Former civil servant turned organic market gardener Denis Gheerardyn, works 10 hecatares across the plains of Offekerque, in the north of France.
Aside from a greenhouse that still produces beautiful lettuce in the depths of winter, the bare land is covered with straw and silently preparing for the first spring sowing.
While farmer's organizations and government promotes ever more expansion, Denis says "...that is not serious. There are many small farms going along peacefully without continuous modernizing".
When in his 50s, denis left everything he knew and became a farmer, now achieves a 40.000euro turnover and is a leader in the organic field in the Calais region.
"On a personal level", he says, "it's a great satisfaction to live in nature every day, to sow and harvest beautiful vegetables. To be independent, to have freedom of choice and action".
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