Sources
du causse noir
Sheep farmers and aromatic plant producers rooted in the high limestone plateaus of the Causse Noir.
A botanical approach deeply connected to pastoralism, wild harvesting, and slow rural aromatherapy rooted in living ecosystems.
Causse Noir, Cévennes
Between pastoralism, high-altitude lavender, and wild botanical harvesting.
Located in Lanuejols in southern France, the family farm has continued the tradition of dairy sheep farming for generations.
Since 2015, the farm has expanded into the cultivation and wild harvesting of aromatic and medicinal plants distilled locally.
Their work bridges pastoral farming, biodiversity preservation, and artisanal distillation rooted in the unique ecosystem of the Causses.
Farm Profile
Producer & Shepherds
Location
Lanuejols, Gard, France
Altitude
~1000m
Activity
Sheep farming & aromatic plants
Practices
Manual wild harvesting
Inputs
Composted sheep manure
Distillation
Local artisanal distillation
Territory
UNESCO / Natura 2000
Since
2015
A Rural Aromatherapy
Essential oils shaped by the rhythm of living ecosystems.
Plant work here follows the rhythm of the seasons, flowering cycles, grazing, and the natural conditions of the limestone plateau.
Wild harvesting is performed manually on preserved heathlands where human intervention remains minimal.
Fine lavender, linalool thyme, clary sage, juniper, and Scots pine are locally distilled to preserve aromatic integrity and freshness.
This coherence between shepherding, living soil, biodiversity, and artisanal distillation creates oils deeply rooted in their terroir.
The Rhythm of Seasons
Harvesting a plant also means preserving a landscape.
Flowering, pollination, grazing, and biodiversity remain deeply interconnected.
Seasonal Work
“Essential oils begin long before distillation.”
On the Causse Noir, lavender is planted in November after careful preparation of the rocky limestone soils.
Spring and summer are dedicated to mechanical weeding, wild harvesting, and manual gathering alongside haymaking and sheep care.
Winter brings the sheep back into the barns for lambing and milking while the plants enter dormancy.
Causse Noir Gallery
Discover the Farm
An immersion into the landscapes of the Causse Noir.
The farm produces essential oils, hydrolats, soaps, dried flowers, and artisanal preparations rooted in a living agricultural ecosystem.
Their work connects agro-pastoralism, biodiversity, and aromatherapy within a preserved UNESCO and Natura 2000 environment.