Farm life

 

Azienda Agricola L’Amaranto is located in Rivalta, high in the hills of Barolo. It is between the towns of Alba (birthplace of the Slow Food Movement and Nutella) and Bra (location of the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Italy http://www.unisg.it/welcome_eng.lasso). 

In terms of food and wine, you could say that this area is one of the most important areas of Italy. Stuff grows well here. Lauren and I were lucky enough to WWOOF with a family who has a “small” vegetable and nut business with a “little” bread making on the side. 

Hazelnuts. Never again will I look at a hazelnut in the same way. The harvesting process is back breaking. If you do it by hand, you are bent over picking them for hours, and end up with your neck, back and hamstrings hurting. I prefer the sitting method!
 

Not all hazelnuts are created equally! Some are too young, raw and light in color. Others are too old, from last year and are blackish-brownish in color and too light for the weight of what the nut should be. Only the ones that are "just right" should be picked. Most of the hazelnuts in this area are sold to Nutella.

 

These hazelnuts were harvested with a vacuum machine and dumped on the front "lawn". Now we must sort through them to keep only the good ones.

Squashes growing wild in the garden!

Watering is not as easy as it may look. Lauren was only asked to do it once. The hardest part is controlling the hose and not allowing it to crush the delicate leeks and cabbage heads!
And you will always get muddy!

These organic tomatoes were the most pure, delicious tomato candy I have ever tasted. Could not get enough of these beauties!!

Lauren is tying the tomato vines to a pole. This helps them grow vertically and avoid trapping moisture causing rot. This farm also planted basil at the base of tomato plants. Hello Capresi Salad!

The Farm. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, beans, leeks, etc.... Looks small, but produces a lot and is not so small when you water each individual plant in the morning and then harvest in the afternoon.

Harvesting onions

Veggies getting ready to go to the markets in Liguria and Piemonte

Harvesting Borlotti beans... aka Cranberry Beans in the US

The veggies, ready for the market. A beautiful array of color and taste!

And they bake!

In the hazelnut grove

Figs!

Just a bit of parsley. They also sold herb packages at the market with parsley, rosemary & sage. Just missing a little thyme.

The onions! 

Lauren and I really enjoyed learning, helping and contributing to this farm. And the organic produce at every meal was certainly a plus! What educational fun we had!