Social Ecology of Château du Feÿ

For the past 7 years we have been developing a virtuous ecosystem made of 5 complementary structures:

• FRIENDS OF FEŸ, non-profit in charge of bridging between natural heritage and built heritage. It leads projects and workshops around permaculture/agroforestry, biodiversity preservation and old techniques of renovation.

• FEŸTOPIA, a community of ~200 international artists, technologists, entrepreneurs, and researchers rethinking the world of tomorrow, which every year turns the Chateau into a co-living /co-working space in the winter (December-April).

• FEŸ ARTS, non-profit in charge of our yearly multi-disciplinary arts festival that brings 1500 people for a unique weekend-long immersive experience, as well as artist residencies prior to the festival.

• SAS. CHÂTEAU DU FEŸ, a profitable company that rents Feÿ in the summer (May-November) for events with aligned values.

• CONVERGENCE DES POSSIBLES, a consortium with local nonprofits in charge of nurturing our local community to support projects around food, energy and technological resiliency.

We have prototyped a sustainable model, which is improving its land, its local economy, its community fabric, its people, its culture, its heritage and that has already catalyzed others to do the same.

The last grant was awarded to Friends of Feÿ, and we are applying again through this non-profit. For the past seven years, Friends of Feÿ has been stewarding 100 acres of forest and a 2 acres permaculture garden. The organization has hosted 20 week-long workshops focused on sustainability and empowerment for the local community, particularly for children from underprivileged neighborhoods.

We have also transformed the garden management by planting meadows and indigenous plants, eliminating the need for mowing. Our garden has since inspired other historical monuments to adopt a similar approach.

Recently, we've been working on a tree nursery project in collaboration with a national non-profit called PLANTEURS. By next September, the nursery should be fully operational, with a production capacity of 10,000 to 30,000 trees per year. We are applying for this grant because we need to renovate a space near the nursery, which we call the REGEN HOUSE. This space will provide housing for the nursery workers, serve as a permanent office space for PLANTEURS, and include two guest bedrooms for people working on regenerative projects. Currently, we have a shortage of spaces to accommodate our partners.

Our Regenerative Approach

The following are guiding elements of our work:

• Preserving Soil Life and Fertility: We have devoted time to preserving the fertility of the soil on our 100-acre property such as transforming a mowed grass area into a labyrinth with 2000 indigenous heat-resistant plants. We established a perma-vegetable garden sustained by rainwater collection. We have a strong zero-waste policy and we are now implementing a tree nursery to build living hedges in the region, supporting conventional farmers in transitioning to sustainable farming.

• Building a Strong Local Community: We believe a robust local community is the foundation for change and resilience. We mapped all local actors working towards a sustainable transition, created a 1000-member strong Facebook group, and organized more than 50 events focused on sustainability.

• Cultivating an International Eco-Leaders Community: Hosting important ecological gatherings like AlterEgo, Convention of Companies for Climate, Eco-Weaving and Rencontres Vivantes, has created a thriving international community of eco-leaders. This network provides a sense of belonging and support for each other in transitioning towards sustainable futures.

• Promoting a New Ethos for Vendors, Collaborators, and Clients: We've engaged our vendors, collaborators, and clients in a more sustainable lifestyle through events that advocate for, and educate about, the circular economy. Chateau du Feÿ serves as a transition space for many, fostering a shift in consciousness when it comes to ecology.

• Renovating Heritage: To reduce emissions, we have renovated Feÿ utilizing eco materials and slowly replacing the entire energy system. At Feÿ, heritage architects dialogue with the Agency for Ecological Transition. Rather than building new, our philosophy is rooted in the belief that the world should restore its heritage to align with modern expectations. We steadfastly uphold this stance by always restoring instead of buying new.

Chateau du Feÿ in Context:

Through our many projects: we believe that the Chateau du Feÿ project addresses several global challenges by providing innovative local solutions, demonstrating the potential for grassroots initiatives to contribute to broader solutions.

Key challenges addressed include:

1. Many rural areas globally face economic decline, population loss, and cultural erosion leading to the rise of conservative policies and anti-EU sentiment. Feÿ revitalizes the poor rural area of Joigny by fostering collaboration among local actors, creating economic opportunities and attracting new people to the area. A replicable example of decentralization.

2. Historic sites worldwide struggle with financial viability, modern cultural relevance and preservation.Feÿ demonstrates how historic chateaux can be financially sustainable through adaptive reuse, providing a model for the preservation and sustainable use of historical spaces globally.

3. Loneliness and isolation has been declared a pandemic by the US surgeon general, with impacts as bad as smoking. Feÿ focuses on community building, holding space for diverse individuals to come together. The project's rituals and methodologies for bringing togetherness serves as local solutions to address global challenges related to social cohesion.

4. The climate crisis and challenge of the sustainable transition. Feÿ implements and educates on sustainable practices and fosters a resilient territory in terms of food and energy supply, demonstrating how small-scale initiatives can serve as examples for other towns in transition.

5. Rethinking our institutions and finding solutions to face the world's crisis. Feÿ is a magnet for many world experts and entrepreneurs in a staggering range of disciplines which has led to global groundbreaking academic advances, projects, communities, companies and nonprofits being created and flourishing at Fey. We accelerate collective intelligence around important topics such as the climate crisis, governance, AI and politics.

Funds from Ma Earth’s funding round are channeled to our non-profit "Friends of Fey" responsible to preserve the built, living and natural heritage of the Château du Feÿ. The funds will be strategically invested in optimizing our water system.

• Renovation of the two Water Tanks: We will upgrade our existing water tank to increase its efficiency and capacity. This renovation is essential to ensure a reliable water supply, especially during critical growing periods.

• Implementation of a new water collection system around the existing well.

• Optimization of Rainwater Collection: We will improve our capacity to collect and store rainwater from roofing systems.

These enhancements will further secure our water reserves and reduce our dependence on external water sources. These improvements will support the survival of Feÿ and improve its sustainability, especially the well-being of our vegetable garden (potager) as well as the establishment of a tree nursery, which will provide native trees for local farmers, encouraging the adoption of agroforestry practices that enhance biodiversity and soil health.

How We Measure Impact

Tree Nursery Success: One key metric is the success of the tree nursery itself. We will track the number of trees produced each year, with a target of 10,000 to 30,000 trees annually. Additionally, we will measure how many kilometers of hedges are replanted as part of our reforestation and biodiversity efforts.

Partnerships Established: Another important metric will be the number of partnerships formed as a result of the Regen House. This includes collaborations with local organizations, environmental groups, and educational institutions that contribute to the success of our regenerative initiatives.

Space Utilization: We will also track how frequently the Regen House is used to host workshops, training sessions, or as a residence for partners working on regenerative projects. This will be measured by the number of events held and guests accommodated in the space.

Community Feedback: We will send out surveys to local residents, workers, and partners to gather their feedback on the impact of the Regen House. These surveys will help us understand how the space contributes to raising awareness of sustainability, improving community engagement, and fostering environmental stewardship.

Social and Cultural Impact: Through interviews and testimonials, we will assess how the Regen House enhances the cultural value of the community, promotes regenerative practices, and serves as an inspirational model for sustainable development.