A pear orchard in Arbre

Le Bocage is an organic fruit and vegetable farm in the Namur Condroz region that sells through short supply chains to feed the local population. Behind Le Bocage is François, who wishes to establish a pear orchard in Arbre.

Le Bocage, agroecological fruit farm

A bioengineer by training, François Wiaux has always been concerned by environmental issues. After working in scientific research as part of a doctorate on the link between agricultural soils and global warming, then in a sustainable development consulting firm. In 2016, he had an epiphany: he became self-employed, embarking on market gardening and knowledge transfer.

The agroecological approach consists of integrating agricultural production into the natural ecosystem, meaning collaborating with nature rather than exploiting it; we even speak of an ‘agro-ecosystem’. This requires welcoming biodiversity, to preserve it but also because it will itself play a role in regulating diseases and pests. Finally, in agroecology, care is taken to stimulate soil life to ensure a form of self-fertility, since microorganisms play a major role in crop nutrition;

François’s objectives:

1. To cultivate original fruits of high taste and nutritional quality that are a pleasure to eat throughout the year (such as figs, table grapes, peaches, plums, and pears).
2. To adhere to the organic specifications, but also and especially to the principles of agroecology.
3. To be economically profitable while remaining human-sized, with short-circuit & hyper-local marketing, in order to contribute to the region’s food resilience.

An orchard that reconciles Man and Nature

Technically, it is a medium-stem orchard, with a higher density than classic high-stem orchards. This orchard will be established on a stony-loam soil suitable for fruit tree cultivation.

Although seemingly common here, pear cultivation, for example, has become extremely rare in organic farming. François has therefore chosen very specific planting densities, varieties, rootstock vigor, and cultivation techniques to be able to do without any chemical intervention and any use of products harmful to fauna, flora, or human health.

 

We invite you to support this pear orchard project with an old, disease-resistant variety. In total, 40 fruit trees will be planted thanks to your support.

François chose to plant ‘ Poire à Clément ‘ pear trees. It is a very good early pear, not very susceptible to scab. The pears are of very good quality for fresh consumption; they are both sweet, very strongly fragrant with musky aromas. The flesh is melting and very fine.

This will be carried out on a cultivation plot located in Arbre, in autumn-winter 2023.

PlantC offers a highly efficient process that enabled me to finance the purchase and planting of my fruit trees without encountering cash flow issues.

Le Bocage

40 Pear Tree Project