Terre de Milpa originally refers to the association of 3 plants that grow harmoniously in America: corn, squash, and beans. “This refers to an agroecological technique,” explains Olivia de Roubin. “There, they call them the 3 sisters, which also evokes the sisterhood we are trying to develop in the association. And you also have a complete vegetarian meal with a vegetable, a legume, and a grain in the milpa. So all of this resonates with the actions we promote.”
Terre de Milpa is primarily a farm that serves as a work integration site through market gardening and artisanal baking, where people far removed from employment can benefit from work contracts ranging from 6 months to 2 years, as well as socio-professional support.
The association also carries a project focused on food and food justice. In this context, it sells a portion of its vegetables at very low prices to those who cannot afford to buy organic products through short supply chains, via solidarity baskets. It also organizes activities around cooking and the promotion of skills.
It is also a third place and an educational farm with activities addressing issues of gardening, permaculture, and food, welcoming all types of audiences, particularly schools, but also businesses.
Finally, a second farm is in preparation aimed at providing housing for people in precarious situations, particularly women and their children, and promoting agricultural establishment.
“Today, 200 farms disappear every week in France,” emphasizes Olivia de Roubin. “This is a topic that should concern all of us. So, at our level, we wanted to help and promote the establishment of farmers. The idea is to create collective farms designed by and for women in precarious situations, primarily to support them towards autonomy.”
Terre de Milpa invests in ecological, agricultural, food, poverty alleviation, and ecofeminist philosophy fields. "It’s a comprehensive project, where the idea is really to be in a holistic vision and action.”
"Agricultural issues concern all of us,” Olivia de Roubin passionately states. "Short supply chain farms bring consumers closer to agricultural work and a better understanding of the impacts. Because in food justice, there is the question of accessing quality vegetables at a reasonable price for everyone. At the same time, there is the fact that farmers should be fairly compensated for their work.”
