The move of Casa Cares Children’s Home to Reggello in 1971 was one of necessity without any thought given to farming in an area known for top quality olive oil. We knew very little about extra virgin, virgin, etc. There are several categories of olive oil and many varieties. By chance and by effort today we are able to produce a highly regarded organic extra virgin oil.
But the 100% olive oil of the heading of this month’s note has to do with the full immersion in the olive harvest again this year. Once the harvest starts, usually the middle Monday of November, it gets 100% of our attention. Only the rainy days break into the 3-4 week rhythm giving everyone a chance to relax a moment or to catch up on things like welcoming guests, office work, and maintenance. Perhaps we are fortunate that the day’s picking does not begin before 8:30am (too wet) nor finish after 5pm (too dark), because that’s enough stretching for one day! But the task is not overly taxing physically and when the weather is good, it can be a joy to be up in a tree at 500 meters over the Arno River Valley with good company all around.
Farm life in most countries is diminishing as migration to the cities is going forward rapidly. In Italy 50% of the population lived in the city in 1950, now we are at 70% and the trend promises to continue. Or maybe we should say “threatens” to continue. Of course this could make for an interesting debate, but there are some negative consequences of the abandoning of the countryside, such as more and more persons losing contact with the land, with the natural world, and with food production. Always more persons are dependent on fewer to provide food. One could conclude that farmers are in an ideal position to take advantage of a sellers’ market, but was there ever a time when farmers were at the top of the heap?
Many of our guests appreciate just this aspect of our life, a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to the peace of the countryside, its green, and its fresh air.
But the 100% olive oil of the heading of this month’s note has to do with the full immersion in the olive harvest again this year. Once the harvest starts, usually the middle Monday of November, it gets 100% of our attention. Only the rainy days break into the 3-4 week rhythm giving everyone a chance to relax a moment or to catch up on things like welcoming guests, office work, and maintenance. Perhaps we are fortunate that the day’s picking does not begin before 8:30am (too wet) nor finish after 5pm (too dark), because that’s enough stretching for one day! But the task is not overly taxing physically and when the weather is good, it can be a joy to be up in a tree at 500 meters over the Arno River Valley with good company all around.
Farm life in most countries is diminishing as migration to the cities is going forward rapidly. In Italy 50% of the population lived in the city in 1950, now we are at 70% and the trend promises to continue. Or maybe we should say “threatens” to continue. Of course this could make for an interesting debate, but there are some negative consequences of the abandoning of the countryside, such as more and more persons losing contact with the land, with the natural world, and with food production. Always more persons are dependent on fewer to provide food. One could conclude that farmers are in an ideal position to take advantage of a sellers’ market, but was there ever a time when farmers were at the top of the heap?
Many of our guests appreciate just this aspect of our life, a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to the peace of the countryside, its green, and its fresh air.
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