Starting in 1965, before the “back to the land” movement of the 1970s, Claudie and Francis Hunzinger, both city dwellers, chose to settle in a Vosges sheepfold with a flock of sheep. They quickly turned their attention to working with wool. The seasons passed dyeing the fleeces of the sheep with the plants around them, then weaving rugs, cushions, sweaters, and object-poems, far from any artisanal know-how. Bambois, La vie verte, published in 1973, describes a daily life that is both harsh and carefree, echoing the aspirations of the time, and quickly finding a wide readership.
Reading Bambois today, the first narrative of a work focusing on the forest, the relationship with places and animals, is to return to the sources of Claudie Hunzinger’s inspiration. Out of print for many years, this title is the first in a brand new collection, "Radeau", which aims to showcase do-it-yourself life experiences on the fringes of consumer society.
