Farming at the Arc de Triomphe

[kerouac2]

This weekend, the widest street in Paris -- avenue Foch -- was completely covered over by a farm to celebrate biodiversity and the agriculture industry. 27 years ago the same thing was done on the Champs Elysées but security imperatives no longer make that possible. Avenue Foch was an excellent alternative, so of course I went there to check it out.  Entry was subject to strict security, and the street was blocked by combine harvester machines which would thwart anyone with a malevolent vehicle.  This is a 3-day event as it is a holiday weekend, but on Tuesday, everything will be gone.

The first section was a playful recreation of the road from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city. It is still one of the major agricultural zones of the region, as anybody who has ever landed in Paris can see from the air.

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I went early so traffic was not as dense as one actually drives on the road from the airport.  I'm not sure how it was in the afternoon.

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There were panels to explain all of the plants, such as rapeseed (canola to some of you).

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Vegetables were next.

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And then there were the farm animals.

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Beehives are also important.

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[kerouac2]

More of all of our daily dietary items. Emphasis was on plants that people can grow on their balconies or even in window boxes. The farmers of France know that most Parisians are like mildly mentally deficient children when it comes to growing things, so they do try to help us. But the main reason for displays like this is to show children who have no idea where food comes from.

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There were little stands for people requiring additional information.

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There was a display of the importance of dung.

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Unfortunately it was not fragrant and steaming hot.

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However, maybe they got some nice fresh examples after the first day.

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Most livestock have never had a chance to see the Arc de Triomphe.

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[bixaorellana]

Veg-porn ~ I love it!

Beautiful pictures, Kerouac, and blue ribbon looking animals. The scale of the enterprise and the success of the illusion really comes across in that last photo. More! More!

[kerouac2]

France is the #1 producer of flax and linen in the world, so there were huge fields of flax at various stages of development -- 100 days, 85 days, 65 days, etc.

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And for people who don't even know what linen is, there was a display of linen clothing as well.

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Alpagas are a more recent addition to the livestock industry.

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And of course there were these old standbys.

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This was a seating zone for eating, but it was not mealtime yet.

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Recycling is a new related industry. There was a maze made of bales of paper.

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No, I did not go through it.

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Obviously, metal must be recycled as well.

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[kerouac2]

A lot of the region is flowered meadows, and this was represented as well.

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I'm sure that these horses of the Garde Républicaine were happy to be doing a few tricks in a meadow for once instead of on the paving stones of the city.

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The last section was the water feature and the formal French garden.

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I don't think this kayak is going very far.

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Parisians are reminded that they can apply for a gardening permit at the base of the trees lining some of the streets or ask to create vegetal walls in certain places.

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Farming vehicles blocked off the back end of the display. No terror vehicles will be crashing through here.

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And just in case, there was a second row of vehicles for protection... the new world order.

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[bixaorellana]

The illusion of meadowland and farm crops is so well done it makes it easier to ignore "the new world order".

I admire that you managed to mostly cut the crowds out of the pictures so it all seems more farm-y, but did you catch any children being awed by the reality of agriculture or the magic of big untamed outdoors?

[bjd]

What a wonderful example of how things have improved in Paris over the years. When I first started going to Paris, there was not a window box of flowers in sight, public gardens were boring. Now, what a lot of encouragement to recycle, to plant gardens wherever possible, city bikes, roads closed to traffic on certain days. It's great.

[patricklondon]

What a lot of work to get plants into just the right stage of readiness.

I remember noticing last year that a side-street near where I often have a home exchange in Paris had been "gardenised" in a relatively small area of pavement(sidewalk), and very well done it was too. But I'd imagine it a bit more difficult in a busier street.

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[cheerypeabrain]

That looks my cup of tea...I love this sort of thing. Bringing agriculture into the city to remind us all of the wealth of the land and the importance of the farming community as well as biodiversity and the natural world... I'm a city girl and whilst I enjoy a trip to the countryside as much as the next man, having it brought in for me to examine and enjoy from the comfort of the inner city is even better

Your images are excellent as always. I love the one of the rather beautiful young man in a straw hat bedecked with flowers...from an aesthetic point of view of course.

[mich64]

What a great exhibition. I think fun for parents and children. Very well organized and tended.

[fumobici]

Nice report, I'd have quite enjoyed strolling through that. Seeing the flax, now I want to get some for the yard again. It's not an extravagantly decorative plant but I love how it gifts you with single new perfect blue flowers every morning for most of the summer. I had it for several years and one spring it just didn't come back.