In Delémont, gardeners cultivate solidarity and beans for nearly 40 years

In the year 2086, the Swiss city of Delémont faces a stark reality shaped by climate and political collapse. Vegetables are traded illicitly, and citizens must pedal to generate electricity in a world where resources have become critically scarce. This dystopian future is governed by the "Helvetic Empire," an authoritarian regime that enforces regional monoculture, assigning specific crops to each area.

Delémont, the capital of the Jura region, is designated to cultivate only beans. Consequently, "fayots" (beans) are consumed in every conceivable dish. This enforced specialization contrasts sharply with the activities of the "Confrérie des Jardiniers" (Brotherhood of Gardeners), an organization that, for nearly forty years, has been cultivating not only beans but also solidarity within the community.

The narrative opens with a scene of clandestine trade, where two figures, shrouded in twilight, offer carrots to a potential buyer. This highlights the underground economy and the value placed on even common produce in this future. The broader Swiss population is affected, with regions like Valais growing turnips and Graubünden cultivating onions, all under the Empire's strict agricultural directives.

This fictionalized account, set in Delémont's Gare Sud district, once an industrial wasteland, explores themes of resilience and community in the face of societal breakdown and authoritarian control. The "Brotherhood of Gardeners" appears to be a beacon of cooperation and shared purpose in a fragmented world.