Background
Le Centre de Recherche et d'Education Eco-Ethologique (Eco Etho Research & Education Centre) at La Combe, Drome is the 5th Eco Farm and Research Centre developed by the team. Others include: Milton Court Eco Farm, Sussex, Druimghigha Eco Farm, Mull, Scotland, Little Ash Eco Farm, Devon & Coveney Eco Small holding, Cambridgeshire. The centre moved to France in December 2003.
Ecological agriculture is defined as:
“An ecologically self-sustaining low input, economically viable farm managed to maximize net production of food and energy, without causing large or long-term changes to the environment, or being ethically or aesthetically unacceptable.”
Ecological Agriculture Food First Farming Souvenir Press, London 1993 Kiley-Worthington (see Publications)
The major research project is to assess if Ecological Agriculture can help with current biological and social problems in the European mountains. With the decline of transhumance for summer grazing by cattle, sheep & goats, there has been a serious decline in fauna and floral diversity and the resident human population, while the growth in secondary homes for holidays undermines the reduced resident communities. Can the decline in the fulltime human population and the natural species diversity be reversed by changes in agricultural practices, and can economic and efficient production of food be integrated with wildlife conservation, renewable energy production and the retention of traditional rural crafts and values?
The 172h (450acres) mainly limestone mountain farm has a great variety of eco systems including coniferous and deciduous woodlands, wet areas, dry grassland, cliffs and rocks, springs and rivers. It is a superbly beautiful and dramatic landscape at all times of the year with snowy crisp winters, damp warm springs, hot dry summers and gloriously colourful autumns. There is an untapped richness of species of flowering plants, (so far we have found 22 species of wild orchids), mosses, liverworts, gymnosperms, insects, wild mammals and birds and a varied topography and geology. It offers a unique introduction (as well as the excitement of continuing study), to the wild and domestic natural world, its flora and fauna, and a wealth of experiences leading to its greater appreciation. It demonstrates how humans as well as wild and domestic living things can live together sustainabley, have a life of quality, and prosper.
The farm has not been occupied since 1950, and all areas colonized by broom and wild rose. It has been a great deal of work to cultivate around 14h of land and a 0.5h terraced vegetable garden. We have reintroducing grazing horses, cattle and sheep to the upland pastures in the summer to join the roe deer, chamois and wild boar that live there. We now produce all our own food, (meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruit & oil) 
and should be producing all the fodder for our animals by the end of 2012. Wheat (for bread), sunflowers (for oil) & sugar beet (for sugar) will be planted in 2010. But it is a challenging environment. However, we aim to be able to feed 30 small families by 2015.
Some of the existing fauna and flora is managed in a self-sustaining way to provide products required (e.g. wild thyme, mountain lavender, building and burning timber, fencing materials). The woodland also provides employment for a basket maker (from the willow) and a woodlander (coppicing, rough furniture or cabinet making). The production of organic wool and fiber, its spinning and weaving into garments has been developed at Little Ash Ecological Farm, Devon will be developed by 2015 and providing employment for spinners, weavers and designers. There is also good clay for pottery which may be developed here.
We are making nature trails and paths for walking riding, or horse vehicle driving and bicycling throughout the farm.
We have modernizing the ruined farm cottage but retaining it’s traditional characters (e.g. the old bread oven). We have adapted the existing buildings for our animals and created 2 cottages, bunk accommodation, a farm shop, an educational display centre and a room for observing the wild chamois on the cliffs. We have made a natural swimming pond shared with fish and frogs, and a small dam on the river Roland (which rises on the farm) will be finished by the end of 2010 and generate hydro-electricity. A 6 kw wind mill has been installed. Solar water heating and possibly photo-voltaic electricity will be installed by the end of 2010. Much of the work on the land is done by our Druimghigha stud horses.
Research & Education
The major research project is largely financed by visitors who come to experience how to live “lightly in the world”, and learn about the glories of the natural world. We run short courses & have longer term students (see Education). We also have “gites”, chambres d’hote with half board, camping, and a shop selling produces from the farm (see Visit Us).
Current research projects include:
Detailed records on species diversity, economics, & management practices
Herbaria of all plants found on the property, bird and insect lists
Improved animal welfare projects for cattle, equines and semi domestic elephants in Africa
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Animal educational psychology: improving teaching of animals (equines, cattle, dogs, elephants, rhino and buffalo in Zimbabwe)
Ecology and Environmental philosophy
Animal Minds, Cognition and Consciousness
Natural Balance shoeing of horses
The results of the research are written up as occasional papers of the Eco Research Centre ISSN 1367-2045 or published in scientific or philosophical journals and books (see list of publications), often in conjunction with colleagues and students from Universities of Exeter, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Plymouth and Harare (Zimbabwe). We hope to develop joint projects with some interested French Universities. We supervise undergraduate and graduate student projects and theses worldwide, and welcome student field courses, and meetings/conferences/retreats for other environmentally interested groups.
The staff (see Personnel) run workshops and short courses on a variety of topics throughout the year (see Events Diary & Education). These are taught by internationally known and respected experts. There are facilities to learn to ride, drive & work horses, 1 - 6 day rides (www.horseridingfrance.com) mountain climbing, walking, swimming.
The Centre runs consultancies to help others set up and run ecological farms, and prevent or cure animal behavioural problems (pets, horses, farm, zoo, circus and wild animals). Dr. Kiley-Worthington is a well known authority on Ecological Agriculture and Animal Welfare Science (see Personnel).
In conjunction with other organizations, we have an interest in preserving self sustaining peasants to help confront world problems for women now and growing concerning food production, world peace, and their security.
The centre is setting up a project in Africa integrating wildlife conservation and ecological agriculture in memory of Dr Barton Worthington CBE, one of the founders of the International Union for Nature Conservation, and Stella Johnson women farmer and musician in Kenya & UK. The Centre researches, in theory and practice, the integration of conservation of large mammals (elephants, rhino and buffalo) with food production by developing the idea of Wildlife Ambassadors to help small farmers. (see Publications)
We sponsor an artist in residence every year for a 4-6 month stay during which they work on their art (painting, sculpture, poetry, prose, etc) with a theme suggested by the natural world and the farm. Email marthe@horseridingfrance.com for details & supply portfolio.
We are one of the original hosts for W.W.O.O.F. (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) and have many volunteer members. Further details please contact by email, phone (00 33 (0)475 53 20 27 or post (La Combe, Bezaudub sur Bine 26460 Drome, France).