"To take part in the intricate and endlessly interesting processes of providing for our sustenance
is the surest way to escape the culture of fast food and the values implicit in it: that food should be fast,
cheap, and easy; that food is a product of industry, not nature; that food is fuel, and not a form of communion,
with other people as well as with other species- with nature"
- Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food
Paris Paysanne is a project that was inspired by what I've learned while writing my blog, Paris Paysanne. This site aims to encourage people to play an active role in how they put food on their table. Through a return to gardening and growing- whether it be flowers, herbs, fruits, or veggies- along with other ways of producing food- fermenting and preserving for example- we can develop a deeper appreciation of the food we eat and enjoy.
Paris Paysanne is based in Paris and encourages both it's international and urban audience to try to become more of a Paysanne, which is a French word used to refer to rural farmers and cultivators, and attempt to grow and produce their own food at home.
While the price tag attached to organic foods often discourages potential buyers, a Paris Paysanne proposes a reexamination of and reflection on what we choose to put in our bodies. In response to the question, "Should such an intimate and crucial thing such as self-nourishment be inexpensive? A Paris Paysanne says, No!- and considers the financial investment we put into our food as a means to make a much more important investment in our selves. A Paris Paysanne knows that eating healthy and ethical food doesn't have to be expensive, either. The Paris Paysanne is creative and finds ways to grow things in their small Parisian apartments, balconies, and terraces. The Paris Paysanne shares their harvest, experience, and advice with other Paris Paysannes, engendering a spirit of community and partage that thrives on the fringe of the industrialized food culture.
It's as simple as planting a seed! Paris Paysanne is a DIY project, choose something that you want to bring to life and then watch it grow. Taking time to garden is a wonderful experience that brings you that much closer to your food source. If you really have no space to garden, you can be a Parisian Paysanne by visiting local markets and using their fresh, seasonal products in your home-made creations. But most of all, Paris Paysanne is all about sharing. Together we can learn how to master urban gardening and most of all how to unite in the spirit of taking back the food chain and eating whole (and wholesome) foods.
This project, and site, are in very early stages and I am eager to hear feedback from anyone interested in getting involved. I would love to hear input an ideas and have help making Paris Paysanne a more visible and, ultimately, successful project. To get in touch with me or to find out more about the spirit of the project, please consult the contact/info list below.
Please feel free to leave a comment on this page to inspire dialogue about gardening projects, problems and potential partnerships!
