Taste The Earth

Location: San Biagio della Valle, Umbria, Italy

In other words: Just south of Perugia

When describing old Italian farms and their surrounding countryside, it's terribly tempting to use quaint, picturesque descriptions, words that connote comfort and familiarity. "Nestled" is one of those words. And as much as we'd like a description of the unique, historical farmland of Torre Colombaia to deviate from the norm, it's just too hard. Torre Colombaia really is a quaint, picturesque Umbrian farm, nestled among ancient forests, fields, meadows, ponds, and 14th-century hunting lodges that Napolean had once confiscated for his own. This countryside is the reason Torre Colombia has become a popular Agritourism spot. They call themselves both a "Holidays Farm" and an "Organic Farm".

Alfredo Fassola is the man in-charge of this Holidays/Organic Farm. He inherited the land in 1987 while living in Rome as a peace activist, demonstrating outside nuclear power plants. Through the gift, he discovered the opportunity to do something grounded and ideal. He could save 320 acres from agricultural pollution.

At first, the transition was difficult. "I had too many ideals and too little economics," Alfredo tells us. So he learned what he could about farming from his brother and other technicians in Umbria. But what he really wanted, he had to learn on his own: Organic growing methods. "My brother thinks I'm crazy with my organic ideals. But it's okay." Despite some criticism, the sustainable threshhold of the farm is expanding. Just recently they installed a 20 kilowatt solar power system that powers their refrigeration units, mill, and press.

Today, two hundred acres of the farm remains uncultivated woodland. One hundred and twenty are allocated for agriculture with sunflowers, lentils, and flax, and other kinds of grains (varieties of wheat, barley, millet, spelt, manitoba).  From their harvest, he and seven other employees produce some of Taste the Earth's finest organically-grown products: Slow-roasted Barley Coffee (coming soon), ancient Farro, the progenitor of our modern wheat, and cold-pressed Sunflower Oil.

Alredo's success in creating vacation lodging at the farm (known in Italy as an Agritourismo) is generating quite a level of praise here in the U.S. He says next year he'll participate in a farmer-exchange, where he'll travel to California to learn more about CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) while another farmer will go back with him to Umbria to learn about Agritourismi. He believes both sides will gain much insight.

What the USA farmer will find in Umbria is the same scene at which tourists marvel: A farm that boasts a 360-degree view of rolling countryside. No buildings and definitely no nuclear power plants. Just an ecological oasis of provincial proportions that can't help but nestle.

In more words: Feel free to settle into the environment of Torre Colombaia, a combination of farm and forest. Let the tranquility roll over you.  If you can't be there in person, try one of their products and taste the earth it represents.