Arable crops
The most obvious impact of the move to organic farming methods has been on arable crop rotation. Until
1999 seeding choices were influenced mainly by European Community subsidies, durum wheat alternating
with rape or sunflowers. Since the year 2000, however, our main concern has been to restore and maintain
the soil's natural fertility. Although the Estate does not rear any livestock, we returned to large-scale
growing of legumes which was widespread until the 1960s, when every share-cropping family still had two
or more pairs of oxen to work the fields. Clover, lucerne, sulla and field beans have the property of fixing
atmospheric nitrogen, which the crop residues then release into the soil ready for next year's wheat or
barley crop.
The choice of organic farming has also given a further push to crop diversification, thanks to the growth
of the processing and marketing sectors which connect producers and consumers of organic products. In
recent years we have introduced many new crops. In response to demand from local processors and mills
we have abandoned industrial cereal varieties in favour of traditional cultivars, such as Verna common
wheat and Senatore Cappelli durum wheat, spelt and kamut, and we produce linseed, chick peas and
lentils. We sell oats and barley to organic wine-growers (10% of Tuscan vineyards) which sow them
between rows to increase the organic matter in the soil.
Nearly all these crops require less fertiliser, have moderate yields but command higher prices, an
interesting combination that makes the farm more independent of the conventional circuits and the
industrial interests that disadvantage agriculture.
Twenty years have passed since we branched off from the mainstream of conventional farming.
After overcoming the inevitable hard times during the early stages of the transition, we have achieved
production results similar to those of the 1990s without using petroleum-based fertilisers or sophisticated
weedkillers, and producing most of the seed that we use. We have also found a way of continuing with the
traditional methods used to farm this land in the past, rediscovering production avenues that were closed
off by technical progress in the 1960s.
Arable crop at Avanella
The olive grove
Unlike the vineyards, the olive grove has been on the same site for over fifty years. It was decimated by the
1985 frost and was replanted in 1989 with a closer spacing and minimal pruning, producing a top-quality oil
but in moderate quantities.
From the year 2000 we gradually returned to the traditional system of a vaso
pruning, which is labour-intensive but better suited to our area.
The olives are hand picked in early November, as soon as the mill where we press our oil opens. Pressing
takes place at 25°C, by centrifuging the olive paste, and is carried out every two days to limit the oxidation
of the fruit as far as possible and preserve the intense flavours of the fruit in the oil.
Olive grove at Fracassino
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The 2016 olive oil production wasn’t incredible in term of quantity, but his quality is great. During the comparisons with other local olive oils, our was one of the tastiest and long term best preserved.
