Creating a Place

Hard work, determination, courage, and ideas.

I had almost no experience in renovation or building work. I knew a little about electricity and plumbing, could use a circular saw and a jigsaw, and drill holes—but that was about it. I had no experience with gardening tools, engines, angle grinders, let alone pumps, electrical panels, or regulations.

I learned everything on the job. I spent a lot of time studying, comparing, and testing things out on site. I moved forward step by step, unafraid of making mistakes, driven by the desire and energy to keep trying until I got it right. At first, managing projects was tricky because I didn’t really know what I was doing. So, I often worked alone, but I also received help, advice, and valuable input from others. Gradually, I was able to welcome novices—generous people eager to help and learn at the same time.

Organizationally, I had to juggle multiple fronts: living comfort, land development, gardens, more whimsical projects, and the necessary setups to host workshops and retreats.

Fantasy Farm is, above all, a playground and a space for experimentation. There’s no pressure for results—only the joy of creating matters. There will always be so much more to do, to build, to transform this place into spaces for living, well-being, and daydreaming.

The Main House

Small, Eco-Friendly, and Cozy

This 70 m² cottage is the all-season heart of Fantasy Farm. It features the main kitchen, a dining area, a living space, a large pantry, and two bedrooms: one single room at the back overlooking the meadow, and a dormitory facing south toward the courtyard.

Insulation was the key to making this space comfortable and eco-friendly year-round, and it was the top priority during renovations, which unfolded over several years. Work began on the first day with the dormitory and was completed in October 2024 with the single bedroom.

All the walls were stripped back to the stone and repointed with a sand and lime mortar. The dormitory walls, being thinner, were insulated with a 6 cm interior lime and hemp plaster and covered with straw bales on the exterior, protected within the barn. Ceilings were insulated with a double layer of glass wool. Windows and doors were replaced with double-glazed models. Finally, gutters were redone, significant excavation and drainage were installed at the rear of the house to reduce moisture, as part of the building is semi-subterranean.

Heating is provided by a wood-burning stove, which keeps the living area warm and cozy, while the bedrooms stay cooler—perfect for a restful night’s sleep.

The Shower, Bath, and Sauna

Eco-Friendly, Comfortable, and Close to Nature

The original bathroom, which had been installed in what is now the dormitory, was demolished. The water distribution system in the house was no longer functional, but more importantly, the design was poorly conceived and took up too much floor space.

The idea of a shower in a greenhouse came to me after seeing similar setups in other eco-communities. The practical aspects won me over: making the most of available resources, taking advantage of the south-facing exposure, and simplifying water access and drainage. As for the bathtub, I had already experienced an outdoor wood-fired tub and was captivated by its comfort and beauty.

Here’s how the project unfolded:

• December 2020: Removal of the bathroom and indoor toilet.

• June 2021: Reopening of the walled-up south entrance to the old pigsty building and installation of cold water.

• August 2021: Repair of a section of the old pigsty’s roof.

• October 2021: Installation of the first water heater.

• Christmas 2021: Construction of the wooden frame, installation of roofing and walls.

• Autumn 2025: Complete redesign and beautification.

The greenhouse was built on a wooden frame, partly using reclaimed materials, with a roof made of multiwall polycarbonate sheets and walls composed of salvaged windows. It is attached to the south-facing wall of the old pigsty, where a previously walled-up opening was reopened. This space is located between the old pig weighing and loading ramp and a large trough, which will be repurposed as a planter.

Water supply is straightforward: a rainwater collection tank is located in this part of the property, and a gas water heater provides very hot water, even in cold weather. The greenhouse itself is always at least 5°C warmer than the outside temperature.

Until autumn 2025, this greenhouse also served as a space for growing seedlings and vegetables, adding a special charm—tomatoes, basil, eggplants, and peppers thrived here in the summer. In autumn 2025, with the construction of a larger greenhouse in the vegetable garden, the shower greenhouse was redesigned to become a dedicated wellness area, featuring three showers, storage and drying spaces for towels. The interior room at the back is also being renovated: it will house a laundry area and serve as an anteroom between the shower greenhouse and the sauna, located just opposite.

Speaking of the sauna, it was built at the end of winter 2024 and is a wonderful addition to Fantasy Farm. Self-built and heated by a wood-burning stove, it easily reaches 55°C, perfect for relaxation. It’s a place to linger, especially on cold, dreary days, but it’s used year-round. A cold plunge pool is installed in the meadow for refreshing dips. The sauna offers a view of the meadow through a thoughtfully placed window. An adjacent massage area completes the wellness space at the heart of Fantasy Farm. To build the sauna, the roof was redone, and transparent panels were chosen, bringing in natural light that has transformed the entire area and enabled further improvements.

The Barn

A Rebirth

The Barn is a space both generous and transformed, the result of extensive renovation work. On one side, a corridor of animal stalls—once partitioned—was opened up to create new possibilities. Above, a floor rotted by time, unstable and crumbling, was completely dismantled, reinforced, and rebuilt using reclaimed planks that were still solid and reusable.

On the other side, a vast area of packed earth and stones, marked by a 50 cm drop in level, became the foundation for a platform. Two concrete slabs were poured, and a wall was specially equipped for Iyengar yoga practice.

I mustn’t forget the massive wooden door that collapsed shortly after my arrival. This incident forced me to learn carpentry on the spot in order to rebuild one entire section.

Steps of the Transformation

The first phase involved converting the stalls into a workshop and storage space. Next came the floor: nearly 30% of the planks were beyond repair. Fortunately, reclaimed flooring from the pigsty, cottage, and pantry allowed us to reconstruct a solid surface. This area now houses a dormitory with four beds.

Since the main house is integrated into the barn, the bedroom walls were insulated with straw bales, placed on a concrete step to avoid direct contact with the earthen floor.

The main door was eventually removed and replaced with a structure made from reclaimed windows.

The L-shaped layout of the space featured a recessed area with an uneven floor, strewn with large stones. The idea of installing a platform became obvious: a versatile space serving as a workshop, stage for performances, and practice area.

To complete the project, the rest of the floor was leveled and cleaned. Four tons of gravel were spread, and two new concrete slabs were poured. The result: three distinct levels—the entrance, an intermediate platform, and the stage—making the space functional, clean, and aesthetically pleasing.

The Gardens

Planting to Be

First, it’s essential to understand that connection with nature is fundamental, necessary, vital. Observing it nourishes the soul, and sinking your fingers into the earth, feeling the soil, is profoundly therapeutic. For many, nature seems frightening—its exuberance, its power, its chaos. But what kind of relationship do we want with it? Do we seek to dominate it, or to build a dialogue?

I’ve often heard complaints: “weeds,” the chore of mowing, trimming, maintaining. For me, as soon as I garden, I feel alive. I receive, I am nourished. Fortunately, this cycle never ends, because it is a connection to the eternal. And it delights me to know that everything I do here matters only to me, for the simple joy of gardening. Nature, meanwhile, continues on its path, with or without me. But what can I contribute? This is the question I dedicate myself to here.

I draw inspiration from the diversity of plants, from the relationship with the wild—both animal and vegetable—and from the interconnections that weave through it all. The principles of permaculture, forest gardens, food forests, and the images of gardens and natural places I’ve visited all inspire me. I’ve been fortunate to receive help and advice from experienced gardeners, each bringing their own stories, tips, and experiences.

Fantasy Farm is made up of several spaces: the courtyard, the vegetable garden, the meadow. Within these, I’ve created plant subdivisions. The entrance and the areas around the buildings are key: they shape the scenery, the welcome, the relationship with the structures and living spaces. There are pathways—those that exist and those we invent. There are atmospheres, breaks, colors, scents. All these aspects must be considered in relation to available resources—water, light, wind, microclimates.

Then comes the choice of plants and the order of planting.

I started with the hedges: understanding them, redefining them, progressing step by step, year after year. My wish? To create a visual barrier with the neighbors, using local trees and shrubs, a diversity of varieties, and thinking of the animals that live, feed, hide, protect themselves, and thrive there. I didn’t want a simple straight line, but a landscape, a relief, where every angle offers a new perspective, a path to discover.

The orchard, the fruit trees, were planted in December 2021, after a year of reflection. There was no question of rows: wandering is too important to me. A garden should be poetic, not rigid or purely functional, in order to be therapeutic. I planted stakes with colored ribbons to feel the spaces in situ, to check light access. I chose species and varieties with the help of the Prom’Haies association, considering pollination, production periods, and fruit storage. I placed the order, dug the holes, observed how water pooled or drained. Some holes were filled in, others dug again. When the saplings arrived, I trusted my instincts: yes, here, this will be good. After four years, the success rate is rather satisfying. A few trees have died (two apricots, a peach, a plum, a cherry, an apple), but most seem to be in their place and are beginning to bear fruit. Pruning follows the rules, but also instinct. Treatments for pests and diseases are natural, organic. I learn, season after season.

The vegetable garden is a complex and essential challenge: the soil, rotations, associations, the needs and constraints of each plant. I take my time, moving forward in small steps. Nature needs time, the soil must be prepared, built. Before working on “living organic soil,” layers upon layers of natural ingredients must be added. I’ve begun this work, and will continue to enrich the soil with manure and compost.

Greenhouses are important. I’ve built several: for workshops, seedlings, cuttings, nurseries—some in full sun, others more protected. A first small greenhouse, where I also installed a shower, convinced me of the need for a larger growing greenhouse. It was built in autumn 2025 and should be operational by the end of winter 2026.

Flowers, colors, scents, pollinators are not just beautiful to look at: they are essential to the cycle, to the plant and animal system. Flowers attract insects that spread pollen and feed the birds. The vegetable garden and fruit trees cannot thrive without them. All the shrubs were chosen with this in mind. Roses are everywhere, as are herbs, medicinal plants, and all the flowers that bloom from spring to late autumn.

In winter, I feed the birds. Swallows and bats are welcomed with open arms: I protect their nests, do everything I can to make them feel safe, so they can reproduce and play their role as natural pest controllers.

I invite you to come and discover the gardens of Fantasy Farm. Come walk, explore, get involved. Come recharge and receive all that nature has to offer: life, generosity, happiness, breath. Here, every gesture is a dialogue, every season a lesson. And if you wish, you too can sink your fingers into the earth and plant a little of yourself, simply to be.

Water and Waste

A Respectful Cycle at Fantasy Farm

At Fantasy Farm, water is a precious resource, managed with care. Two underground tanks collect and store a large volume of rainwater, which is used for watering the gardens, showers, and the washing machine.

The toilets, located in outdoor annexes, are equipped with separating systems. Waste is then composted for three years. The composting area, built on a concrete slab with drainage connected to the sewer, strictly adheres to current environmental regulations for dry toilets.

All kitchen green waste naturally joins the compost, ensuring the diversity of materials essential for effective decomposition.

Gardening waste is composted at various points throughout the garden and hedges. Pruned branches are chipped and spread over the vegetable plots, while grass clippings are used as mulch for fruit trees and shrubs. This practice enriches the soil with nutrients, protects plants from the sun and extreme heat, and reduces the need for watering. Additionally, green manure is regularly sown in the vegetable garden to improve soil quality.