This is what prompted this very brief account of a project, an adventure, a life choice, a viewpoint, a wish to discover and the need to share all of it with many others. It’s a story still in the making of how one can go from the desks of Rome to working the land in Umbria. We are “Nancy and Michele”, two communications and marketing experts who have decided to start an instructional farm in the most pristine area around Todi. We have been involved in the www, social media, graphics and events forever … but for the last few years we have caught the bug for the world of agriculture, drawn by the idea of opening accommodation facilities dedicated to rural life without giving up the use of our expertise in the digital world.
Of course, it is far from easy to become farmers especially for people who come from an entirely different world. We followed many courses in agriculture and listened to the advice of people older than ourselves. Everything else we are learning through experience. And in this way, we have been able to discover a love for pruning trees and gathering wood for the winter, hunting for truffles with our own little dogs (trained by us), collecting wild herbs to taste later at table, planting an olive grove, learning to graft fruit plants, weaving wicker baskets, raising hens and chicks, making marmalade with our own fruit and liqueur with our own walnuts. But above all, we have been rediscovering sensations last experienced in childhood. We are now renovating the farmhouse that we chose (first of all, after a three-year search, then after another three-year wait to put together the financing) in the hope of being able to open what we are calling ABC rurale next summer.
So, will it be an agriturismo? No, not in the usual sense of the word. We want to promote an appreciation of bygone things, things we used to find in our grandmothers’ houses. We want to leave space and freedom to nature, give the beauty of simple things its due while respecting the adage “Appearances count too”, especially in leading us to art and music. Apart from eating what we grow and stopping for a few days to get away from it all, people will be able to come here for a variety of activities. We have ideas galore and many other people who can’t wait to share their knowledge and skills, organising courses, workshops and exchanges with those who will choose to visit us. It is difficult to say how it will all work because right now it is still ‘all in our heads’ but there is enough to go on to get a glimpse of what we are doing, following us on Facebook (facebook.com/abcrurale/) or on Instagram (@abcruraletodi) or even browsing on www.abcrurale.it. We are #diventandoagricoltori but it is largely thanks to those who want to share this experience that everything will be even better.
