odile

thanks jacqui- I have telephoned the Maire in Cluny. he is really fed up as he is totally against the event taking place but he is being attacked from all sides. Permission was given by the Departement agriculture and forets in Macon. I have spoken to 2 of their representatives and followed this up with a fax. I suppose the event will take place this year- but I so hope it won't go ahead in the future- wish us bonne chance  

going to live in the Jura at 950 m. - would like to plant an orchard, roses, perrenials, etc - any good advice on named species which will grow well - temperatures sometimes drop to -30! Merci...

Anybody found this absolutely delicious mushroom (the word mushroom comes from the word mousseron) - one of the best! Bon appetit  

Hoddy - were you ever a member of the Leicestershire Badger Group?   

Sorry for the confusion. The competition will be for badger digging- and not 'baiting' - The Departement d'agriculture et forets/Macon has given permission for the event to take place near Cluny. The diggers claim that the badgers will be released, and not killed- so no cruelty is involved! However there are many flawa to that argument: the badgers will fight to the death rather than be caught, especially as cubs are still unweaned and live mostly underground at this time of year. Diggers use tools like long tongues, pick axes and spades to take hold of the badger- and badgers get badly injured in the process. the dogs also bite  and tear them and cause horrendous injuries. Dogs also get very badly torn/bitten- they are very highly prized animals and lots of pride is taken in winning, and they fetch huge amounts of money. the badger jaw is designed to lock- so it is impossible to prize it open (most mamals can have their jaw forcefully open, like dogs for instance) so the only way to release a dog is to smash the jaw open with a spade or axe. So releasing the animals is almost more cruel than shooting them, as they slowly die of infection or starve as they can't feed. As cubs are still almost totally dependent on the mother for milk and feeding (they are born around february) - if the mother is taken and released, she won;t come back to the sett for days- thus cubs will die of starvation. Once the dogs are underground, there is no controlling them- so they will attack the cubs, tear them open or break their necks- and as the setts are dug into and the earth piled up in the tunnel, the cubs are also likely to suffocate. No cruelty indeed... they say it's just to keep tradition alive and to watch the dogs work'. At the very least, if they are going to do this 'sport' it should be done outside the gestation/lactation period, eg. between July and November.  Hope this helps explain- will be glad to answer any questions- I have been working with badgers for more than 30 years. I am amazed anybody could think that I am an 'infiltrator' advertising the event... meilleures salutations a tous,  Odile

definitely a stink horn and NOT a black morille! Not edlible, please don't try. by the way morilles ARE delicious but very poisonous if eaten raw.

if you live near Switzerland, try Cenovis - sold in a tube. Very similarp- I actually prefer it to Marmite!

URGENT please read entry on animal welfare section

this coming week-end 17/18th May, there will be a badger baiting contest in Cluny/Bourgogne. Please write to the Maire of Cluny and to the Department d'agriculture et foret/Macon- to express your dismay. They say the badgers will only be dug out then released. To dig out badger, all sorts of tools are used, like tongues, spades, etc, and badgers are often seriouly injured in the process. Releasing them may be more cruel than killing them. Also cubs are still underground and not yet weaned- and the mother will protect them to the death. As badger jaws are designed to lock-in, if it bites a dog or a hunter, the only way to release is to smash their jaw with a spade or axe. Any adult badgers dug out will disappear for days- thus leaving helpless cubs underground to starve or to suffocate, if the digging as left them with a blocked tunnel. The whole process, venerie sous terre, is barbaric and should be banned. If it is allowed, then it should be only allowed between July and November, outside the gestation and lactiation/breeding period. Please pass on - and hurry o nly a few days left. Last year the contest was in Allier - next year it may be near you.

Hi Phil- just read your post. I am Swiss from just across the French border near Pontarlier. Have lived in UK for 38 years and never intended to go back. Last year a very old farmhouse I've always loved came up for sale - and be bought it - just like that. Sadly not sold our house here yet - but will move asap- wish us luck. The Annecy area is much more expensive than the Jura! I actually know of an old primary school which has been entirely renovated, being sold for £200.000 with all the furniture, equipment for snow clearing, graden, washin machin, etc, etc. There is lots on the market- would be interested to know how you got on. Bonne chance   Odile

Dear Petra - belly ache + morilles! Morilles are one of the best - my favourite dish is Fillet mignon de porc aux morilles. BUT they are extremenly toxic if eaten raw- so it's likely your husband didn't cook them sufficiently when making an omelet. Another fantastic mushroom to pick at this time of year is the St George's mushroom - or mousseron de la Saint George (the word mushroom comes from mousseron) - it's white, of uneven shape with a slightly rolled edge and smells strongly of flour. Have you found any yet.  bonne chance et bon appetit    Odile