Our Team
David // gardener. Interested in self-sufficiency, as well as all the knowledge and know-how related to it, David has been cultivating food gardens for 15 years. He has also trained as a naturalist animator and as a renewable energy consultant. At the same time, he specialises in teaching circus arts. In 2020, he moved to Burgundy with his family and started working as a market gardener in various organic farming structures before joining the Which?Garden team.
Justin // gardener. After pursuing environmental sustainability through academics, Justin realized that the real power is in the doing. He decided to retrain as a bio-dynamic gardener at Warmonderhof, learning about the symbiotic interactions that make gardens thrive, how to tell plants apart and care for them separately, and how a plant can be seen as an expression of its surroundings. A chance encounter brought him into contact with the wonderful team at Which?Garden, and he didn’t have to think twice: the beautiful setting and sensible aims work like a charm on all who visit.
Thomas // gardener. With a multi-disciplinary background, Thomas has been a mechanical engineer, a science museum guide, an entrepreneur, a web developer, and the one thing that has remained constant throughout all these years: gardening. In 2021, while living in Estonia with his wife and first son, Thomas embarked on an organic market gardening project in a garden located 15km from the country’s capital, Tallinn. He has co-created Fairgreen, which supplies fresh vegetables to the central market and local restaurants (including one with a Michelin star). Joining Which?Garden is an excellent opportunity to continue this career path, and Thomas is delighted to be returning to the region where he grew up.
The following people will reinforce the garden team as volunteers or supporters:
- Nicola, serial entrepreneur and fan of the urban jungle and its electronic heartbeat, is digging out his “savoir faire” from when he was working as a gardener “in his prior life” (so he says). He’s looking forward to feeling the earth between his hands again more often!
- Monika is the mastermind behind all the strategic, legal, admin and communications stuff. She also pulls strings in the background with regard to partnerships and potential research cooperations.
2024 stagiaires professionnels & volunteer opportunities
We’re always looking for volunteers! If you volunteer at Which?Garden, you receive free board & lodging in exchange for a min. of 25 hours gardening work per week (plus community tasks such as cooking or cleaning).
If the deal suits you, drop us a line at contact@fougerette.org!
Former team members:
Michel I 2017-2020 I co-head gardener
Sina I 2017-2020 I co-head gardener
Barbara I 2021 I gardener. Barbara is a trained teacher with a strong interest in growing healthy and perennial food and its sustainable methods. Working mostly with goats for the last 3 years she thought it time to grow vegetables. She has followed a permaculture course and spent the 2020 summer in a Swiss gardening project.
Magali I 2022 I gardener, medicinal plants. Became interested in plants while she was still working in the cultural sector. In order to share her passion, she started offering botanical outings as well as workshops on cooking with wild plants and on dyeing with natural colours. She is now training in naturopathy, massage and Chinese medicine.
Hanneke I 2023 I gardener & pépinière. Hanneke has been working as a gardener and garden designer for more than twenty years. She ran a nursery in Holland and loves to work and design with plants. Initially educated as an artist, she worked both in landscaping and forestry. Her gardening company Het Wilde Land specialises in designing and building natural playgrounds. Hanneke brings her pépinière La Molène to Which?Garden and complements our vegetable offering with her beautiful array of seedlings.
Naomie I 2023 I gardener. Spent her childhood in gardens and nature in the north of France before studying psychology and art. Right now she’s looking for a simpler way to live after spending much time in big cities. She feels attracted to sustainability and community life and likes to see Which?Garden as a school and a playground where she can learn and experiment with gardening while witnessing the beauty of nature everyday. Naomie, who loves cooking and painting, is a social being, always happy to meet new people.
Former volunteers:
Amandine I 2022 I stagiaire. Amélie I 2022 I Anouk I2022 I Gaël I 2021, 2022 I Elia I 2023 I Fiona & Hannes I 2021 I Former castle crew members of the very first hour who decided to come back to Fougerette and spend part of their sabbatical in our garden. Joséphine I 2022I stagiaire. Maé & Lucas I 2021 I A civil engineer and carpenter who have taken up residence in Etang-sur-Arroux to launch their own project. First came to Which?Garden as customers, then decided to reinforce the team on a regular basis. Sean I 2021-2022 I South African graphic and Morvan house owner. He and his family bought the property with the former «Permafôret» project. He has been giving us a hand to learn more about permaculture and is also a a divine cook. Sarah I 2021, 2022 I A young Swiss who decided to spend two months in France after finishing school and dive into the world of French gardening. Irin I 2021 I Experienced gardener with spiritual roots who uses her workshops to bring forth creativity in any form or shape. Anna I 2020 I Teacher and nature-lover who is also active in the women’s rights movement. René, Sophie & Sophie I 2020 I Dad + daughter with best friend who has the same name – a lively trio! Marit I 2020 et 2021 I Young Dutch who likes to explore the world, enjoys community living and is ready to chuck in wherever a hand is needed. Joëlle I 2020 I Student of veterinary medicine, calm and close to nature – and also highly motivated for any type of work in the garden & castle. Cette liste est non exhaustive – si vous ne trouvez pas encore votre nom : Nous travaillons sur l’arriéré !This list is non-exhaustive list – if you can’t find your name yet: We’re working on the backlog!
Ongoing supporters:
Daniela I Trained homeopath and wellness therapist who is supporting the medicinal herb garden. Mareike & Sven I Passionate hobby gardeners and deeply involved in the Slow Food/Slow Food Youth movement. Toni & Sherpa from Planofuturo supported the design process and project set-up in 2017; they are active members of Permakultur Schweiz and run their own projects such as the balmy Balmeggerg for example.