R-Urban English

[April 2019]

The building site is progressing well, the roof framework was laid yesterday… The building is taking shape. As for the co-construction workshops, which take place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we have built a wooden stair made of reused wood for the access to the technical base.We have also started to build gabion baskets for a retaining wall. During the next sessions, we will be working on the straw insulation and the phyto-purification system. Looking forward to seeing you there !

[April 2019]

On April 11th, the Agrocité celebrated its first year of operation. One year of exchanges, workshops on ecology, learning about agro-ecology and permaculture… Thanks to all those who came this Saturday 8th of April to celebrate this anniversary with us. For the occasion, Gilles Clément gave a conference on « jardins en mouvement». In his further speach, Mayor Patrice Leclerc took the opportunity to renew his support for the project and the commitment of the city of Gennevilliers to ecology.

All along the day, numerous speakers and associations came to lead workshops. We made seed bombs with the Syndicat des Eaux of Gennevilliers’ peninsula and the associations Urbanescence and Sanctuaire des Hérissons came to talk to us about garden aids and the benefits of hedgehogs for our vegetable garden. The League for the Protection of Birds (LPO) set up an exhibition on the facade of the building. We were also able to discuss on repairing practices with the association Récit Pro Cité. We also had a good meal concocted by volunteers and we ended the day with the sounds of the Bellette Brass Band. Thank you all and we look forward to seeing you all year round for our workshops !

[January 2019]

A big thank you to everyone for coming to celebrate the installation of the first beam of the Agrocité of Bagneux! Thank you to Bagneux Environnement for having made this moment live around their breadoven workshop, to the Mayor of Bagneux and to the Metropolis of Greater Paris for their presence and their support to this beautiful project of urban resilience.

[Decembre 2019]

The Agrocité welcomes you to celebrate the latest progress of the project ! Come and see our three recently adopted hens, drink tea around the new woodstove, enjoy the garden sitting on its new wall-bench and celebrate the “most resilient building” award won at the Lisbon 2018 conference !

A great moment of suspense Wednesday, August 1 during the ultimate test: the removal of the soil that held until then the vault of the bread and pizza oven! The month of participatory construction has proved itself: the dome of the oven is absolutely solid!

Le Tour Alternatiba stopped at the Agrocité of Bagneux on Friday 08 June! Inhabitants, associations, elected officials and cyclists were present to celebrate this event. On the program: associative stands on ecological and social initiatives, projection and debates, bicycle repair workshop, concert and multiple exchanges on common themes!

A big thank you to CRAC, Bagneux Environnement, Mairie de Bagneux et Alternatives ValléedelaBièvre for their participation and help!

RECYCLAB will be having an open door event on Friday and Saturday the 4-5 July at Colombes, boulevard d’Achères.
This Eco- Solidarity Platform introduces new strategies for the revitalisation of urban waste through ecological and socially responsible production. It is a space of co-production and work sharing between ‘makers’ of any kind (designers, architects, tinkerers, students, technologists) and a network of local actors. The space is equipped with power tools, a fablab, kitchen, offices and a large terrace under the canopy of a row of trees.

AGROCITE  will also host open door events on the 5-6 July, 4-12 Rue Jules Michelet.
Come to see the garden, participate in guided walks, ateliers, discussions and score yourself a bargain in the grand trash and treasure market where nothing is lost, all is transformed! In this marketplace the currency is ‘trash’ and one person’s trash is another’s treasure! Bring along an object, whether it be a special recipe, crafts, clothes, furniture or something you’ve baked, and exchange it for another.

Last week, Agrocité was host to a cooking atelier ran by Chef Jean Jacques. He taught us how to cook with a whole chicken, leaving none to waste! He also taught us how to use over-ripe and old lettuce in tasty new ways and the arts of food decoration! Many thanks to the chef!

Agrocité has started a café associative with coffee available every Monday to Saturday, and meals available every thursday!

COFFEE

Fairtrade coffee is available from 12h – 18h Monday-Saturday at 80 cents a cup. We are currently using Feral Trade Coffee, sourced from Mexico and  brought to Agrocité through social networks, outside of commercial systems by Kate Rich, an artist and ethical trader aiming to make transparent the transactions and costs involved in the trade process. Check out the label on the back of the packet to learn about the different hands your coffee has gone through!

(http://www.feraltrade.org/cgi-bin/courier/courier.pl)

Other beverages are also on offer for 80 cents, such as our refreshing Agrocité-made elderflower syrup which perfect to relax in the garden with on a hot summer day! Locally made cakes and treats depend on availability.

MEALS

Each Thursday from 12h-14.30h, a unique, healthy meal will be made using vegetables of the garden. One plate costs 5 euros and numbers are limited so it is important to get there early. While you eat you can read about how the meal is benefitting your body and learn some helpful food facts to improve your health and nutrition, or if reading is not what your after at a lunchtime, you can sit under the pagola in the garden and embrace the serenity of nature. We also have an option of take away for those with limited time, especially if you bring your own tupperware!

The premier lunch was a hit with great reviews from customers. We made Chard and Chickpea curry, served with rice, a cucumber, mint and yoghurt raita and the option of a fresh and flavourful salad. In the images below you can see diners enjoying their meal, the nutritional information tablet provided, and two lunches packaged to go.