Newsletter June 2024
A brief review;
It has been 6 months that we have been here, together, in beautiful Tuscany!
(For those readers who do not know us personally: click HERE in our diary you can read how our dream began)
We have given the first few months the theme of de-must.
No more the must to get up early, no more the must of running in the order of appointments in the calendar, no more that race against the clock and wasted time in traffic jams on Dutch highways.
We also must (have to) meet each other again. After 20 months of not being together daily, this was quite exciting! Shoes were in the way, but yes they 'just stood there all this time'.... sometimes we lost each other, just because we were used to going to and fro without 'the must' to report it.
The days of the week are actually all the same here, there is no more must to work week or 'free' weekend.
Also had to get used to the fact that doing chores and sometimes picking up an old hobby (lampshade deco) is now suddenly 'work'.
Rules - rules - rules:
Many rules and Italian customs we have been privileged to discover since we have been in Italy.
For example, we notice that the Italian does not use the word/question "why" much. Rarely do we get this counter-question when we would like something or inquire about something. It's relaxed, if you want this..... fine anyway!
We also noticed that if you get an answer to a question, you have to find out for yourself who does what and often have to arrange this yourself. Very informative and an eye-opener about how things work in Italy. We will spare you the details, but the anecdotes are funny.
The rules for being an agriturismo can best be summed up in, clear and comprehensive.
We are not required to be an agriturismo in order to run our Bed & Breakfast and in the future the Glamping.
However, our goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible and to start offering the products of our land also to our guests, the rules and possibilities of an agriturismo fit best.
Our property offers so many possibilities from vegetable garden to fruit orchard - chicken run to olive grove - B&B to Glamping, Wine tastings and (yoga) retreat, we can now really go in many directions as an agriturismo
The way to agriturismo:
What did we have to do to comply with the rules:
To be an agriturismo, farm hours must be made.
When can you make farming hours? Exactly, when you are a farmer! Therefore, after taking classes and passing an exam, Kees has officially become a farmer.
So how do you make farming hours? Olive trees, a vegetable garden, Mediterranean plants are examples of crops that produce farming hours. On our property there are already about 80 olive trees and some fruit trees, together they do not provide enough hours to expand in the future with the Glamping.
Therefore 200 additional olive trees have been planted (for those in the know: Piante di olivastra segianese and Piante di lecio del corno).
The trees are 3-4 years old and in about 3 years they will produce the first olives from which we can have oil pressed.
Because the trees could not be planted in time and we did have to comply with the rules in time, a quick solution was: broad beans!
Therefore a lot of broad beans were sown, about 4600m2. A nice discovery to read how much you can do with broad beans and that these beans must be particularly tasty fried. The harvest is in July-August. We are going to experience it.
Orbits in which the Olive Trees are placed:
Sowing broad beans:
They are already growing well:
Bed & Breakfast:
The rooms have already been booked a few times and several breakfasts have been prepared.
There are nice, kind and very encouraging words written in the guest books.
Also on the review page on our website, some nice reviews have already been posted, you can read them HERE. (most in Dutch)
It makes us so happy, this is what we wanted to achieve, this is what we do it for!
This beautiful place where it is quiet, where you can unwind, relax and recover from the hustle and bustle of the day. Where we can let people enjoy a beautiful B&B room, rest-space-privacy, a delicious breakfast, a walk or a bike ride can be made. You can get to the beach, or the lake, or a bigger city within a reasonably short time. Close to a village where you can eat good food.
And.... we think it's super fun to do! We enjoy this immensely!
The breakfast buffet is inside for our guests, there are the bread rolls (homemade or fresh from the bakery) and the toppings (cold cuts, cheese and sweet), fresh fruit and yogurt. On the table outside is water and freshly squeezed orange juice. Tea and coffee are served.
Last month we were able to pick a lot of cherries, so homemade cherry jam is not to be missed.
The yogurt can be topped with the fresh fruit, or with homemade granola, of course that includes honey.
Pools:
Because we are still in the process of landscaping the property, the olive trees are still very young and we want to expand even further with the construction of a vegetable garden, it is difficult to determine now where we want to build the pool.
Therefore, on the terraces of both rooms a private pool has been placed with two sun beds and a parasol.
This solution allows our guests to cool off, enjoy the sun, the view and listen to the sounds of tranquility. Shade is plentiful under the pergola
There are also 2 water hammocks at each pool.
Would you also like to come and enjoy our Bed&Breakfast, see more pictures or check availability? Then click HERE.
Olive oil:
In the period from October 19 to November 3, 2024, the olives will be picked from the "old" trees, and the oil will be pressed, as in 2022.
We do not know the exact price yet, for now we expect a 500ml bottle to cost between €10.00 to €12.00. (ex-shipping costs)
In November 2024 we will come to NL, in that period the oil will be shipped or delivered.
If you are interested in our olive oil, please fill in the form at the bottom of this newsletter.
Foto's van de Olijfpluk oktober 2022:
Olive-picking arrangement 2024:
We are making plans for an olive-picking package.
Here you can think of a stay with 2 persons, 5 nights in our B&B. With extensive breakfast and good lunch.
During your stay you will help 2 or 3 days between 9.00 - 12.00 and 13.30 - 16.30h with picking our olives.
The rest of the afternoon and evening are free to fill in yourself.
We would also like to visit the olive presser together during these days.
Of course a bottle of olive oil (500ml) is included in this arrangement.
In our next newsletter we will inform you further about this arrangement.
If you are already interested in this arrangement, please let us know in the form below.
Interested in the Olive oil and/or Olive picking package of i due cipressi - agriturismo: