They spend their retirement in a common

Magalie Lapointe

Sunday, 23 July, 2017 08:00

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Sunday, 23 July, 2017 08:00

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MIRABEL | A twenty something friends most of whom met in this trip have sold their assets to buy whole land of$ 2.3 M to Mirabel in 2008, where they live and grow vegetables that they give, in part, to the poor.

They have been a chemist, an accountant or a hairdresser for decades, and from the four corners of Quebec. They wanted to live their retirement years simply by making a return to the land and by bartering their computers for shovels and pick axes.

They have never worked, but have never been so happy.

Their mode of life is not unlike the communes of the 1960s, as they live to 10 under the same roof, sharing the meals, their backyard, their office work, their couch and their works. Except that they are almost all retired and they are between 55 and 85 years.

Photo Martin Alarie

The garden home is the first that can be admired. It is located in front of the private residence of the members and the mascot Angelica, which measures 16 ft tall, welcomes all visitors.

In each room, the housemates have tried to keep an article for each of them.

The other 10 members still live in their home, but will regularly work in the earth.

“During the first two or three years, we question and judge. People were asking us if we lived in a cult ! Even my daughter asked me if I was sure I want to live with so many people every day. No one around us believed that it would last “, said a former director of marketing, Lucilia Albernaz, who has had the idea of founding The road of sheaves of Angelica.

But almost 10 years later, 19 of the 20 founding members are still present, the other having died since.

80 hours per week

Even at over 80 years old, members may work up to 80 hours per week to maintain the vast area of 94 acres, since they do almost everything by hand with very little machinery.

But the result is worth the trouble, while the 14 gardens with different themes attract thousands of visitors.

Photo Martin Alarie

Since opening to the public, in 2010, 62 000 plants have been put in the ground by hand, not to mention the fountains, the craft works, a majority are imported from Indonesia which must be assembled to their arrival, the decorations that need to be painted, the design of these and the enormous rocks that had to be displaced.

For the poor

The visitors who are going to see the field enable the Drive sheaves of Angelica to be able to have an income that allows its inhabitants to live and pay their expenses, but the members of the commune are particularly proud to be able to give all of their vegetables and fruits they have in surplus to those in need in the Laurentians.

“Giving to the poor is the foundation of our organization. Even the money that one receives as a tip, it restores to the poor. At the outset, we wanted to give to the poor and leave a legacy for future generations “, explained the director general, Ms. Albernaz.

As a large family with little privacy

Nearly 10 years after the foundation of The road of the sheaves of Angelica, the eight women and two men who live under the same roof would not like for anything in the world to live alone in a condo surrounded by concrete, like many other retired people of their age.

In spite of all, life in community is not always easy. “This morning, I maquillais in my room when a woman came banging at my door. And then, five minutes later, another wanted to talk to me. I started a joke : “No, but do you take a number, I make up !” “said Ms. Albernaz, saying that the inhabitants of the house have become more than friends, they are all like brothers and sisters.

A charter

They soupent together nearly every night on a kitchen table that can easily accommodate 16 people are told their days at the table. Then, every Friday evening, the board of directors is meeting to talk about it in the ” white eyes “.

The members have developed a charter to the past, the present and the future that they have all signed with scripted solutions to avoid conflicts. They have had to learn to live in community. They have, however, refused to reveal it to the Log.

The constant smile on their lips do not lie, they are happy in a world that is unique and particular to them.

Photo Martin Alarie

“I have been in business for 23 years of my life and I have always dreamed of owning a farm. As I am single and I have no children, I didn’t know how I was going to have one a day. When I walk in the gardens, I can say that I realize my dream everyday, ” said Alain Bellemare, a machinist of 62 years.

The ultimate test

In 2005, people who were willing to invest in the purchase of the agricultural land of 2.3 million dollars have been on a journey together to see if there was a good chemistry between them.

Ten years of reflection were required before the formal creation of the NPO, The road showers of Angelica. During a trip to France, Mrs. Albernaz had seen a concept that is similar to that of Mirabel, and she knew that if she wanted this project to see the light of day, she had need people who are serious and committed. She and a score of friends travelled together for years and they all dreamed of living on earth. Over time, the dream was clarified by adding the ideas of each other.

Test

In 2005, there were 30 people willing to invest in the project. They are then rendered in the Portuguese islands of the Azores with their backpack in order to see where the future potential investors were serious, and if their coexistence could be possible.

“We have prepared our journey together, and then we rented a chalet to see the chemistry between us. There are some who have left the group and it is correct. And then, the most motivated people for our project have continued. It should not be forgotten that we are all people with different pasts, ” said Ms. Albernaz.

Find the right place

After you find 20 investors, who had to find the perfect place for this concept unique in Québec. They met with a real estate agent, the founding members had a number of criteria, including having a fenced plot, enough space for the creation of their gardens, buildings and a residence for 10 people.

Photo Martin Alarie

All the stones arranged in the gardens have been collected on the agricultural land of 94 hectares. Since the opening of the gardens in 2010, 78 675 visitors went there.

“Our agent had ripped out the hair, but it is ultimately an old rustic table Mirabel, which has been put up for sale. The place was perfect for us ! ” said Lucilia Albernaz.