So...we heard about this small group of folk that were attempting to start a community just over the hill from Ranocchiaia ( our eco village project, very much in its embryonic stage ) They were having a party to attract folk to come and see if they fancied joining them. Alberto our good friend and co conspirator in our eco project came to pick us up and take us there for a few days camping and fun to meet them. A month later....we have just returned! We loved it! Fani and Antonio with their two little kids Myel and Mezak ( not sure of the spelling ) had bought some land at this place a few years ago but had had health issues with one of their kids and so had delayed starting the project until now. They had already done a lot of research into the area. The site is in the Apuane mountains 15mins walk from the gorgeous village of Trasillico. It is in a stunning forested valley largely made up of chestnut plantations that have long since been abandoned. There are a lot of old ruins and a few abandoned villages that are magical. Pretty much all are for sale. The crystal clear stream runs along its length with salamanders, fresh water limpets and small trout. The valley bottom is lush and junglesk. The tops of the hills have dry grasslands full of colorful butterflies of all shapes and sizes. The Pania, the largest mountain in the Apuane range stands proud across the main valley boasting its rocky ridges and huge cave systems. We met a lot of lovely folk in our month there. I went on a few huge walks exploring the valley and its hidden treasures and lost villages. A local guy saw a wolf while we were there. There are also Moufloni, the wild sheep, roe deer, wild boar, porcupine, badgers, foxes and much more. Golden and Short toed eagles nest in the area as well as falcons and several species of owl. Much the same as Ranocchiaia this place ticked most of the boxes for Deb and I. We wanted to help out and so stayed for a whole month helping to prepare, plant, water and build a lovely hazel woven fence around the first veg garden of any size. A lovely spiraling synergic garden with a swale. I think i could get into this gardening lark. A few families with children are now thinking of spending the winter there as well as several single folk. We are too, although other options are becoming available to us that may be a little easier. There are as yet NO livable structures and winter can be VERY cold up there at 700m. We have to move house first...the question is going to be where are we going to spend the winter. Up to sixty people all ate together around a fire in the evenings playing music , singing songs and watching the shooting stars and the moon wax and wane. It is a lovely wild place close enough to the road and uncivilization to make things realistic enough for most. I am very much looking forward to returning. Many helping hands will be needed in the coming months and years. Renovating old houses and building new ones. Clearing land and creating more gardens and crops and everything else that is needed in order to make a thriving happy community. Feel free to contact me if anyone fancies a working holiday in, what i consider to be the best of what Tuscany has to offer. Much love to you all.....xxxx
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 06:43:34 +0000
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