Randall Stratton Memorial Fund
This spring, we are honored to announce the Randall Stratton Memorial Fund. Established with the Cinelli-Stratton Family as a way to forever pay tribute to Randall’s immeasurable contributions to Spannocchia, this fund will support projects that reflect our commitment to education and the environment on the historic Spannocchia estate.
The first such project will be improvements to Spannocchia’s filtration pond (the laghetto), including an oxygenator, solar pump, native aquatic plants and beneficial animals, and orchard irrigation equipment. Water is such an important resource, yet Italy struggles with drought, so these upgrades will maximize the use—and reuse—of the property’s water.
Spannocchia’s San Bernardino spring is fed by rainwater, which then gets utilized throughout the property: the gardens, all the farmhouses, and the Castello complex. The used water moves through the filtration system and into the pond where, finally, excess water from the pond trickles out into the woods. Chiara Stratton, Gardener at Spannocchia and Randall’s daughter, explains, “An oxygenator will allow for a more complete and diverse ecosystem. It will keep the water cleaner, so it can then host fish—which will keep mosquito numbers down by eating the larvae—and other aquatic life forms. We will also introduce more indigenous aquatic plants to help naturally oxygenate the water and create an ideal habitat for wildlife, including ducks (who will manage the duckweed!). The final element of this full-circle setup is a solar pump, which will recycle the lake water to irrigate our nearby fruit orchard, rather than letting it run off to the forest.”
This holistic plan, developed in partnership with Harvard Extension School sustainability classes that study at Spannocchia each year, offers broader agricultural benefits as well. The naturally nitrogen-rich vegetation around the pond can be harvested for use as green manure in the regenerative gardens. And, utilizing the lake water for irrigation will support more synergistic plants around the orchard–increasing biodiversity for pollinators and serving as natural insecticides for the trees.
As we move into a world that has more uncertain weather patterns, and where climate change wreaks havoc on our ecosystems, Spannocchia aims to lead by example in creating holistic environmental management systems. This project—as well as any future projects supported by this Memorial Fund—will showcase responsible land and water use, demonstrate innovative permaculture practices, and inspire and educate visitors about climate-conscious choices.
It was always Randall’s dream and driving force to see Spannocchia become more and more sustainable and self-sufficient. Please join us in honoring his memory today.
Note: To pay by check, please make checks payable to "Friends of Spannocchia" and add "Randall Memorial Fund" in the memo line. Mail to: PO Box 10531, Portland, ME 04104.
This spring, we are honored to announce the Randall Stratton Memorial Fund. Established with the Cinelli-Stratton Family as a way to forever pay tribute to Randall’s immeasurable contributions to Spannocchia, this fund will support projects that reflect our commitment to education and the environment on the historic Spannocchia estate.
The first such project will be improvements to Spannocchia’s filtration pond (the laghetto), including an oxygenator, solar pump, native aquatic plants and beneficial animals, and orchard irrigation equipment. Water is such an important resource, yet Italy struggles with drought, so these upgrades will maximize the use—and reuse—of the property’s water.
Spannocchia’s San Bernardino spring is fed by rainwater, which then gets utilized throughout the property: the gardens, all the farmhouses, and the Castello complex. The used water moves through the filtration system and into the pond where, finally, excess water from the pond trickles out into the woods. Chiara Stratton, Gardener at Spannocchia and Randall’s daughter, explains, “An oxygenator will allow for a more complete and diverse ecosystem. It will keep the water cleaner, so it can then host fish—which will keep mosquito numbers down by eating the larvae—and other aquatic life forms. We will also introduce more indigenous aquatic plants to help naturally oxygenate the water and create an ideal habitat for wildlife, including ducks (who will manage the duckweed!). The final element of this full-circle setup is a solar pump, which will recycle the lake water to irrigate our nearby fruit orchard, rather than letting it run off to the forest.”
This holistic plan, developed in partnership with Harvard Extension School sustainability classes that study at Spannocchia each year, offers broader agricultural benefits as well. The naturally nitrogen-rich vegetation around the pond can be harvested for use as green manure in the regenerative gardens. And, utilizing the lake water for irrigation will support more synergistic plants around the orchard–increasing biodiversity for pollinators and serving as natural insecticides for the trees.
As we move into a world that has more uncertain weather patterns, and where climate change wreaks havoc on our ecosystems, Spannocchia aims to lead by example in creating holistic environmental management systems. This project—as well as any future projects supported by this Memorial Fund—will showcase responsible land and water use, demonstrate innovative permaculture practices, and inspire and educate visitors about climate-conscious choices.
It was always Randall’s dream and driving force to see Spannocchia become more and more sustainable and self-sufficient. Please join us in honoring his memory today.
Note: To pay by check, please make checks payable to "Friends of Spannocchia" and add "Randall Memorial Fund" in the memo line. Mail to: PO Box 10531, Portland, ME 04104.