Nos oignons

Nos Oignons is a Belgian non-profit association founded in 2012 and described on its own site as a pioneer of social agriculture in Belgium. It works at the intersection of farming, social care and mental health, with a vision of supporting the recovery of both soils and people through agro-ecological production and direct access to local, peasant and sustainable food. The organisation primarily serves people who have been in contact with mental health, addiction or social assistance services, while remaining open to a broader public. It collaborates with farmers and with institutions in the social and health sectors, and it positions its work as intersectoral: human health and soil health are presented as fundamentally connected. Nos Oignons also acts as a connector and facilitator, bringing together volunteers, agricultural hosts and care-sector partners around practical activities on farms and market-garden sites in Brussels and Wallonia. Key Offerings Collective farm volunteering : Guided, flexible and reimbursed volunteer days on partner farms, where participants help with market gardening, field work and related farm tasks. The format is designed to create solidarity with farmers while offering a meaningful, structured outdoor activity. Individual farm experiences : One-to-one placements with agricultural hosts for people who want a more personal link with a farmer or market gardener. The site mentions specific partner projects such as “Vaches et bourrache” and “Nos Oignons d’Entre Mots.” Burn-out recovery support : An accompanying offer focused on people recovering from burn-out, presented as part of the organisation’s “green care” approach. It connects therapeutic recovery with time spent on the land and in agricultural settings. Social agriculture coordination and guidance : Nos Oignons helps set up and animate social-agriculture activities with partner farms and care institutions, including local coordination, referrals and practical support for participation. Core Values Social solidarity : The organisation emphasizes mutual support between participants, farmers and care partners, with activities built around collaboration, shared meals and collective work. Connection to the land : Soil, farming and food production are treated as meaningful spaces for recovery, learning and reconnection, not only as economic activities. Intersectoral care : Nos Oignons explicitly links agriculture with mental health, addiction support and social assistance, reflecting a belief that care can happen across sectors. Agro-ecological and local food systems : Its mission includes supporting agro-ecological production and access to local, peasant and sustainable food. Collective governance and participation : The association highlights volunteer involvement, local assemblies and training in collective intelligence as part of how it works. Unique Aspects Pioneer status in Belgium : Nos Oignons presents itself as a pioneer of social agriculture in Belgium, giving it a distinctive role in a still-emerging field. Bridge between care and farming : Its model is built specifically to connect people from mental health, addiction and social-care backgrounds with agricultural work and farm communities. Multi-site network of partner farms : The organisation operates through several named partner sites in Brussels and Wallonia, including the Champ du Chaudron, the Courtileke, the Ferme de la Distillerie, the Jardin des Saules and the Orée du Bois. Public-sector and EU support : The individual-experience page states that two projects are co-financed by the Walloon Region and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (FEADER) under the Walloon Rural Development Programme. Sector advocacy and research role : Beyond field activities, Nos Oignons publishes resources, participates in networks and contributes proposals for social-agriculture frameworks in Wallonia, showing a role in advocacy and knowledge-sharing as well as service delivery.