Life on a Tuscan Farm

And just like that, the new interns arrive! After a week sans interns, Spannocchia welcomed the new group of eight with open arms. There was much waiting to be done for Cashel, Kat, Karla, Annie, John, Pearce, Jess and Nick upon arrival. Not only is the Castello filled to the brim with program participants keeping Guest Services Intern Jess on her toes, but the first vitellone (2 year old cow) of the season arrived! This meant a big day in the transformation kitchen for Kat, John and volunteer Hannah butchering, grinding and packaging meat for the upcoming season. Our vines are also looking beautiful and lush which means that Cashel and Pearce have their work cut out for them in the vineyards tying, pruning and weeding. Annie and Karla spent their first full work day harvesting and shelling the first peas of the season which everyone thanks them for profusely! Nick jumped right into animal chores by participating in the annual shearing of the sheep; rumor has it he did not escape unscathed. Of course, all work and no play…you know the saying. The new team kicked off good times with a big Pizza Night (50 people) followed by a massive bread-baking effort in the still (too) hot pizza oven which, not surprisingly, ended in some rather charred loafs. Next time will be better. And a next time there certainly will be as the group has taken on weekly bread baking and yoghurt making responsibilities. It’s going to be a good summer…

A presto!

PS want to find out what we’re doing minute by minute (or perhas day by day)? Follow us on Twitter! www.twitter.com/Spannocchia

Spannocchia said goodbye to the Spring 2009 intern group last week, just as the weather starts to really heat up. The last few weeks were busier than ever and introduced plenty of new chores to the team. There was tons of weeding in the vineyards, watering in the gardens, pig wrangling and the first haying of the season. The Castello is alive with activity, including the first of 2009 programs and lots of wonderful guests. Luckily, there was time to relax by the newly opened pool and take a final field trip to the beach where interns swam, biked and savored the day.

While it was terribly sad to see them go, it was truly a pleasure to have had such a hard working, dedicated, fun group on the farm for the past three months. They, like all Spannocchia interns, will always be a part of the Spannocchia family. To Alexis, Alison, Kacey, Kate, Anne, Tyler, Greg and Max: thank you for making Spannocchia the very special place that it is and come back soon. And now, some highlights from spring 2009…

A presto!