A committed player in the region for over fifteen years, ACJCA – Jardins Vivants (Association of Friends of Composting and Gardening in Central Alsace) develops an approach to gardening that respects nature, based on transmission, sharing and conviviality.
A story rooted in green waste management
The association originated in 2004, in partnership with the SMICTOM of Central Alsace. At that time, the main objective was the reduction of green waste and the promotion of home composting.
Over the years, the approach has evolved. From simply raising awareness about composting, the association has broadened its scope to encompass all natural gardening practices. In December 2009, the "Living Gardens" initiative marked a significant step in this evolution.
Today, the partnership with SMICTOM continues within a structured and complementary framework, allowing the association to develop training, animation and consulting activities throughout Central Alsace.
A clear mission: to garden differently
The ACJCA promotes gardening based on several essential principles:
- Knowledge of the soil, climate and local characteristics
- Preserving water resources
- The development of plant and animal biodiversity
- The ban on pesticides
- The recovery of organic waste
The goal is to encourage practices accessible to all, allowing people to "make do with what they have on hand" and to adapt their garden to the realities of the territory.
The association now has 161 members, including 54 active volunteers involved in organizing events, running stands and passing on know-how.
In April 2024, its board of directors expanded from nine to fifteen members to include more local representatives and facilitators from the various "Living Gardens" spaces. This evolution reflects the structuring and progressive development of the association.
The Natural Garden Guides Network
One of the major focuses of ACJCA is the "Natural Garden Guide" training program, launched in 2012.
Over the course of eleven modules, aspiring gardeners will progress, through the seasons, from classroom to garden. From theory to practice, they will discover, alongside our members, the choices of a living garden.
At the end of the course, participants are able to apply these principles in their own garden and advise other residents.
With the arrangements for the 2026/2027 session having just been validated, registration will be open on the ACJCA Jardins Vivants website in the coming days.
At the end of this fifteenth graduating class, the association will boast of having trained more than 300 Natural Garden Guides in central Alsace. The sessions, limited to twenty participants, are regularly fully booked.
A strong involvement in the Villé Valley
Although the association operates in nearly 90 municipalities in Central Alsace, more than half of its volunteers come from the Villé Valley. A quarter of them are originally from there; the others have chosen to settle there.
The core group is made up of dedicated retirees, but the dynamic is gradually evolving with the arrival of younger volunteers. Mentoring and social media are now contributing to the renewal of membership.
The meetings are held mainly in the valley, either at the president's house or in community halls, depending on the number of participants.
A packed program of events open to the public
Each year, the ACJCA offers more than twenty events: garden visits, conferences, practical workshops, training sessions and stands at local events.
Among the upcoming highlights:
- Pruning and sowing workshops
- Presence at the Graft Exchange in partnership with the arborists of our valley
- Barter plants
- Workshops on biodiversity and permaculture
- Discovery outings, particularly to Aubure or the Ried
- Participation in the Bassemberg Spring Festival
- Evenings dedicated to wild plants in the Villé Valley
A major event is also being organized:
The Living Gardens Festival on May 10, 2026 in Thanvillé (Lilaveronica site)
This day will feature fourteen stands covering a variety of themes: from seed to tomato, water management in the garden, wild plants, beneficial insects, cooking, nature games, workshops, and activities. In addition to the partners from the first edition, this year will see the arrival of several new partner associations.
Entry is free, with light refreshments available on site.
Concrete actions for the territory
Beyond the events, the association develops practical initiatives:
- The implementation of a shared shredding service to recycle green waste directly at residents' homes
- The sale of hedgehog shelters, nesting boxes, insect hotels and other equipment promoting biodiversity
These actions help to strengthen the autonomy of gardeners and to limit the amount of waste sent to landfills.
An environmental and social impact
ACJCA actively participates in:
- Reducing organic waste
- Biodiversity protection
- Preserving water quality
- The intergenerational transmission of knowledge
- Maintaining social ties in rural areas
In a context where environmental issues are central, the association provides local and concrete solutions, adapted to the specific characteristics of the territory, particularly the characteristics of the soils and orchards of the Villé Valley.
A dynamic that continues
Always looking for volunteers to help organize events and staff the stands, ACJCA continues its development and is gradually strengthening its network.