At the Pierrefiche home in Lozère, a farm, its greenhouse and its animals facilitate the autonomy of residents

The semi-autonomous studio was inaugurated by the general director and the mayor of Pierrefiche. Midi Libre – Anaïs Da Silva

Directors, employees, residents accompanied by their families and guests, more than a hundred people gathered for the celebration of the Arc-en-association’s life center sky, in Pierrefiche (Lozère), this Tuesday July 2, 2024. A friendly moment which allowed us to highlight the end of the work.

Killing three birds with one stone, this expression takes on its full meaning during the celebration of the center of life in Pierrefiche, of the Arc-en-ciel association, this Tuesday, July 2, 2024. nbsp;More than a hundred people gathered. Among them, directors, employees, residents accompanied by their families and guests. On this occasion, the team is inaugurating three new facilities.

A semi-autonomous studio

The Pierrefiche life center currently welcomes 40 people with disabilities in boarding school. In order to broaden their range of reception and support ;a more autonomous audience, the association has invested in a semi-autonomous studio. This premiere is for Frédéric Tessonnier. "I feel good there. I manage it all alone", he rejoices, showing his accommodation to those who wish.

The semi-inclusive studio welcomes Frédéric Tessonnier. Midi Libre – Anaïs Da Silva

Double bed, dining area, kitchen area, bathroom, puzzle corner… "It’is a current decoration, less institutional, personalized and designed with people suffering from disabilities", explains Arnaud Gasperin, director of the establishment. "We wish to offer through this studio more autonomy, a living environment to the residents we welcome, while giving them the opportunity to receive their friends and family", explains Patrick Claudel, president of the association.

A greenhouse is added to the Pipo farm

A few moments later, the crowd is invited in front of the new greenhouse which is being added to the Pipo farm, just opposite the garden.

A garden is available. Midi Libre – Anaïs Da Silva

"We were challenged to pick melons this summer, laughs Sylvie Breuil, general director of the ’ Rainbow association. We believe in it!" Many other foods are or will be produced and harvested by residents as well as the d&rsquo teams ;educators: potatoes, salad, tomatoes…

The new greenhouse has been inaugurated. Midi Libre – Anaïs Da Silva

The dual objective of the Pipo farm is simple: "that the residents are active in their lives and that they are& ;nbsp;valued", underlines Arnaud Gasperin. To support the operation of this space, the association created an independent structure at Arc-en-ciel giving rise to a Civil Agricultural Exploitation Company (SCEA).

What is a SCEA ?

A Civil Society for Agricultural Operations (SCEA) is a civil society with an agricultural vocation. At the Pierrefiche life center, it allows the management and exploitation of agricultural land. "This status gives us the possibility of selling our products, but also of consuming them directly, indicates Sylvie Breuil, general director of the association. This farm is a great experiment. It has its own subsidies including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)." Patrick Claudel, the president of Arc-en-ciel, would like to emphasize: "It’is a first in France that an association has a SCEA !"

Following their harvest of vegetables and plants, people in the household can use them for their own consumption, but can also make the decision to sell them or use them to create jams, essential oils or soap.

The harvested flowers, fruits and vegetables can be eaten or sold. Midi Libre – Anaïs Da Silva

The Pipo farm allows residents to come together in a common life project. "We are in a rural environment and we target people with disabilities who come from this environment or who grew up on farms", specifies the general director. In addition to gardening spaces, residents also take care of the animals that inhabit the area: two donkeys, chickens and sheep.

Highlight this activity

In order to highlight this farm and so that it becomes a real entity, residents of the Association for the Fight against Social Scourges (A2LFS) created a plaque in his image. It was around midday that the veil fell to show everyone the third and final novelty of the day.

The plaque was made by residents of the A2LFS. Midi Libre – Anaïs Da Silva

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