┐ Léonie Hampton └

© Léonie Hampton, Untitled, from the series Autonomy, the Cariou Family – France

© Léonie Hampton, Untitled, from the series Autonomy, the Cariou Family – France

The Cariou family Live an autonomous life in Provence. Faced with the huge cost of property in their area they were fortunate to buy a small olive grove in which they have designed and built their home. Their goal is to move as far as possible from the use of non-renewable fuel. They get enough electricity from a 140-watt solar panel to provide them with light and music throughout the year. A pump draws water from the river to a tank. In winter they use solar energy to heat the water, as the river is too cold and the current too strong for bathing.
“The state puts everything into ones hands but one must always work to sustain that materialistic way of life. Money serves to make the system function and people become slaves to it.”
They want to have as little to do with this system as possible. Yanick sustains the family with his earnings from olive, apricot and lavender farming. 
They do not have neighbours.
“It is our choice to live unseen. It is not easy to live in a different way with others watching. No neighbours, no worries. Maybe one day we will have problems but we will find ways. To take the decision to live in this way is a form of combat against modern materialistic life. And we will fight for that decision.”

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