65 Old Variety Fruit Trees at Vincent’s

65 trees fruit of old variety, untreated, were planted on this livestock farm at the end of November 2021. A great benefit for biodiversity. The dairy cows will enjoy the shade, and the fruits will delight our taste buds!

A project led in partnership with the Coq Des Prés cooperative.

This project was supported by committed citizens and businesses:

A Family Farm Focused on Sustainable Agriculture

Viviane and Vincent Georges manage a diversified livestock farm in Serinchamps (Ciney municipality) that produces milk and meat.

In 2016, Vincent Georges expressed his choice to convert part of his farm to organic farming. Today, his dairy production and broiler chickens are organic. The family also strives to produce quality pork using conventional farming methods.

Vincent Georges is one of the cooperators of Coq des Prés, a premium Belgian organic chicken sector with whom PlantC collaborates.

A Standard-Stem Orchard. Not Just for its Fruits!

Today, the Georges family continues its efforts for family-run, diversified, and environmentally friendly agriculture by planting orchards of old variety standard fruit trees. The objectives? To continue to diversify the farm’s products and income sources, provide shade for livestock, and commit to biodiversity.

The tree stores carbon in its wood, its root systems. Falling leaves provide organic matter to grazed soils and restore nutrients drawn from deep within.
PlantC supported this initiative in 2021 to co-finance an orchard of 65 trees located at the exit of the dairy cows’ barn.

“The purpose of these plantings is to allow my animals, upon leaving the stable, to stay together and in beneficial conditions for them, especially during heatwaves.” Vincent Georges.

The fruit production will be primarily intended for the production of juice and compote, which will then be offered on the local market.

The orchard offers multiple benefits. PlantC explains in its article the standard orchard: communion between Man and Nature, what is useful to know.

Visit to Contributing Companies in June 2022

PlantC was on site in June 2022 with Vincent and Viviane to visit the plantation carried out in winter 2021-2022 in Serinchamps, accompanied by the project’s contributing companies (Corman, Cocoatree, and Balkan Trafik) who made this project possible. Thanks also to the citizens who also participated. The information panel is visible from the GR577.

It was a wonderful moment of exchange regarding the realities on the ground in an agricultural environment. Vincent was able to share his passion for his profession and describe precisely why it is important today to plant trees in fields. Specifically here, in pastureland. This allows, in the relatively near future, to provide shade for his livestock, contribute to their well-being, and thus to the quality of the milk produced. Finally, the fruits can be utilized within a local value chain organized in consultation with the Coq Des Prés cooperative.

Vincent did not escape our “watering” alerts because spring and summer were hot and dry!

Features