Farm

Marthe, Chris and Jake arrived at La Combe, their new French home on Christmas Day 2003. Spending something of a snow swept first winter rebuilding the ruined farm buildings. Five years on in September 2008 the local Mayor, Roget Carlut, formerly opened the newly invigorated farm and research centre with a bottle of Clairrette de Die produced by a local vintner who's father was born on the farm. The farm is now fully self sufficient producing more food than is needed for its inhabitants, from dairy to meat to vegetables. We also farm our own electricity via a windmill and capture solar energy for water heating.

Much of Marthe's research work revolves around welfare and the animal minds. All the horses, cattle, sheep and poultry are kept outside in carefully balanced social groups. This is to see how we can maintain the highest standards of welfare and continue to have an economically viable organically certified farm and stud.

The farm ranges from 600m to 1300m, the highest valley leading to 'Les Trois Becs', or the three beaks as the three magnificent peaks above the farm are known locally. There is a small river that runs through the middle and all water used on the farm comes directly from mountain springs. Ecotypes on the farm range from Beech, Oak, and Ash woodlands to Juniper and Box scrub and broad open limestone cliffs. There is a great variety of wildlife on the farm, both flora and fauna, which is being encouraged and conserved and no hunting is aloud on the land.

There is a local group of naturalist who have a real passion for the wildlife of the Drôme region and visit the farm regularly. Together we are monitoring an endemic population of Chamois, an agile, mountain loving goat like antelope. There have been regular sightings of Chevreuil (Roe Deer), Sanglier (Wild Boar), Foxes, Red Squirrels, Hares, Golden Eagles and Black Eagles, Vultures, Peregrine and many more birds and smaller mammals. There are also Salamanders and few other indigenous species of reptile. 25 different species of Orchid have been identified on the farm.

If you wish to find out more about the farm and the work of the research centre please visit the website at
www.eco-etho-
recherche.com