At the end of November we finished three weeks of olive picking. With an average of 10 pickers per day, most with room and board, one wonders whether if it was worth it. Even a near record harvest of 4000 kg (600 kg or 660 liters of oil) is not enough to make the long and demanding process financially profitable. Why bother?
Solar panels, producing electricity for our use and a surplus to sell into the national grid, have been working since March. We received public financing of Euro 120,000 for this project. We hope to be able to repay this amount in 12-14 years. But when we consider the effort involved in the project and our own investment of about Euro 15,000, we again ask, “Why bother?”
In the meeting with our board, made up of 7 members nominated by the Waldensian Church, we ask such questions about olives and solar panels and try to consider the return. We have to look at the bottom line in the economical analysis, but fortunately we also recognize other forms of return. Whether with olives, solar energy, or several other elements of our life in this old farm-turned-guest-house, we sort through our values to understand why we invest ourselves and our personal and psychic energy and our financial resources in such projects.
For the olives we acknowledge what the past has given us. More than 500 olive trees on a terraced hillside is a gift to be cherished and nurtured. The work, so demanding of time and energy, is also a chance for healthy movement, fresh air and contact with a beautiful natural world. And the oil, considered to be among the finest anywhere, is the most obvious plus. We dose it out to ourselves parsimoniously and sell most of it to our friends and guests to give us some income to meet expenses of caring for the land.
In the case of solar energy, we look to the future rather than to the past. The public financing seemed an opportunity we should not pass up. Our good fortune continued in finding a qualified and experienced engineer to lead the project, a person essential to its success. The realization of the installation besides money demanded time and energy. At times there was frustration and discouragement, but we take seriously the call to think of future generations and we believe this is a practical step in that direction.
Why bother? It is a luxury to get beyond material values. All return considered, these projects—olive and solar panels—make good sense.
In November we hosted our last groups of the year, one from the European University in Florence and one of study for Waldensian, Methodist and Baptist pastors. The empty villa is a bit sad, like any empty guest house, but the quiet weeks ahead will give us the chance we have each winter to repair and refresh the facility. It is also the chance to renew ourselves to find the energy and enthusiasm for the coming season.
The year 2009 for us as for many others was a down year for overnights but 2010 reservations promise well. Perhaps, after the first impact of the global financial crisis, people are again planning their travels and meetings.
We are pleased with an apparent increase of school groups wanting to use Casa Cares. If anyone is interested, please let us know.
We also ask our friends to spread the word that from 10-17 April there are still places for a Tuscan (plus Assisi and Venice!) accompanied tour in English. It is a real bargain at about €650 ($950) for 7 days the tour with room and half board (breakfast and evening meal). We have been doing these tours for several years now and the participants have always expressed enthusiasm. We can send you the details.
Solar panels, producing electricity for our use and a surplus to sell into the national grid, have been working since March. We received public financing of Euro 120,000 for this project. We hope to be able to repay this amount in 12-14 years. But when we consider the effort involved in the project and our own investment of about Euro 15,000, we again ask, “Why bother?”
In the meeting with our board, made up of 7 members nominated by the Waldensian Church, we ask such questions about olives and solar panels and try to consider the return. We have to look at the bottom line in the economical analysis, but fortunately we also recognize other forms of return. Whether with olives, solar energy, or several other elements of our life in this old farm-turned-guest-house, we sort through our values to understand why we invest ourselves and our personal and psychic energy and our financial resources in such projects.
For the olives we acknowledge what the past has given us. More than 500 olive trees on a terraced hillside is a gift to be cherished and nurtured. The work, so demanding of time and energy, is also a chance for healthy movement, fresh air and contact with a beautiful natural world. And the oil, considered to be among the finest anywhere, is the most obvious plus. We dose it out to ourselves parsimoniously and sell most of it to our friends and guests to give us some income to meet expenses of caring for the land.
In the case of solar energy, we look to the future rather than to the past. The public financing seemed an opportunity we should not pass up. Our good fortune continued in finding a qualified and experienced engineer to lead the project, a person essential to its success. The realization of the installation besides money demanded time and energy. At times there was frustration and discouragement, but we take seriously the call to think of future generations and we believe this is a practical step in that direction.
Why bother? It is a luxury to get beyond material values. All return considered, these projects—olive and solar panels—make good sense.
In November we hosted our last groups of the year, one from the European University in Florence and one of study for Waldensian, Methodist and Baptist pastors. The empty villa is a bit sad, like any empty guest house, but the quiet weeks ahead will give us the chance we have each winter to repair and refresh the facility. It is also the chance to renew ourselves to find the energy and enthusiasm for the coming season.
The year 2009 for us as for many others was a down year for overnights but 2010 reservations promise well. Perhaps, after the first impact of the global financial crisis, people are again planning their travels and meetings.
We are pleased with an apparent increase of school groups wanting to use Casa Cares. If anyone is interested, please let us know.
We also ask our friends to spread the word that from 10-17 April there are still places for a Tuscan (plus Assisi and Venice!) accompanied tour in English. It is a real bargain at about €650 ($950) for 7 days the tour with room and half board (breakfast and evening meal). We have been doing these tours for several years now and the participants have always expressed enthusiasm. We can send you the details.
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