All of our nature walks begin at our local train station called ‘Sieci’. You can take a regional train from the Central Train Station in Florence (called ‘Santa Maria Novella’) to Sieci.

Long walk: The longest walk we offer is 4 hours by foot, where we walk the ring Monteloro in the woods.

Medium walk: We offer a medium length walk in the woods which is a total of 3 hours.

Short walk: Our shortest walk is 40 minutes in length.

HAVE LUNCH ON THE FARM: FRESH, SEASONAL, ORGANIC FOODS

Visitors who come in the afternoon can choose from the following workshops depending on the season:

• basketmaking
• chair making
• aromatherapy and aromatic herbs
• preparing homemade pasta
• cheese making
• natural soap making
• constructing wooden bird houses
• art making with wild flowers
• photography
• watercolor painting of Tuscan landscapes

Participant minimum 10 people / maximum 20 people

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Our farm allows for this direct contact with a real working farm and we want to provide a service of public education to others…

The outline:

Our educational and agricultural activities on farm are part of our ‘agriturismo’ but can also can be independent. Since 1998 several administrations in Italy have created regional organizations in order to register and qualify agricultural education offered by farms like ours.
The 4 H Club is a movement born in the United States in the early 1900’s and stands for Head, Health, Heart, Hand.  This summarizes the club’s objective: harmonious development of the individual through the head, health, heart and hands.
Even today, after more than 100 years after its creation, The 4 H Club is meant to help educate youth, farm workers and visitors.

The educational courses are generally organized and implemented according to the participants, such the world of education, various community and business associations, consumers, tourists or other special interested groups. Anyone can perceive when humans live in harmony with biological and ecological systems.  For example, on the farm we have the cultivated field, the company or farm itself, the land or property we steward, and the larger ecosystem of which we are part. To date, the involvement of young people is essential for us. It’s essential that our children understand the agricultural environment, the origins of the food we eat, animal life, the life of the farmer and hopefully are able to discover the importance of a job often overlooked and sometimes despised.

The offer:

We offer a variety of ways you can participate in farm education. Come and visit the farm to understand the various stages of the production cycle of each product or breed that we cultivate. In order to fully realize and illustrate these production cycles, we offer workshops where participants directly participate in them. For example, our bread-making workshop where participants make different types of bread. In the first part of the workshop the goal is to make bread in a slow and natural way. In the second part of the workshop, the goal is to distinguish which bread is which according to your senses. In our cheese-making workshop, we begin by feeding the animals, taking care of animals in the barn, milking the cows or goats, making a fresh ‘caciotta’ cheese and we finish with a cheese tasting.

These are just a few examples, but many other educational opportunities await: farm holidays, farm birthdays, Sunday on the farm, pet therapy, parties for parents and children and so on.

Our Farm:

The Olive Garden Farm was born from our love of animals, nature and the desire to live in the country. One way realize this dream of living close to nature, if you’re lucky enough to live in the country, is to keep both your home and everything around it by finding a way to be economically sustainable which is also ecologically sustainable (because for a process to be sustainable it must use natural resources at a rate such that they can be naturally regenerated). To realize this dream, it requires enormous sacrifices in terms of money, resources and labor. In honesty, this sacrifice, effort and commitment is required to realize any dream, not only in the countryside.

OUR DREAM IS TO OPEN AN EDUCATIONAL FARM IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND LIVESTOCK ARE A WAY OF LIFE, AND WHERE THE YOUNG, OLD OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN OUR VISION, CAN BE TRAINED AND INFORMED ON HOW TO PURSUE THIS WAY OF LIFE.

Here in our Farm we offer a detailed farm visit complete with an explanation of our working methods and you are invited to participate in our workshops, such as: Extra virgin olive oil production, Tuscan wine production (Sangiovese, Cabernet and Malvasia), worm farming, lavender cultivation, herb collection, breeding of cashmere goats, cheese production, making olive oil soap, lavender sachets, chalk, handmade lavender essence, caring for ponies and donkeys, etc. all serving the purpose of stimulating a relationship between our visitors and the environment/animals involved.

WE ENCOURAGE OUR PARTICIPANTS TO PURSUE A DAY OF PERSONAL GROWTH AS THEY TAKE IN A GOOD DOSE OF NATURE, RELAX AND DIRECTLY PARTICIPATION IN THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES WE OFFER.

And finally we would like to conclude by sharing the words of Victor G. Bassan:

“NATURE IS AN OPEN BOOK, BUT AN OPEN BOOK THAT YOU CAN’T READ CLOSED INSIDE A ROOM.“

Text written by Lara Fornai, taken from  www.agriturismointoscana.com

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The organic Farm Fattoria dell’Orto degli Ulivi invites you to join in a unique tour in the beautiful Florentine countryside a few kilometers from Florence.

Fattoria dell’orto degli Ulivi dates back to the year 1200 and is nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside. In the Farm you will find vineyards, olive groves, farm animals grazing, extensive forests and a lovely refreshing pool. The farm is run by a loving and welcoming family: Antonio, Lara, Rocco, Sofia and Matilde. Their goal is to make their guests feel as if they were at home.

CASTLE VOLOGNANO 

Castle Volognano dates back to the eleventh century. It was built in the age of Lombard for the purposes of defence. High on a hill with a vast panorama it was an advantageous position for observation of the surrounding territories.

Since the times of Dante and Petrarch, Castle Volognano has welcomed many illustrious characters, including more recent visits by Gioacchino Rossini, Carducci, and Enrico Fermi.

The Castle is located in the heart of Chianti Colli Fiorentini just two steps from Florence and sits at an altitude of about 400 meters.  The property consists of about 200 acres, mostly vineyards and olive groves, which completely surround the castle. In order to preserve the local heritage, cultivation of vineyards is encouraged with a particular focus on “native” grapes that enhance the wines, such as Sangiovese, Colorino, Canaiolo, Malvasia and Trebbiano Toscano. These native vineyards have their own signature aromas and flavors and enhance the wine of a territory already characterized by a great history in wine cultivation. Their wines are the result of a careful quality management at every stage of the production process.

The cellar of the Castle is open for tastings, direct wine sales, food and wine workshops, as well as lunches and dinners for small groups. Guests are also welcome to visit the agricultural museum where you can see the tools used in times past for working the land and vineyards. The Castle, thanks to it’s careful renovation, also has rooms and suites available for rent. Castle Volognano is a charming place with splendid rooms and gardens and makes a perfect location for weddings and exclusive events.

WINE TASTING WITH GOURMET BITES

In the cellar of the Castle, you will be able to taste the wines of Castle Volognano paired with Tuscan snacks such as salamis, prosciutto and other cold cuts of meat, delicious cheeses from the local region, bruschetta topped with extra virgin olive oil produced on the castle.
The food and wine tastings are preceded by a visit to the vineyards and the agricultural museum.

6.30 pm: departure from the Castle and return to the Farm.

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The Fattoria dell’Orto degli Ulivi invites you to celebrate your marriage with us!  We propose various romantic wedding themes to make your special day even more memorable and perfect, such as lavender themed wedding, a rustic chic theme, sunflowers, or chocolate. .. every couple can choose the basic theme to suit them! Are you interested?

Fattoria dell’Orto degli Ulivi will help to organize the wedding of your dreams with simplicity and elegance.

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Some examples:

Little chicks: ages 3-6

Fun games and activities to raise awareness on the complex issue of sustainability.

Young hens: ages 6-10

The forest and its inhabitants: learn respect for nature for the good of all.

Gazzelles: ages 10-15

The eco-friendly farm: how best to use our natural resources and energy for the environment’s wellness.

EXPERIENCE THE FARM WITH YOUR CHILDREN

Take a day to play and learn with your children on the farm!

GREEN WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN

For CHILDREN ages 5 to 10 with Elena Torrini, Educator and Professional Educator.

Storytelling”“The Story of a Small Seed” by Padmini and “The Salad Was in the Garden”” by A. Bossi

• Sow and transplant seedlings from the garde
• Paint with natural paints made from plants
• Explore the sense of SMELL with aromatic plants
• Cooperative games on the lawn

Contact us to learn more about all activities for your children on the farm!

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Last Sunday I went to visit a friend whom I had not seen for a few years. The last time we saw each other was at the wedding of a common friend but since that time, many things have changed.  When I last saw Lara, she was a beautiful young veterinarian (and still is of course) happily single and working as a researcher in Amsterdam. Without giving away too many details of her private life (but her love story is wonderful) at our friend’s marriage she met Antonio, who is now her current husband and the father of their child.  Antonio is also the owner of the land that hosts the farm Fattoria dell’Orto degli Ulivi. Today, Lara manages this farm with great determination, courage and strength! She’s a woman who seems to have an infinite supply of energy and patience!

I brought part of my family and a couple of friends with me to visit Lara at the farm. The welcome was warm, it was a real pleasure to find her. As she and her husband Antonio prepared lunch, we went for a walk around the farm and saw a multitude of flowers and animals, all the while enjoying a magnificent view. Native Tuscan species of plants and animals are bred and cultivated on the farm, such as a sheep called Pomarancina, olives, vineyards, Rosano and Londa peach, Pistoia cherries, red beans from Lucca, Regnano and Molino del Piano potatoes, walnuts, almonds, figs, lavender and honey.

When lunch hour arrived, we returned from our walk to sit at the table in the living room adjacent to the large kitchen of the farm’s villa. The central structure of the villa dates back to 1400, and the villa’s tower was built in 1220. The living room has the original stone floor and fireplace. In addition to offering lunches and dinners the farm can accommodate 10 overnight guests in rooms on the first and second floor furnished in a classic Tuscan style. Lara is not only a chef for us, she cooks for many of the farm guests who visit and her dishes are all homemade using organic ingredients grown on the farm, such as: pasta, spreads, tapenades, jams both sweet and savory, vegetables marinated in oil and vinegar, raveggiolo and ricotta made from sheep’s milk. Lara’s meals are all healthy and prepared with quality raw ingredients.

After a delicious lunch accompanied by good red wine, Antonio and Lara served us coffee and brandy in a characteristic corner of the farm.  We had the opportunity to play a nice game of volleyball with our kids in front of the house, and of course always in the company of hens and the rest of the farm animals. My friend and I also did some shopping as we browsed Lara’s vast collection of soaps and jams produced by the farm.”

Taken from the blog by Enrica Palandri

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Materials include: twigs, dried flowers, old candles, boxes, plastic caps and other household reusable waste.

This workshop is offered in collaboration with The Tuscan Association of Biodiversity and Agriculture and Elena Torrini, Professional Educator. All children will be offered a snack of fresh bread and olive oil from the farm.

The cost of the workshop is 10 € per student (maximum 30) and the recommended ages are from 3 to 10.

You must book by November 29!

RECYCLED CHRISTMAS
When: Sunday, December 7, 2014 from 15.00 to 17.30
Where: Fattoria dell’Orto degli Ulivi , via Tornaquinci 14 in Molino del Piano Pontassieve (Florence).
Reservations: 3296049910 (book by November 29, 2014).

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At the Olive Garden Farm you will find a welcoming environment where you will not only learn how to make a cake with organic and biodynamic ingredients from the farm (milk, eggs, stone ground flour, fruit jams, etc …) but you will also have a lot of fun because Lara’s joy is contagious!

Try our cooking classes on the farm !!!

You will experience not only cooking classes on how to make cakes, but also jams, organic cheeses from goat’s milk produced by goats on the farm, whole wheat bread with organic stone-ground flour and other types of baked goods and homemade pasta. We welcome you for organized food tours, cooking classes and lunch for our students!

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This is the song that our puppets (Rocco, Sofia e Matilde) dedicated and sang TO US AT OUR MARRIAGE on June 30, 2013.

We met by chance at the wedding of a mutual friend, and it was like there was this thunderbolt between us the moment we met. I lived in Amsterdam where I was dedicated to my research on proteins and lipids and Antonio lived in Florence in the beautiful countryside of Molino del Piano.

In our case, distance strengthened our relationship. We were unable to see each other for weeks, and sometimes the weeks became months and longer … but we were always waiting for the next flight that would bring us together again so we could live out our love story. After a year and a half, our love transformed and materialized with the birth of our daughter, Matilde.
Three years after we first met, Antonio asked Lara to be his wife !!

… And what better place to crown our commitment than on our farm?  And so we decided to ​​open the doors of our Farm to all couples who love the simplicity, peacefulness and elegance of the countryside with our charming barn surrounded by nature and farm life.

Would you like some advice?  Choose always and only with LOVE and PASSION… because as Ivano Fossati sang:

“L’amore illumina le strade, fa grandi le occasioni di credere e imparare…
l’amore fa aprire bene gli occhi, amare più se stessi”

(“Love lights the streets, it makes possible the occasions to believe and learn …
love makes us open our eyes wide, to love more of yourself”)

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The Fattoria dell’Orto degli Ulivi collaborates with the American singer-songwriter, guitarist and violinist, Lucia Comnes, from San Francisco, California, known for her mix of American, Irish, Folk and Rock music.

His new album  “Love Hope & Tyranny” consists of 13 original songs

You can see her music videos at  www.luciacomnes.com

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