What earthly good ?....

 At first sight the isolated image of  our garden field with it's raised beds may give the impression of deep soil. The grass track where we walk looks lush by our attentions. Beneath the grass is hidden only three inches of mineral fines before encountering schiste rock. The beds are formed by scraping together all useful topsoil where it will prove most productive  and its condition improved.
This week we took delivery of three trailer loads of topsoil salvaged from a neighboring family's field, they are building a new facility on their farm and had to excavate the soil away to construct foundations. The soil depth  of the adjacent field newly stripped of maize is no more than a spade blade deep at the fence line where it meets our garden. It is pointless blaming the problem on erosion without addressing the cause. Last years water meter reading was 75 units, this years is 85 units. We mulch heavily on the areas producing crops but resources are too scarce to mulch all the field. We have allowed wild gasses and weeds to grow on ground awaiting more caring attention,occasionally pulling the cover up and laying the grass and weeds to dry on the surface.The token shade cover isn't really adequate but it helps. Those areas will have to stay thirsty till the rain comes.. A friend drove some twelve tonnes of large rocks to our home. We will use it to build a perimeter wall to retain the newly delivered soil. The raised soil level will then be topped with a variety of useful hedge plants. The  new ground thus created will be used to raise seedling trees until the haie matures. We will try to keep it looking pretty. The baby trees will be transferred to another site ,destination as yet unknown.
The first thing our friend observed was the fact that the maize field had been ploughed. To him , a local man it was evident from his own observation that the field was unfit for the purpose to which it had been put. The mixed grass and clover held the water level up , as soon as the surface was destroyed the water level dropped. The owner of the field had I understand asked that the ground be kept as pasture, he is retired and residing in a residential home now and it is believed that undue influence has been applied contrary to his good intensions. We bought our field with the understanding that the future of the meadow would with respect be in line with the owners wishes. It appears that tractor driven ignorance is being allowed to dominate the landscape here to no ones ultimate long term benefit, least of all to the long term viability of the soil, which spews seasonally into the ditches.
 Grass and clover no longer protect the surface of the worn out field. Zero care shown or voiced by the contract cowboys who pillaged the surface. Who is really to blame. The damage done.
Neighbour Joel dropped in for tea and a chat, he has land which he had once leased to a local farmer. The same farmer who sprayed us with weed killer a few years ago. Joel could see the negative impact the maize crop had  on the ground.  He blamed the government.  That pissed me off.
The responsibility for the land lies with the owners . It is by their allowance that the ground is  abused. The duty, surely of all proprietors to oversee and encourage good husbandry and durable land management. Turning a blind eye to opportunist asset strippers for short term cash benefit is not good cultivation  or conciergie by any moral definition, English or French.
The new haie may not improve the adjacent field , when mature it will proved a barrier against cold north easterly winds and provide a small degree of protection from the over spray from the tenant farmers reckless methods. Not a lot, but every little helps.
It will take more than a few words on the internet's oblivion zone to focus hearts and minds on better ways forward. We are gradually collecting useful information  and lobbying local people concerned about the evident degradation. There are statutory guidelines and regulations , the ignorance of which could land both owners and tenant leaseholders with severe penalty.;We hope that our agitating would be enough to
 bring to  awareness the long overdue need  for reform in land management practices,  voluntary initiatives by owners and tenants alike are vital  to repair the damage their shortsighted methods have created.  They profess that they care,the evident harm they do against the intended meaning of the regulatory statutes  lends the lie to their self righteous posturing.
Having been sprayed with herbicide and showered with fertilizer, as well as having to pay more for water all unnecessary nuisance and toxic hazard against our right of peace and tranquility, and the risk to the viability of our subsistence economy, all complaint so far ignored. We find ourselves humored or ignored. Our little field of responsibility is one of the smallest in the region, a speck hardly noticeable on a Google map. Some bigoted attitudes are entrenched locally that "getting rid" of us would be the most desirable solution. Our complaint is irritating to the poor darlings who take their cut of the cash and silently ignore. It isn't the Government's fault, but it may be time for draconian penalties to be imposed to deter further destruction.
Joel didn't enjoy my view that he is responsible for the knackered condition of land when it was returned to him. He ignored the abusive methods employed until bad practice caused the tenant to be declared bankrupt.
Our modest efforts in this little patch are not tractor powered. We are establishing our permaculture on land that was driven to the edge of extinction. It's slow as progress goes, but our investment of labour and resource is showing good results. We search for another field in which to expand our vision of a better world.
So why do I write here. It would take too long to learn a level of French that would equal my articulation of my first language. I record my view in English. That will then be translated and printed in French.  Anne-Sophie will articulate our commonly held view to locals  with the hope that we may generate effective solution to the ever growing environmental problems brought about by bad agricultural practice. Heaven only knows how effective our efforts will be.
The peaches are very small this year due to a shortage of water. I am off out now to pick the rest of them.  The flavor is divine. Happen I will shift a bit of the soil whilst I am at it. More soon from Le Breil,Campel 35330.