This is the second season of Cocagnes, and if you live in the Brome-Missisquoi region, you've certainly heard about it given the resounding success of this unifying project.
Les Cocagnes is a 40-acre agro-ecological collective farm in Frelighsburg with the mission of giving access to land to small agro-ecological businesses. Farm-to-table gourmet evenings are also offered thanks to country meals welcoming guest chefs on weekends, not to mention the equally unifying Tuesday aperitif with artisanal pizza.
These gourmet tables are unique; this is the opportunity to experience a one-night stand where the chefs leave their kitchen (and their comfort zone!) and accept the challenge of preparing a menu on site, made exclusively from products from the farm and local producers.
Everything is prepared under the pergola itself, in the company of the guests. The location is idyllic and accommodates around twenty guests, which fosters an intimate atmosphere. The drinks offered are also sourced locally, and the selections are rich in discoveries.
Then, we are treated to a personalized presentation of the dishes by the chef before each service, an attention and a combination that creates a very friendly and warm atmosphere.
As for the producers present, market garden plots are currently occupied on rental by the farms The Whistlers And Le Rizen , for which Stéphanie Wang has just won a Laurier de la Gastronomie award for “Producer of the Year”.
A flower farm is expected for next season, and other projects are in the works. The idea is to build this collective project with diverse productions that promote biodiversity, while creating a prosperous and supportive community.
A project by and for the community
The Les Cocagnes project began when founder Stéphanie Hinton, previously based in Montreal and newly settled in the region, became interested in this 40-acre farmland. She began to envision its potential and came up with the idea of creating a non-profit organization that issued community bonds, a type of "patient capital," to raise the necessary funds.
The ensuing fundraising campaign achieved impressive results, all in just a few weeks. The project reflected high human and ecological values, in addition to being highly local, an attractive proposition for those looking to invest differently. The non-profit organization was therefore able to acquire the land in July 2020.
A set of challenges carried by hope
Like any start-up, this initial ascent was followed by doubts and pressure, while the period between the idea and the first substantial income that allowed the construction of the promised infrastructure brought its share of insecurities.
The grant search also proved more difficult than expected, but this entrepreneur had a vision and navigated the tougher times with flying colors, and the future looks very bright.
The founder points out how important grants and the trust of collaborators are at the start of a project, and it is often the influence of an initial partner that creates the necessary ripple effect to complete a financial package, because a positive response creates trust and brings other people and institutions on board.
And although Stéphanie Hinton specifies that she has never planted a vegetable, everything about her background and her personality seems to have led her to the creation of the Les Cocagnes project.
Whether it's an appreciation of natural features as a whole, of an environment that doesn't look artificially manicured, of a sensitivity she has for the beauty of landscapes, or of a distant passion for architecture.
And, as an only child, she wanted to create a gathering place that also responded to her entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep sense of justice that explains her horror of the great divisions in our society.
A model to follow for future generations of farmers?
Les Cocagnes therefore addresses a significant problem for the next generation of farmers who are having difficulty accessing land. Today's agricultural financial model no longer works, with the sharp rise in land prices subject to speculation; it will be virtually impossible over a lifetime to generate enough agricultural income to simply repay the purchase price of one's land.
An organization like the NPO Les Cocagnes is contributing to this change in ownership culture by offering acres for rent to agricultural entrepreneurs who could not otherwise afford it. It's not about owning property; rather, it's about recreating the agricultural model where land once served as farmers' only pension fund.
The challenge now is to create a financial framework that works for both producers and consumers. This also breaks the isolation that agribusinesses can experience, as there is no shortage of challenges and pressures, while being part of a community can make all the difference.
This collaborative ecosystem model certainly holds one of the keys to our future in food sovereignty in Quebec. Les Cocagnes is also officially one of the finalists for the 2023 Tourism Excellence Award of the Quebec Tourism Industry Alliance in the “Innovation and development of the offer” category.
For the 2023 season which started on June 17 , tickets (which include the 5-course meal and tip) are purchased in advance online and this allows us to welcome people in a friendly way without having to worry about transactions, and a short visit is always included during both services, at 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. So there are still a few season tickets which continues until September 24, so hurry up and experience this place and these magical evenings!
The Cocagnes
33 Dunham Road
Frelighsburg QC
info@lescocagnes.ca
