by Ariane Lotti | Jun 2, 2017 | Agricultural Policy, Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
To outsiders, farming can seem like a solitary profession. Farming conjures up images of a farmer, alone in a tractor, out in the field. While sometimes I am out alone in a field, the truth is that it is impossible to farm alone. Successful farming requires networks...
by Ariane Lotti | May 26, 2017 | Italy, Organic Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
It’s been one crazy week here on the farm between problems with rice germination, a fire in one of our fields (it was put out before too much damage!), and having to take the written exam for my Italian license…. So! We focus on some of our best #FarmFriendsFriday...
by Ariane Lotti | May 20, 2017 | Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
After months of planning and preparation, we planted the majority of our rice this week. This year we are planting four varieties, two of which are excellent for making risotto. The selection of varieties requires weighing a series of factors, including...
by Ariane Lotti | May 13, 2017 | Agricultural Policy, Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
This week President Obama gave a wide-ranging speech on food and agriculture in Milan at Seeds and Chips: The Global Food Innovation Summit. I was fortunate enough to receive a ticket to attend, and I was extraordinarily lucky to have the opportunity to meet him...
by Ariane Lotti | May 6, 2017 | Eat What You Grow, Italy, Organic Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
How does rice get from our fields to your plate? If you’re like me and you’re fascinated by how things work, then learning about what happens behind the scenes is just as interesting as the show itself. I wish I could tell you that the rice we grow goes straight from...
by Ariane Lotti | Apr 22, 2017 | Italy, Organic Farming, Sustainable Farming, The Weekly Dirt, Tuscany
I am an Italian farmer. Officially. Actually, I am technically an imprenditore agricolo a titolo professionale – a “professional agricultural entrepreneur.” Italy has nationally recognized professional titles for farmers, and attaining one of those titles was – as...
