Back in November, I spent four days with a production team from Austin, LA and Paris to film a mini-documentary about The Kale Project for Dark Rye Online Magazine. Dark Rye, funded by Whole Foods Market, does seasonal stories about food, health, sustainability, design and social enterprise. I was extremely honored to have The Kale Project be chosen for their spring “Revival” issue.
As a former theatre person, I’ve never been camera shy but comfort in front of the lens only goes so far when you’re asked to dance with kale in the middle of Parisian streets or take action shots with kale at Trocadero. I kept reminding myself that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and to just enjoy it. The production team was incredible and we had a blast over the four days of filming. We hit up the Marché Batignolles, The Superfoods Café to make a few recipes, the streets of Paris and met up with Bruno Verjus at his restaurant Table to talk to him more about how he cooks with chou d’aigrette (another one of the beautiful names for kale in French!)
For me the most exciting part of the filming was our day excursion to Saint Malo to meet up with Kale Project Ambassador, Virginie and her AMAP (for readers in America, AMAP is the equivalent of Community Support Agriculture (CSA)) farmer, Anthony who farms in Saint Lunaire. Virginie first contacted me over a year ago with interest to work with Anthony to grow kale for her region. After a lot of back and forth, Anthony planted the seeds this past summer and the kale was ready just in time for the film.
I could not have been more excited to share this story with the team because it is how I always imagined the Project working out. I wanted to work with local, French farmers and then try to do more tastings and explanation at markets or AMAPs and that’s exactly what we did in Saint Lunaire. On a side note, this was also my first trip to Saint Malo and I can’t wait to return. Even with the cold, rainy, grey weather, the views and air were fantastic.
For those that live in the Saint Malo area and are interested in this AMAP, it was created in February 2009 and is 100% bio. Anthony is the sole farmer and provides almost 90 baskets of vegetables and fruit each week to members who come from Saint-Lunaire, Dinard, Saint-Briac and more towns in the surrounding area. Anthony’s farm, called “Saveurs des Champs”, spans about four hectares. He has one employee but also relies on help from the members of the AMAP who come pick potatoes, peas, plant zucchini or more. In fact his chou fields were behind Virginie’s house (talk about easy access to kale!) Each member of the AMAP also helps at distribution evenings, which take place under the covered market place of Saint-Lunaire across from the old 11th century church. And, in addition, Anthony has orchards and produces organic delicious apple juice. He hoped to have bees, but this has proven very difficult but he wants to keep trying.
Anthony does not stop with fruits and vegetables. He also has two traditional Brittany farming horses (Cheval de Trait Breton) which he is training to use in the fields, as well a vanishing breed of Brittany sheep (Moutons des Landes de Bretagne) which he is helping to bring back and sells for wool and meat. He sells his sheeps’ wool to a Brittany company that uses only wool from Brittany sheep. They make the clothes by hand and sell them in markets around the area. He also has a few Brittany goats (Chèvre des Fossés) to clear the brush from his fields.
To help with the sheep, Anthony uses a large guard dog from the Pyrenees (who lives with the sheep) and then a small sheep-herding dog also from the Pyrenees named Ilka. Ilka turned out to the star of the day, jumping around and devouring kale for the camera.
Everyone at the AMAP distribution was so friendly and excited to be a part of the film. And those coming to pick up their baskets were genuinely interested in learning about the lost cabbage and most of the responses to the kale chips were very positive. Honestly, my evening with everyone was by far one of my most memorable so far in France. I am so thankful to have worked with Virginie and Anthony and hope for more kale crops in the future.
Here is more information about the Saint Lunaire AMAP:
Anthony JOSSE, Agriculteur AMAP de Saint-Lunaire
Michel DUFEIL, President de l’AMAP de Saint-Lunaire
AMAP website: http://www.amapplanetelunairienne.com
I hope you enjoy the video! Bon week-end!
Also because I feel so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life…
A thank you to Caitlin Riley for her amazing producer work and the rest of the Dark Rye team, Ned, Michel, Max and Jono. To Kevin German for his fantastic photos.
To Virginie & Anthony for making kale in Saint Malo a reality.
And also thank you to Elke from The Superfoods Cafe, Monsieur Verjus from Table and to my friends Anna, Lisa and Aurelien for being troopers on a Sunday night for the dinner party scene.
And of course to my darling wonderful husband for putting up with four days of equipment in our apartment and his never-ending support for all things kale.
Craig Thomas says
Awesome! You are such a hero! Thank you for all that you’ve done for us kale lovers :)
kristen says
Thanks Craig! You’ve been here since the beginning so THANK YOU!
Allison @ Clean Wellness says
This is such an inspiring story! My favourite veggie, in my favourite city. It’s so wonderful that you’re introducing such a versatile, delicious, healthy vegetable to people in France. This is just amazing. The world needs more people like you to spread the word about leafy greens! hehe. I really enjoyed the video. Also, that dog is just adorable :)
kristen says
Hi Allison, Thanks for your nice note! It’s been quite the journey and sometimes reintroducing something has not always been easy. Isn’t the dog cute?
Jennie says
Wow, you took Paris et ses environs by storm. Yea for L’Americaine.
kristen says
Hi Jennie – I wouldn’t go that far (as there of course has been resistance as well) but it’s been fun and I’ve met really great people!
Pam says
Bonjour! So happy to have found you via Instagram! My husband and I and our 4 children moved to Paris a year and a half ago. I have found kale only on a few occasions…at Joel Thiebault’s stand at the President Wilson market..and on Rue Cler. Please bring it to my local market on Grenelle! And salivating over your kale chips…my children miss them…
so great to find you!
kristen says
Hi Pam! Nice to meet you! Welcome to Paris :) So, as you may have already noticed, the season for kale here is mid-September to March so at this point most of the supply is dwindling. That said, the demand and market has been created so some bio shops are sourcing from Spain during the off-season. It’s always best to call the shops beforehand just incase they don’t have it on that day. And always check out the #KaleSpotted map for other spots too. Always here for any questions, Kristen
Sandra says
Wow, I’m really happy for you. This film is fantastic! I know it’s kind of weird to get all excited over a lost vegetable, but you have put some fun back into daily living!! Seriously, I have been lost since I moved here, and haven’t really found my place (10 years now), but you have and this requires an exceptional state of mind. Congratulations!
kristen says
Hi Sandra, Thank you for your nice note! It’s been quite the journey and yes very fun. I’ve been lucky to be able to work on something like this while here. Thanks for your support and enthusiasm.
Sandra howard says
very inspiring to see what a simple idea can accomplish! Where do the macrobiotic restaurants in Paris get their kale? ie Le Guenmai on rue Cardinale in the 6th off Blvd St.Germain..it’s a staple of macro cuisine..thanks for the plug for brown rice and miso soup!
Thh says
C’est agréable de voir des américains pleins d’entrain redynamiser un peu notre agriculture. J’essaye de cuisiner le kale pour la première fois aujourd’hui, je l’ai trouvé également en province! Merci (:
moisitha says
Been following your project for couple of years now and I really admire you for your work & dedication. Your project motivated me to start growing kale two years ago since it was not easy to find it in the market. Now I can find kale at Grand Frais in my city, I’m so happy! Keep up the good work!
Kristen says
Hello! thank you for the note and kind words and for following the project! while i can’t claim credit directly for the kale in Grand Frais, I do hope that the momentum from the Project since 2012 helped get it there (and helped make it stay!) All my best, Kristen