Organic market gardening culture

Graduated in physical geography from the Faculty of Sciences at the Free University of Brussels, holder of a complementary master's degree in rural management in Portugal and an aggregation in geography, Quentin d’Hoop is passionate about the interactions of human societies with their environment, and it is through his agricultural activity that he approaches the concrete realities of local production, never far from the global challenges of our food system-world. After having lived in Belgium, Canada, and Portugal, he has been exclusively living off his market gardening activity for nearly 10 years in the southwest of France.

He offers an expanded and transdisciplinary vision, linking exact sciences (pedology, agronomy, agricultural techniques and practices) to human sciences (economic, political, philosophical reflections, psychoaffective sphere), in order to strengthen the meaning of this activity without harboring illusions, so that every market gardener can draw inspiration from it, develop their small-scale agricultural project, and sustain it over time.

An innovative and holistic approach to organic market gardening, combining agricultural techniques and human dimension to give meaning to the profession of market gardener:

A very comprehensive and expanded vision of market gardening activity, addressing both practical and technical aspects as well as philosophical, political, and psycho-social aspects.

A presentation of techniques in their various aspects so that each market gardener can draw inspiration from them and develop their own "recipe."

An opportunity to deepen the conditions for realizing an agricultural dream, without harboring illusions, in order to avoid the premature abandonment of new projects.

Beautiful ambiance photos, photos of gestures, as well as numerous detailed tables, various diagrams, graphs, and illustrations to clarify the topic effectively.

At the end of the book, fact sheets on 30 commonly cultivated vegetables (leeks, lettuces, tomatoes, etc.) providing all the necessary information: schedule, sowing, planting, varieties, fertilization, irrigation, harvest and storage, yields, selling prices, income per bed...

A structured, rigorous, and expert practical manual, brilliantly delving into the different facets of market gardening aimed at an informed professional audience (market gardeners) already established or in the process of establishing, individuals transitioning professionally to agriculture or students in vocational training programs (BPREA) within CFAs, technical advisors and facilitators of local organic farming groups (Organic Farmers Groups, such as Agrobio 40) and Chambers of Agriculture, as well as gardening or market gardening novices, like the thousands of internet video viewers (permaculture, living soil market gardening, etc.) who wish to be deeply informed about the realities of market gardening.

A book to strengthen and maintain the meaning of agricultural activity, but also to deepen the conditions for realizing a dream without harboring illusions, in order to sustain it over time and avoid premature abandonment of new projects.