{"id":9702,"date":"2016-06-15T17:22:46","date_gmt":"2016-06-15T15:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=9702"},"modified":"2016-06-18T17:04:31","modified_gmt":"2016-06-18T15:04:31","slug":"innovative-farmers-young-women-agriculture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/innovative-farmers-young-women-agriculture\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovative farmers: 4 young women who return to agriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"

They are often women<\/strong>, they are very young and often with a degree<\/strong> in their\u00a0pocket: they left the city to live in the country, to return to be farmers<\/strong>, fleeing insecurity, the hustle and the \u00a0city lives’ consumerism.<\/p>\n

Every day, the rural world<\/strong> is gaining more appeal for young people who already from the high school\u00a0dream of a life tied to the land and to agriculture. And so, after decades in which young farmers\u00a0no longer existed, the numbers start to rise exponentially<\/a>. In Italy, according to Coldiretti, the agricultural women entrepreneurs have increased of 63% from 2014 to 2015 (with a double growth compared to that of men)\u00a0And thanks to them, agriculture changes, it meets technology, opens the door to tourism and back to be more and more organic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We met fore\u00a0young people who devote their lives to agriculture and that they decided to open an eco-friendly<\/strong> accommodation<\/strong> in the countryside. They are Elisabetta and Simone who left the city and its comforts to recover an old family farmhouse that was abandoned, Alice that decided to major in agriculture, Cinzia and Diego who courageously have tried without experiences in the field. They are young people who have decided to risk, who have changed their lives in search of something more natural.<\/p>\n

Learning from Nature, rediscover the simplicity, feeling part of a whole… these are some keywords that are common to these stories, Let’s find out them together!<\/p>\n

1. Elisabetta. A Degree in Tourism Economics and a family farm to restore (La Fontaccia, Tuscany)<\/h2>\n

From a big city, Florence, Elizabetta decided to move to the old family farm<\/strong> to bring it back to life, along with his partner Samuele. Fleeing from the city takes place at the end of the university studies in Tourism<\/strong> Economics<\/strong>, bringing with it\u00a0a wealth of knowledge on tourist accommodation, economy, sustainability and marketin .. but with so many new things to learn from nature and the land. In Rufina<\/strong>, in the Chianti hills, they recovered the old family farm following the principles of bio-architecture, re-introduce the ancient<\/strong> fruits<\/strong>, start an innovative<\/strong> hospitality<\/strong> formula, the center of which there are relationships and sharing. Here’s what Elisabetta\u00a0told us:<\/p>\n

\"Elisabetta
Elisabetta and Samuele<\/div><\/div>\n

How did your desire to live in the country come to life?<\/h4>\n

The project started in 2010 when I was majoring in Tourism Economics<\/strong>. With\u00a0no clear idea on what to do in life and having had more or less satisfactory in various working realities experiences, I have had the opportunity to take care of the old family farm, uninhabited abandoned<\/strong> since the 80s.<\/p>\n

Me and my partner Samuel were already fond of the place, even in its\u00a0state of degradation, we saw\u00a0a potential. When we came the first time for picnics to Fontaccia, the farm was falling apart<\/strong>, there was no heating, the grass was high and wild animals were everywhere… but the peace and beauty that shone from this place made us fall in love of every little detail.<\/p>\n

In 2010 the farm<\/strong>\u00a0was then founded thanks to funding of the European community. From that moment extensive renovations and bureaucratic problems begin, which will lead to the opening of the farmhouse in 2014.<\/p>\n

Today we both take care of the farm, recovering slowly derelict land, restoring the ancient canals of rainwater, and creating new crops such as a small orchard of ancient<\/strong> native Tuscan fruit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As for the farm I take care of the administration,<\/strong> advertising<\/strong>, cleaning and cooking, while Samuel of the maintenance of the estate, hospitality to guests and waiting tables during dinner.<\/p>\n

\"View
View of Chianti hills from the farmhouse La Fontaccia in Tuscany<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n

How did your adventure in Fontaccia\u00a0begin<\/strong>?<\/h4>\n

We made this choice\u00a0because of the\u00a0strong relationship we have always had with this place and to avoid losing it\u00a0permanently. This strong commitment has enabled us to meet the difficulties and to overcome the deficiencies of experience in agriculture and the initial prejudice that the work called “humble” arouse.<\/p>\n

Overcome the initial difficulties, however insurmountable they might seem, it has made us stronger. The first satisfactions then have made us aware of being part of something bigger than we could think of at the beginning: be an active part of our traditions<\/strong> makes us satisfied with what we do, and more and more interested in learning and improving.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What does the rural world give more than the city life?<\/h4>\n

Certainly the life change was important. Accustomed to the comforts and services of the city required a little commitment and ability to adapt to a different<\/strong> life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The same change of season, barely audible in the city, it becomes a fundamental element in the countryside\u00a0to which we must get used to not be unprepared. 8 years ago we would never have seen us capable of such a big change, today we could not see otherwise. We appreciate more those little everyday things that we gave for granted before, and the silence<\/strong> and beauty<\/strong> of nature never bore us. The same pleasure to host and to see the world go by, one person at a time, at home enriches us like traveling<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t