Michèle Ricard met Julie a few years back at the dinner of the Confrérie du Riz.
The friendship took off instantly with Julie, this young woman whose grandfather, Henri Fabre, passed on to her, his passion and devotion for the Camargue and his ancestorial know-how: the one about making the savons de Marseille.
Michèle Ricard really enjoyed Julie’s enthusiasm for the vibrant traditions that “link generations” and are “our guts, our identity, what makes us alive” from her perspective. Of Méjanes, Julie remembers the events of the Rejon d’Or to which her family attends since she was very young. She also tells us about that school trip to the Domaine de Méjanes that she went on when she was 9. Going to school in Aix en Provence, she was really proud to show her classmates, that knew nothing about the Camargue, around Méjanes. For that special occasion, Julie wore her brand-new Camargue boots that her grandmother had gifted her with!
Julie spends every weekend at the family domain of La Porcelette. On top of Souleu’s back, with her grandpa Henri Fabre talking to her in Provençal, she rides along the Rhône and learns about all the Camargue’s secrets. At ten years old, Julie receives from her grandfather’s hand the books of the manade. She is now responsible for them. A great symbolic value for the little girl! Henri Fabre is very much like Paul Ricard. He is a Provençal entrepreneur, and most of all, he is a great humanist who carries within himself a contagious joie de vivre.
Julie decides to study biology and environment conservation. She is also a lady of honor of the Queen of Arles, Sabine Mistral.
Julie is fully fulfilled in the Parc des Alpilles where she deepens her experiences and raises awareness about nature conservation and sustainable tourism.
Later in 2009, she joins her parents and her sister in Salon de Provence’s family soap factory to continue her dearly missed grandpa’s great work.
Julie works hard for many years with the Union des Professionnels du Savon de Marseille to defend and promote the authentic savon de Marseille.
A beautiful story of passing on knowledge and passion. Just like the story of other women of Camargue and friends of Méjanes like Anne Clergue, Aurélie and Aude Raynaud, Martine Clément, Naïs Lesbros Queen of Arles and Amélie Emanuel, our rice ambassadress, Estelle Rouquette, Francine Yonnet and her daughter Charlotte, Danielle Valette, Annelyse Chevalier, Marie Noëlle Dupuis, Fabienne Martin, Anne and Laure Vadon, Elsa Guillot… and many others that will forgive us for not mentioning them.
A thought for the “child of Méjanes”, Josette Blanchet Amphoux, who left us not long ago. Another for the brilliant and passionate Florence Clauzel that fought really hard to preserve our traditions and the Fe di Biou !
Thank you, ladies. Our admiration and deepest affection go to you.
