Spring is a time of birth on the farm. Over the last few weeks we have had dozens of new piglets arrive, as well as lambs, a calf, and the newest arrival: a long awaited baby donkey! Here are two photos by Paul Avis, one of piglets racing and the second of mother and baby donkey (she is just over one week old and already so big.). A presto!
On Saturday, May 3rd Erin Cinelli and Ben Slayton were married at Spannocchia in a beautiful ceremony in the villa garden. Around 100 guests were present to witness the exchanging of vows and then to enjoy antipasti and drinks on the villa lawn followed by the wedding dinner. The party lasted late into the night with traditional Tuscan music and dancing enjoyed by all. Congratulations to the happy couple! A presto!
Yesterday (the first of May) we celebrated Primo Maggio at Spannocchia. The celebration featured Tuscan folk songs and dancing and drew a crowd of over 100! The musicians sang a special song for the bride, Erin, who will be getting married on Saturday at Spannocchia!
The buffet featured Spannocchia’s organic products including Cinta Senese salumi products, red and white wine and organic raw-milk pecorino from nearby Podere Campriano farm.
On Thursday, Alice and Justin, two intern alumni who met at Spannocchia during the Spring 2005 Internship Program, were married in Siena. The ceremony was held in the Siena town hall in front of over 40 of their family and friends, including most of the interns from their group. The party continued with a meal at the Grillo Morro restaurant in Sovicille and finished at Spannocchia with Tuscan dancing and music with Riccio’s band, a traditional Italian wedding cake and wine. Congratulations to the happy couple! A presto!
Over the past week, if you were lucky enough to take a walk in the Spannocchia woods, you might have come across a very interesting project to make wood charcoal! Rusty Lamer, Spannocchia’s Intern Program Director from 2002/2003 came back this spring, after completing his master’s degree in Landscape Architecture at UC Berkeley, to bring to life an important aspect of Spannocchia’s past.
Spannocchia’s forest was once a prime location for carbonaia (piles created for the production of wood charcoal). The charcoal is made by creating a huge wood pile and covering and packing it with soil and then tending to it while it burns for two days in an oxygen-depleted environment. Rusty was helped by a local charcoal expert named Rodolfo, who came to Spannocchia each day to help create the pile and monitor the process.
The charcoal can then be used in barbeques or for creating art (as in charcoal pencils). Rusty will remain at Spannocchia for another few weeks to complete an art project using the charcoal he created. A presto!
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