The story

2015: We decide as a family to move away from our life in Brussels so I decided to end my job as a “stage manager”. Before I left and in order to prepare myself for this transition, I completed a course as an environmental adviser.

2016: A year later, we got the opportunity to move to the Drôme. I discovered a Region full of beautiful aromatic plants and develop a passion for their virtues.

2017: I begin a training in botany and wild harvested plants, followed by a training on their relevant processing and production techniques. During this time i am also applying myself with practical training through internships.

2019: Well settled in our new Region and happy to live surrounded by the mountains, I am now ready to start my new career as a producer of aromatic and medicinal plants.

Juillet 2019: With a fantastic opportunity on an offer for a piece of agricultural  land, my project is beginning to see the light of day.

Dame-Jeanne, what is it ?

Cultivation

I am planning on organically cultivating a land of 6000m², the land has already been certified organic. I will be working with local farmers to prepare the plots using a tractor.  The cultivation and grassing down will be done manually, at no point will plant protection products be employed. I am also planning on developing animal power for the long term. 

My production will be certified by an ethical and organic label.

In this big garden will grow mint, ‘wild blueberries’, roses, verbena, sage, rosemary, bay leaf and many more !

 

Harvesting / Picking

The harvest of crops and wild plants will be done by hand (above is picking of wild lavender and thyme).

Picking wild blueberries and Damas roses, crops will be planted at the start of spring.

Processing

All these plants will be processed and distilled to become essential oils, flower water, soft herbal teas, massage oils and soaps.

Distributing

I will sell my products in France and abroad in specialized herbal shops, cooperatives and a few selected markets. Once my online boutique is operational in late 2020, focus will shift to this sales channel. 

Sharing

We are putting in place a community of several local producers willing to share equipment, techniques and knowledge which makes this project even more rewarding.

This collaboration is a tremendous opportunity to benefit from group cooperation and will allow us to share equipment, for example the ever important still for distilling plants, and also professional advice.

Here are the lands to be cultivated

 

Supporting ‘Dame-Jeanne’ is taking care of the plants that will take care of us but it is also supporting:

• Sustainable farming projects on a small scale

• The development of a local rural economy

Sharing these natural resources and passing on forgotten knowledge.

From the bottom of my heart, Thank you !!

 

To be able to launch ‘Dame-Jeanne’ I really need your help. My financial forecast is showing a 50,000€ investment. I am aiming to collect 11,000€ through crowdfunding. It will allow me to invest in the first essential equipment to start cultivating and processing (see details below).

For the remaining, I will request a loan and also request public subsidies from the Region (Rhone Alpes Region is very supportive to develop organic farming projects)

First step: The foundations

This funding will finance the equipment up to 6,000€, detail below:

Irrigation system: 2,000€

Plants and seeds: 1,000€

Equipment maintenance: 2,000€

Lab equipment (scale, beaker, thermometer, stainless steel vats, iron drums, storage container): 1,000€

2nd step: Processing lab installation

Finance the workspace up to 3,500€, detail below:

Installation: insulation, shelving and workbench, done by ourselves: 1500€

Part of the plants dryer: 2,000€

3rd step: Communicate

Last step is necessary for commercialisation, finance up to 1,500€, detail below:

Creation of logo, packaging, labels, bottling: 1,500€

 

And Miimosa : 700€

 

4th step: Modernising the project

Investments up to 39,000€, detail below:

Website: 6,000€

Outdoor storage: 3,000€

Van to be able to exhibit in markets, trade fairs: 10,000€ (second hand)

A distillation space with a 600L still bought in commun: 10,000€

Mini tractor: 10,000€ (second hand)

The above investments will happen as the business grows

 

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT

And special thank you to all of those who are supporting me and without whom I would not have done so much as of today: Pauline from the ADEAR, Renaud ‘le sens de nos vallées’, Jeanne, Annie, my partner Phil, family and friends.

For those who prefer paper, you can also send me your donation via cheque by contacting me at chlo.meurisse@gmail.com

You can also find me on Instagram: dame_jeanne_

MASSIVE THANK YOU !

Chloé