Mother and daughter, an exceptional duo
Mama é fidola, un binomiale d'eccezione
Raphaëlle and Camille welcome us to their family's land, a veritable haven of peace; for this meeting, they have temporarily set aside their working tools, leaving the tractor and pruning shears to rest. They share with us their passion for farming, as well as the constraints, challenges and joys that punctuate their daily lives. Their knowing glances and silences testify to the deep connection and positive energy they bring to their farm in Ghisonaccia. Together, they open the doors to an unsuspected universe, rich in discovery and emotion.
After graduating in agricultural engineering in Rennes, Raphaëlle returned to Corsica. A few years later, she set up as a farmer. In 2001, she renovated an abandoned hazelnut grove and planted olive and fig orchards. Her approach is resolutely ecological: no weedkillers are used and all fruit is processed by hand. She tells us about the devilish bug, the traps and the treatment of the fly; she happily shares her mastery of her subject with us, generously revealing some of her secrets. Here, the nose and palate are tantalized: visitors can discover the best of the orchard's fruit, transformed into oil, flour, jams, condiments, nuciola and chutney.
Raphaëlle and Camille work 27 hectares of land together, and are helped by Charles, their son and brother, who joins them for the harvest. These four hands, working long, hard days, can only arouse admiration. They don't know about the 35-hour week, job security or daily allowances, but they live each moment with the happiness of a visceral passion.
Today, the exceptional produce from Raphaëlle's orchard is one of the secrets of Fabio Bragagnolo, chef of the prestigious 2-star Michelin gourmet restaurant Casadelmar in Porto-Vecchio.
1. What inspires you to continue your work every day?
- Nature is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Every day there's something new to discover, something new to learn. And seeing the results of my efforts gives me the energy and motivation to keep going.
2. What are the greatest joys and challenges you encounter in your work?
- There are many different kinds of joys: the daily joy of surveying our formerly fallow land, where orchards and a rich biodiversity are now thriving. There's also the joy of the harvest, which crowns a year's work. It's also the satisfaction of seeing visitors' faces light up when they taste our products or learn something new. Challenges, meanwhile, include the vagaries of the weather and the constant struggle to maintain an ecological balance while remaining economically viable. In 2013, our farm went through a devastating ordeal: a fire ravaged a large part of our trees. Faced with this catastrophe, we had to rebuild everything. This renewal would not have been possible without the invaluable solidarity and support of the local people.
3. Can you share one or two achievements of which you are proud?
- I'm just a little woman, and despite the demands of farm work, I was able to bring up my three children on my own, who were able to pursue their chosen studies and are now fulfilled young adults. They were my driving force, and they found their own way.
4. Is there a plant or part of the orchard that has a special story or meaning for you?
- The hazelnut, because it's the fruit of my childhood in Cervione (the hazelnut capital) and the hazelnut tree, because it's humble and resistant.
5. Can you share an anecdote or a memorable moment you've experienced at Le Verger?
- There are many, but I'd like to share 2. For a long time, I distributed fertilizer in my orchards with the help of Picorette, my little donkey, whom I trained with a carrot suspended from a fishing rod, just like in the cartoons 😊. Another animal anecdote concerns a little cat who surprised us by giving birth in the henhouse and carrying her kittens one by one into the nesting boxes. What a singular sight to arrive in the morning and discover the kittens being brooded over by the hens!
6. What message would you like to convey to visitors to your orchard?
- Whether in the city or the country, nature and living things exist all around us: being sensitive to them allows us to marvel at every moment, but also to be aware of our responsibility to preserve them.
7. What advice would you give tourists to help them visit Corsica in a more environmentally-friendly way?
- Go and meet the producers, you'll be on the right track!
8. What kind of workshops and educational activities do you offer to raise visitors' awareness of the importance of biodiversity?
- We offer a guided tour every Tuesday evening in summer: an opportunity to discover our orchards and immerse yourself in our work during an instructive stroll. Apart from guided tours, we welcome the public to our farm all year round, by appointment.
9. How do you engage children and young people in these activities so that they develop an appreciation for nature?
- We welcome schoolchildren. It's vital that children understand where their food comes from and why it's crucial to protect our environment. It's the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and inspire participants to adopt sustainable practices.
