Sylvain Couderc,
market gardener & trainer.
Founder of Les Jardins de la Valette, a bio-intensive microfarm in the Aveyron. Organic vegetable grower, trainer, and content creator on small-scale market gardening.
From travel to the microfarm, a hands-on journey.
Sylvain Couderc does not come from a family of market gardeners, but his grandparents were farmers. After studying electrical engineering, he felt the need to return to something more concrete, closer to the land.
A horticulture course, several years travelling between Australia and New Zealand, the discovery of permaculture and Eliot Coleman, then a pivotal internship at Les Jardins de la Grelinette with Maud-Hélène Desroches and Jean-Martin Fortier: back in France, a single idea, to start his own farm. Done in 2012, on his grandparents' land, in a small village in the Aveyron.
Today, Les Jardins de la Valette grows more than 50 organic vegetables on less than 5,000 m², without a tractor. Alongside production, Sylvain has made teaching a major axis of his project: online and in-person courses, a YouTube channel with more than 200 videos, and the Cercle community, which brings together more than 1,500 market gardeners.
- 2010
Internship at Les Jardins de la Grelinette
A pivotal internship with Maud-Hélène Desroches and Jean-Martin Fortier, in Quebec, before the farm gained its international reputation. The vision became clear: starting his own bio-intensive microfarm in France.
- 2012
Founding Les Jardins de la Valette
Set up on his grandparents' land, in Sainte-Croix, Aveyron. Holding a BPREA (French farming diploma), Sylvain fully embraced the bio-intensive model.
- 2018
Les Jardins de la Valette V2
Moved a few kilometres away to richer Ségala land, far better suited to market gardening, in Sanvensa.
- 2020
First course
Launched his first bio-intensive market gardening course, taught in person at Permaterra. Teaching became a major axis of the project alongside production.
- 2022
Qualiopi-certified training organisation
Teaching was made official with a training body certified Qualiopi, opening up French funding schemes (VIVEA, OPCO, France Travail).
- 2025
Co-founding Spidplant
Launch of Spidplant, a brand of hand tools designed for the microfarm, developed at Les Jardins de la Valette.
What he teaches.
- Bio-intensive market gardening on small surfaces
- Setting up and running a microfarm
- Crop planning
- Living-soil management and fertility
- Microfarm business model
- Teaching and training in market gardening
Follow Sylvain's work.
About Sylvain Couderc.
Who is Sylvain Couderc?
Sylvain Couderc is a French bio-intensive market gardener and trainer. In 2012 he founded Les Jardins de la Valette, a bio-intensive microfarm in Sanvensa, in the Aveyron (France). He now trains market gardeners online and in person, runs a YouTube channel with more than 200 videos and the Cercle community.
Where did Sylvain Couderc train?
After studying electrical engineering and then horticulture, he travelled for several years between Australia and New Zealand and discovered permaculture and the work of Eliot Coleman. In 2010 he did a pivotal internship at Les Jardins de la Grelinette, with Jean-Martin Fortier, in Quebec. He holds a BPREA (French farming diploma).
What market gardening method does he practise?
Sylvain Couderc practises bio-intensive market gardening on a small surface, inspired by 19th-century Parisian market gardeners and revived by Eliot Coleman and Jean-Martin Fortier. He grows more than 50 organic vegetables on less than 5,000 m², without a tractor, on permanent beds and with generous compost.
What does Sylvain Couderc teach?
He teaches how to set up and run a bio-intensive microfarm: garden layout, living-soil work, crop planning, technical choices and business model. His courses are available online (Microfarm course, Qrop & Brinjel course) and in person on the farm.
Where can I find Sylvain Couderc’s videos?
On his YouTube channel (@sylvaincouderc), with more than 200 free videos: farm tours, technical tutorials and interviews on bio-intensive market gardening.