Torre Del Fondo, Ferrara, Italy

Torre Del Fondo farm holiday centre is part of a farm which extends, uninterrupted, over an area of around 250 acres.

The farm is made up of 5 estates which are called: Tesoriera, Clelia, Pomposa, Enrica and Torre Del Fondo (the Farm Holidays centre takes its name from the latter). In its turn this farm is part of a much larger one named "La tenuta Ghisiliera" (whose history you can read about in the "HISTORY" section) and which extends over an area of around 500 acres.

The main crops cultivated are maize, soya, Swiss chard, wheat, Indian millet and pears.

The cultivation method used is known as "integrated agriculture", and aims to reduce the environmental impact of the use of the earth to a minimum. For example, rather than using traditional fertilizers, organic fertilizers (such as animal manure) are used which are much more eco-compatible than the former.
Also, still out of respect for natural products and the environment, crops are treated long before they are harvested. In this way the antiparasitic products used have enough time to auto-degrade.

There are numerous farm buildings on the farm including stables, haylofts and store houses, which were once inhabited by the families of peasants who worked the land. Also there is still a charming little lake which was used, in the 20s and 30s, to soak hemp (which is no longer produced).
Lastly, there is also a small church on the farm, which until a few decades ago was the only church in the small town of Coronella (the district in which the farm is located). Today this church is deconsecrated and no longer used; however it November soon be restored.

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THE SEASONS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE

Spring: maize, soya, Swiss chard and Indian millet are sown. After sowing we must check that there are no "weeds" growing which can damage the seeds planted; the treatments for making sure this does not happen are milling, weeding and weed killing. To help the seeds grow healthily manure is used.
Every spring we cut the branches of the trees in the orchard (pruning); this operation serves to ease the harvesting (by controlling the size of the plants) and to increase the yield of fruit produced by trees.

Summer: this is the harvesting period (threshing season); first wheat, then maize, soya and Indian millet are harvested.
In the summer time the orchards are treated so as to avoid the appearance of insects and poisonous mushrooms.

Late summer: the harvesting of the Swiss chard (extirpation) and the pears takes place. After this, all the fields are ploughed.

Autumn: the ploughed land is prepared for sowing, crumbling all the clods of earth which are too big. This result is obtained through interventions which are known as extirpating and harrowing.
Wheat is always sown in the autumnal period.

Winter: in this period the countryside does not require any particular commitment and work; it is the best time to think about how Torre Del Fondo Farm Holidays can be improved.