by Ariane Lotti | Nov 26, 2017 | Featured, Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
It was a big week for fall planting, with the majority of the fall-planted crops going into the ground. I’ve written before about the challenges around a successful planting season – from weather uncertainty, to seed issues, to tractor and equipment problems. It is a...
by Ariane Lotti | Nov 12, 2017 | Agricultural Policy, Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
At Tenuta San Carlo, we’re constantly working to become a more sustainable farm. On a day-to-day basis, the decisions about how we grow our plants and raise our animals may seem small, but we’re taking action to build a better future. In October, we were recognized...
by Ariane Lotti | Nov 5, 2017 | History, Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
A farmer’s day is filled with incredible stories – stories about life and death, success and failure, tradition and innovation, miracles and disasters that most people will never experience firsthand. At Tenuta San Carlo we’ve had our share of these...
by Ariane Lotti | Oct 27, 2017 | Featured, Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
A farmer’s job is never done, but when one season ends and another begins, it’s time to celebrate! This past weekend, we did just that by throwing a Harvest Party at Tenuta San Carlo with fellow farmers and friends to celebrate the fact that we have finally finished...
by Ariane Lotti | Oct 15, 2017 | Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
With the arrival of fall, we’ve had some tremendous sunrises in the past week. There is a special light here in Maremma – a light that gives the landscape a hue of pink that can captivate. During the summer, the light softens with the heat and the long days. As the...
by Ariane Lotti | Oct 8, 2017 | Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
The voyage that most food makes to get from a field to your plate is usually long and complex. I spend most of my time writing about the field – how I grow rice, the importance of crop rotations and cover crops, what it means to transition to organic production. I’ve...