Environmental commitments

• Eco-friendly renovations and resolutions

Upon arriving in the village, having already been environmental activists in Alsace-Lorraine with several associations, our choice was to develop ecotourism in the Pyrénées-Orientales (PO) region, as well as a training center focused on attachment parenting and naturopathy . It felt like the obvious choice amidst this magnificent wild environment with its exceptional views of the mountains and the sea. So, in 2018, we launched our holiday rental business in the PO, with a primary focus on respecting nature, architecture, local crafts, and businesses, while remaining committed to quality and environmental responsibility.

• Interior renovations

Our priority has been to begin the interior renovation of this large Catalan farmhouse from the 1980s.We began by upgrading the insulation, replacing all doors and windows with double-glazed aluminum frames , and insulating the attic with rock wool. We also completely repainted and modernized the building. To save energy, we installed 18 photovoltaic solar panels on our large south-facing terrace, along with an ambient air heat pump water heater and low-noise, low-consumption reversible air conditioners. For water conservation and quality, we installed several rainwater harvesting systems, converted our large swimming pool to a salt system (which also serves as a fire reserve), and improved the roof waterproofing and the transformation of our rooftop terrace into a solarium with synthetic turf (using recycled plastic certified for 15 years). This is lighter, more economical, and ultimately more environmentally friendly, considering the weight, cost, and especially the need for continuous watering required for a green roof in the South of France. This ultimately created better thermal insulation by preventing both humidity and energy loss in winter and heat buildup in summer. We then installed Aragon-SR Geyser water purifiers (carbon filters) on each kitchen tap due to the increased use of chemical chlorine by health authorities throughout Europe during tourist seasons and the risk of nanoparticle deposits in municipal and rural water supplies. Although, thankfully, the water at the foot of the high Pyrenees mountains is still quite pure!

• Interior and exterior fittings

For the interior and exterior design, we favoured wood, avoiding electrostatic plastic and toxic metals as much as possible. We have selected, as much as possible, energy-efficient appliances and natural materials such as cork and bamboo, chosen French and/or local companies as partners, and above all, prioritized reuse and recycling. At Mas Natura, we use no toxic household products (we provide our own Ecocert-certified ones), and no plastic cups, bottles, or straws, even though we understand that our guests may bring some back from their travels. Recycling is done in our bins at the entrance, etc. For coffee machines, we favor those with paper filters or non-metallic refills, and our barbecue grills run on natural gas. The rest is electric, thanks to our local electricity provider , LLUM ENERGIA CATALANE in Céret, but especially thanks to our 18 solar panels. We also maintain Wi-Fi with routers for everyone's convenience (we turn it off just after midnight).

Finally, we are currently still continuing with the landscaping.ecological of our garden, orchard and vegetable garden in permaculture (zero pesticides since everything is weeded by hand or machine), the rehabilitation below a large orchard on our 2-hectare property and the enlargement of the terraces and balconies and the fitting out of a recycled second-hand SPA to give it a second life.

Thus, in a consistent manner, we offer at Mas Natura a space for well-being and rejuvenation in the heart of nature, which can only go hand in hand with the reduction of waste and recycling, noise, visual and electromagnetic pollution, in addition to the revitalizing contact with wood, salt, water and sun during your stay here.

Addresses of our favorite environmental associations

Association DANS LES BRAS (co-founding president since 2008) for respectful birth, breastfeeding at the source and proximal parenting (babywearing and massage, Elimination Communication, Nonviolent Communication...) with respect for the environment: https://www.danslesbras.org

AVENIR 57 Association (members since 2002) focuses on the biodynamics of housing, the well-being of its inhabitants, and the quality of our food and environment: https://association-avenir.webador.fr

The Le Vent Tourne collective (members since 2019) opposes wind turbines polluting the Pyrénées-Orientales and beyond: https://www.le-vent-tourne66.com

Robin des Toits Association (members since 2020) against electromagnetic waves from electricity and 5G telecommunications pylons or other toxic PLC meters (such as Linky, Gazpar, or water meters, etc.): https://www.robindestoits.org