A quality of today’s world—both a blessing and a challenge—is its complexity. A few months back we noted the book on sharecropping life in Tuscany (Pietro’s Book), an archaic world just two generations away from us. The simplicity of those times has been replaced with complicated instruments and a frenetic pace. Just reading through a newspaper one could ask if the man-made forces dictating our days are well beyond our control: consumption, globalization, computerization, conflict. Of course one can also be filled with awe and appreciation for just how well things seem to function.
Despite the use of internet, the advanced norms we follow as a guesthouse, the international movement and other complexities of our work, Casa Cares is definitely slow. Sometimes we wonder if we are so slow that we are left behind. Then other times we are pleased that this is the case. We know many persons and organizations who have chosen to live slowly. The basic idea is that a slow pace is physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthier, in various ways in harmony with what is positive in our world. Worth a discussion, for sure!
Here is a presentation of some slow elements of the Casa Cares world, often not far from the basics of existence:
* Food production – With hundreds of olive and other fruit trees, the vegetable garden, and the harvest of spontaneous products we are at the start of the food line. The consequence include meals relatively free of processed foods and a sensitivity to and respect for farm production.
* Historic setting – Both the rural context and the famous historical sites permit us insights into life as it was just a short time ago with its prevalent values.
* Heating – Our central heating in the villa remains dependent on oil, expensive and arriving from many kilometres away. The heating in the staff quarters instead makes us very aware of the work involved in cutting wood and preparing fires as it’s been done forever.
* Water – Ours comes straight from the hills above, well, almost straight. The local township of Reggello is responsible for water quality and delivery. If it is missing in the hills, it is missing here. Once used, our water is cleaned in a natural plant filtration system. Originally the villa depended upon a well, perhaps many years ago outside the villa and now accessible from the wine cellar. We use that source for drip irrigation in our vegetable garden. Water is essential and precious. We easily forget that supplying it is very a very complex service.
* Electricity – The good part of our electricity we produce ourselves thanks to the photovoltaic solar panels, which we able to install last year using public financing.
* Laundry – Our sheets and pillowcases come from an industrial laundry, but all personal and other items are washed here. Drying becomes complicated only when we have a series of rainy days!
Despite the use of internet, the advanced norms we follow as a guesthouse, the international movement and other complexities of our work, Casa Cares is definitely slow. Sometimes we wonder if we are so slow that we are left behind. Then other times we are pleased that this is the case. We know many persons and organizations who have chosen to live slowly. The basic idea is that a slow pace is physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthier, in various ways in harmony with what is positive in our world. Worth a discussion, for sure!
Here is a presentation of some slow elements of the Casa Cares world, often not far from the basics of existence:
* Food production – With hundreds of olive and other fruit trees, the vegetable garden, and the harvest of spontaneous products we are at the start of the food line. The consequence include meals relatively free of processed foods and a sensitivity to and respect for farm production.
* Historic setting – Both the rural context and the famous historical sites permit us insights into life as it was just a short time ago with its prevalent values.
* Heating – Our central heating in the villa remains dependent on oil, expensive and arriving from many kilometres away. The heating in the staff quarters instead makes us very aware of the work involved in cutting wood and preparing fires as it’s been done forever.
* Water – Ours comes straight from the hills above, well, almost straight. The local township of Reggello is responsible for water quality and delivery. If it is missing in the hills, it is missing here. Once used, our water is cleaned in a natural plant filtration system. Originally the villa depended upon a well, perhaps many years ago outside the villa and now accessible from the wine cellar. We use that source for drip irrigation in our vegetable garden. Water is essential and precious. We easily forget that supplying it is very a very complex service.
* Electricity – The good part of our electricity we produce ourselves thanks to the photovoltaic solar panels, which we able to install last year using public financing.
* Laundry – Our sheets and pillowcases come from an industrial laundry, but all personal and other items are washed here. Drying becomes complicated only when we have a series of rainy days!
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