Fruit trees at the Petit Bomal Farm

Carole & Bertrand, the farmers of the Petit Bomal agro-ecological farm.

A passionate farming couple who took over a beautiful farm in 2020. Their ambition is to respect and promote the values of sustainable agriculture. The farm is managed according to the fundamental principles of agroecology. A model of diversified polyculture-livestock farming that reflects our commitment to a greener and more ethical agricultural system.

By reintroducing a wide diversity of crops and livestock, they create an ecosystem where each element exists not only for its own production but also to contribute to the overall health of the farm. This polyculture approach creates synergies where plants and animals help each other, thereby reducing their need for chemical inputs and artificial interventions.

They attach particular importance to the preservation of soil, water, and the entire surrounding environment. By analyzing and respecting natural cycles, they improve soil fertility and efficient water use, thus ensuring production that respects our land and its inhabitants.

Their farm is not just a place of production, but a true living ecosystem, demonstrating the possible harmony between humans and nature. It currently has about twenty Jersey dairy cattle, a small herd of Highland cows, as well as small livestock (sheep, goats, chickens…). The land is divided between permanent pastures (16 ha) and crops (12 ha).

208 fruit trees planted for quality cider

Bertrand wishes to establish a pre-orchard: this is one of the flagship actions of his agro-environmental action plan, with the planting of 800 fruit trees! The farmer received support from PlantC for 208 trees.

This ambitious goal is to plant semi-standard pear trees and semi-standard apple trees in autumn-winter 2024/2025. In the medium term, La Ferme de Petit Bomal wishes to produce its own cider.

Short supply chains and biodiversity at the heart of the project.

La Ferme du Petit Bomal, a committed actor in favor of:

Short supply chains: direct sales in short supply chains reduce transport and processing costs and promote exchanges between consumers and producers. Here, the cows’ milk will be used to make ice cream. The offer will be supplemented by orchard produce and a market gardening project.

Agroecology: the farm practices organic farming. Bertrand adopts a wide crop rotation with a maximum of forage crops. He improves soil fertility naturally, uses prolonged and diversified intercropping, and reduces tillage.

Wildlife: numerous actions are carried out in favor of wildlife, such as planting hedges and shrub islands, and late mowing. As part of the building renovation, the installation of adapted cornices has allowed swallows to nest!

The planting project in pictures

At the end of November 2024, Bertrand mobilized the services of Cédric Guillaume and volunteers to implement a project of 800 fruit trees. PlantC is delighted to have contributed 208 trees!

What has become of the planting?

We were able to observe theevolution of the planting on June 6, 2025, in the presence of the companies that supported the project!

Journey to the 18th century. Like many farms of that era, La Ferme de Petit Bomal was surrounded by orchards where livestock grazed. After decades (a century?) of absence, the fruit tree is making a grand return to Petit Bomal. Firstly, through the planting of a very large standard orchard several years ago.

And today, thanks to the planting of a semi-standard orchard of 450 trees. 208 trees were supported by ten companies that share a culture of societal commitment. This is an opportunity for them to see that this culture is bearing fruit!

An in-depth reflection on welcoming biodiversity!

The Durbuy territory, like the Famenne-Calestienne, remains one of the bastions of terrestrial biodiversity resistance.

The movement of species of interest was taken into account in the orchard’s design. It is located not far from the banks of the Ourthe, along which a triple-row hedge will be planted by La Ferme de Petit Bomal. This is to facilitate the movement of locally identified mustelids. Further north, the cooler base of a railway embankment hosts a good density of slow worms. Within the orchard, dozens of message nesting boxes can be found, and along the buildings, summer roosts for bats or even a nesting box for Little Owls. All beneficial for welcoming auxiliary species!

The beginning of the path to exceptional cider… Before the orchard reaches full production, a few more years will be needed. Grafting still needs to take place on-site, as does a fine selection of varieties to produce an exceptional, English-style cider, still rare on our market.

We thank La Ferme de Petit Bomal for its welcome and the discovery of its exceptional products, as well as the companies that made this project possible!