Rape

Here you have a couple of photos of a laboratory here in Orléans. They call it the Centre Technique Interprofessionel des Oléagineux Métropolitains. It is a laboratory focused on the production and improvement of rape (colza). They receive a small percentage on the price of rape seed that is sold by the farmers and they use it to do research into the production of rape. I like going there and chatting with the people and trying to understand what they do. It is a fine laboratory in an attractive park. The fact that there are a lot of good looking friendly women is irrelevant.

Really they have two activities. One is to assist the farmers by giving training sessions and technical support. At this time of year they receive a little packet of soil from all the colza farmers in the centre of France, they analyse it for nitrogen amongst other things, and advise the farmers on the application of fertilizer and other elements. The analysis has a dual role; in reducing pollution on the one hand and improving quality as well as productivity on the other. After analysis the soil is thrown in a big heap and spread around the park. One wonders what soil scientists in 2000 years will make of this rather strange mix of soil.

The other activity is research into how to better grow colza, make a more nutritious oil, how to treat the different diseases etc. etc.

Of course being English they ask me about Tony Blair’s opinion that growing food is an activity of the past. That soil pollution, energy consumption, nutrition are all subjects of the dark ages and not worthy of investment. They ask me why he believes that. I have to be honest and say that I am as mystified as they are.

The Woodmen

No more watery river days for the moment. I took my little car and headed off into the big bad Sologne forest. Not that we have any wolves nor Red Riding hoods. At this season of the year there are just a lot of woodmen, no I don't think I've seen any woodwomen. One day lots of red marks appear on the trees and then a few days later they are on the ground. Another day or two and there are big bare trunks alongside wonderful neatly stacked piles of logs ready for shipment to wherever. The Sologne sends firewood all over Europe, for those poor overcrowded people in Belgium, Holland and Germany.

I always love the forest. One of the rare English books that I found worth reading was the Woodlanders. I'm not sure why and I can't remember too much about it, but I thought Hardy created a splendid atmosphere. It really smelt and felt like the forest.

If you click on the picture you can see the beautiful intricate patterns of the branches. Beyond the back of the garden there are often deer and pheasants roaming around.


Busy times I had to have dinner in my friend's restaurant, l'Epicurien,(Sebastien is my friend, only his brother Guillaume, the chef appears in the photo. We sat under the water melon) in the evening. With the wild boar I had a gorgeous Saint Nicolas de Bourgeuil 2005. Cabinet franc grapes, 20 year old vines. It is a strange wine, it seems to age very quickly and gives the lovely mature taste of a 10 year old wine after only a couple of years. Sometimes it has a fusty taste, which I don't appreciate, but this one was perfect. End of a perfect day, not an Anglo Saxon in sight.