and was recruited as a Greenspace Officer.
Amélie Jeunier has wide experience in working with plants. After taking a Horticultural Baccalaureate followed by an Advanced Technician’s Certificate (BTS) in Landscaping at the Agricultural Vocational Training and Promotion Centre (CFPPA) in Blanquefort near Bordeaux, while working for Bordeaux Metropolis, she trained in garden creation, with a passion for permaculture and market gardening. It was this latter interest that took her to the Anjou countryside to study for a certificate as a specialist in organic production at the National Centre for Horticultural Promotion (CNPH) in La Ménitré. She recently moved to the municipality of Loire-Authion, for which she currently works.
Olivier Bourget obtained an Agricultural Technician’s Certificate, option ‘Landscaping”, at Le Fresnes agricultural school near Angers. His training there persuaded him to make it his career. Since arriving in Loire-Authion, he has shown its inhabitants ample proof of his skills and love of greenspaces. He has a real passion for garden creation and landscaping in professional and private settings alike and enjoys helping to showcase trees by associating them with other plants (shrubs and perennials) and incorporating Mediterranean plants in his creations.
Joël Lefur is a landscape gardener. After 4 years of horticultural studies (Certificate of Professional Competence and Vocational Studies Certificate (CAP / BEP) in 1982), he developed his knowledge in the municipality of Corné, which merged with the new municipality of Loire-Authion in 2016. He works on autumn- and spring-themed gardens that bring joy to the hearts of its inhabitants. With his years of experience and wide knowledge of the municipality’s greenspaces, he is now its team’s leader. A sportsman and senior young people’s coach (Tennis), he takes an active part in sporting activities with the municipality’s other players.