Dominique Daul, a farm open to the community: 10 years of passion with the Estivales du Beau Jardin

2. 2. A farmer deeply committed to his work

In Pfettisheim, Dominique Daul works in a profession he knows inside out. Having settled there in 1995, he now runs a cattle farm with Laurent, supported by several partners. The farm rears young Montbéliard calves for fattening, but also grows a variety of crops: beetroot, maize, wheat, alfalfa and rapeseed. 

Across some 250 hectares – the equivalent of 250 football pitches – Dominique Daul works day in, day out with a close-knit team.“We’re a good bunch of mates working together,” he sums up simply. A phrase that says a lot about the atmosphere on this farm, where teamwork plays a vital role. 

What does he like most about his job? Its diversity. To him, being a farmer means being, in turn, a livestock farmer, an agronomist, a mechanic, a manager, a salesperson, and also a communicator. A variety of roles that make his daily life so rewarding. 

2. 2. Les Estivales du Beau Jardin: an adventure born of a simple idea

Whenever the Estivales du Beau Jardin are mentioned, Dominique Daul immediately recalls the early days. In 2016, the idea of opening the farms to the public seemed a bold one. It was Marie-Hélène Mattern, who had been hired by the Community of Communes in preparation for the upcoming opening of the Tourist Office, who approached him with a proposal to take part in this new programme. The aim: to introduce people to the world of farming and promote local stakeholders. 

Dominique Daul accepted, with curiosity and enthusiasm. The first visit attracted just five people. Ten years on, the Estivales du Beau Jardin draws a much wider audience, with tours, walks and discovery activities that now punctuate the summer in the Kochersberg and the Pays de la Zorn. 

For him, the programme’s success rests on a key idea: not to invent a narrative, but to tell the truth. To show what we do, explain our daily lives, answer questions, and share without pretence.“It really is the authenticity of the region and the people who make it up,” he says. 

2. 2. Opening the doors to the farm to gain a better understanding of agriculture

For the past ten years, visits to Dominique Daul’s farm have enabled families – both children and adults – to take a behind-the-scenes look at local farming. Visitors often arrive with questions, and sometimes with preconceived notions. They leave with a better understanding of what goes into the food they eat. 

Dominique Daul regularly observes that certain fundamentals have been forgotten. The crop cycle, seasonality, the origin of produce, the link between animals and food: these are all topics he enjoys explaining in simple terms. 

For him, these tours are not just summer activities. They are also an opportunity to pass on knowledge. Explaining how wheat grows, why a cow needs to have a calf to produce milk, or how a farm operates; it’s about reconnecting everyone with essential realities. 

2. 2. A memorable experience for families

One of the reasons why the Estivales du Beau Jardin are so popular is that they offer a hands-on, lively and accessible experience. You don’t just discover the area by looking at it: you explore it, you ask questions about it, you touch it with your own hands. 

At the farm, one of the most eagerly awaited moments is the visit to the calf barn. Children can approach the calves, stroke them and observe them up close. For Dominique Daul, this is often where the magic happens. He sees the look of wonder in their eyes, the smiles appear, and families leave happy to have experienced something different. 

These interactions have also changed his perspective on his profession. In a climate where farming is sometimes at the heart of complex debates, meeting the public brings him real satisfaction. He states this with conviction:“We need a farmer three times a day. Every time you open your fridge, it’s a farmer’s work that’s right in front of you.”

2. 2. Ten years of Estivales, and still going strong

For Dominique Daul, this anniversary represents much more than just a symbolic date. The 10th anniversary of the Estivales du Beau Jardin marks the success of a community project, born out of a desire to share and driven by passionate local residents. 

Since the first edition, the programme has expanded. Farm visits have been joined by walks, meetings with other producers, and opportunities to discover the local landscape and traditional skills. Dairy farms, livestock farms, crops, snails, wines, dawn walks, artists’ workshops: the Estivales showcase a region in all its diversity. 

Dominique Daul also invites families to stay in the Kochersberg and the Pays de la Zorn this summer. In his view, there is plenty here to put together a proper holiday programme, accessible to all budgets, close to nature and those who bring it to life. 

2. 2. A portrait that captures the essence of the Beau Jardin

Dominique Daul’s journey encapsulates the very essence of the Estivales du Beau Jardin: to forge links between residents, visitors, farmers and local stakeholders. For the past ten years, this summer programme has offered a fresh perspective on the region, through the eyes of those who cultivate, bring to life and tell its story. 

Authenticity, passing on knowledge, simplicity and passion: four words that sum up both Dominique Daul’s commitment and the spirit of the Estivales du Beau Jardin. Ten years after the first visit, the flame is still burning brightly.