Ferme de Pouzat 

Contact: Jacky DUPETY
Email: dupety.family@wanadoo.fr
http://fermedupouzat.free.fr/?page_id=28
Specialty: Eco-gardening
Region: Dordogne
Languages spoken: FR

Jacky Dupety is a biological farmer on the Causses of Quercy, Lot valley (Dordogne region). In 2004, he discovered the Ramial Chipped Wood method (RCW – chips of tree branches that are smaller than 7 cm in diameter), developed originally in Canada by Professor Gilles Lemieux from the Laval University to improve soil fertility. Since then he organises regularly training sessions on his farm in order for everyone to get to know this innovative method. 
Link on the RCW method: www.hydrogeochem.qc.ca/brf/ramial_chipped_wood_2007_11_27.pdf

One can participate to the 4 steps of the RCW: first cutting deciduous tree branches, then crushing it, spreading it on the garden or the fields and mixing it finally with the earth.

Tips will be given all along the 4 steps:
-  Cutting phase: type of trees to avoid, selection of the branches (diameter of 7cm max), season to cut, etc
-  Crushing phase: different crushing machines, advantages and disadvantages
-  Spreading phase: best period, quantity, etc
-  Mixing phase: how deep, mushrooms and soil fauna as well as their impact

Dates: 7 and 21 November 2009; 12 December 2009; 9 and 23 January 2010. 

Price: 50€ per person
All participants are invited to bring food for a joined lunch. 

Participants willing to stay for the night can sleep nearby at a horse farm owned by Janine (tel: 05 65 40 57 27).