Agriturismo Cascina Papaveri

Aims
To provide our guests with an unforgettable rural Italian vacation which balances rest and relaxation with, pleasurable activity and the opportunity to learn new skills or develop existing ones.

To bring financial benefit to our local community by providing jobs and purchasing of fresh farm produce and services.

To minimise the impact the resort has on our land and the local environment by developing organic farming techniques, recycling rainwater, and effluent, and reducing energy consumption.

To create an enjoyable and rewarding lifestyle for the Sims family.

Economic responsibility
All our staff including our master Chef Pietro Baldi live within 3 km of the Agriturismo, the only exception are our visiting Pilates teachers, usually from the US or UK. We do have a teacher in training who lives in Genova and we provide her with some work and instruction.

The success of the village and with it the Italian rural way of life is very important to the experiences we can give our guests and so we strive to maximise use of the village community, even if at times we can source product or services elsewhere at a lower cost.

We are actively continuing to develop as many local suppliers of goods and services as possible, however, being Italy we do purchase specific food items from other regions, but then only directly from the producers rather than via big business. Pietro Baldi has extensive knowledge of many small producers throughout Italy.

We are founder members of a newly formed consortium of farmers, and producers in the village, and we will create a small display featuring members wines, preserves etc. that guests can purchase.

Environmental responsibility
Given our background, and keen interest in limiting environmental impact both now and in the future, we have incorporate as many cost effective and scarce resource initiatives as possible into our redevelopment of the property. Natural cork insulation was used extensively thought out the walls and ceiling s etc. for both heat and sound insulation.

80% of our total lighting is LED based, giving us dramatic energy reductions over normal lighting systems. In other areas, where possible, lighting is on proximity infra red systems. Special shower heads using 30% less water than conventional showers. All water taps in public areas are infra red to reduce water flow if inadvertently left on.

We have a wood on the property which gives us sufficient timber for 2 high efficiency stoves that provides heating for most of the ommon areas of the Agriturismo.

All waste water is treated on site in our biological treatment works. The outflow which complies with the EU standards for irrigated water is pumped into a 44 cubic metre tank. This is joined with all the rainwater from both the house and the large courtyard and driveway area which runs into the same tank. The water from this tank has 2 uses, a) recycled back into the house and used in the toilets. b) to irrigate the vineyard and vegetable gardens in periods of low rainfall.

The indoor swimming pool uses a oxygen system for water treatment, thereby minimising the use of chlorine.

Alternative energy: Currently we use mains gas and electricity to power and heating and hot water. We actively considered all types of alternative energy during the design process, but all failed at that time for various factors. However, solar photovoltaic is the best solution for us, and currently a new design solution is being geared up for production which will make the return on investment far more viable. See www.nanosolar.com when this in production we will invest in this technology.

Being organic, we compost as much as possible and reuse on the land. We have very little packaging as virtually all of our additional food items are sourced fresh and locally without point of sale packaging. In addition all non compost waste is taken by us to a central recycling depot in the village. We try as far as possible to be paper free, but just complying with Italian laws creates paper. It is impossible to do business in Italy without paper.

We have a comprehensive guide for guests that covers many issues and we do explain our environmental issues and many other matters about the locality, walks, church services etc.

Social responsibility
The social situation in Italy is no cause for any specific concern or need for any specific pre trip information. The political situation in Italy is unique, but has no negative impact on guests, in fact Italy is one of the safest countries in Europe.

Our vacations are totally fully inclusive of all food, wine, and visits. A typical vacation would involve one or 2 market visits to local towns, here guests are given € 5 each and encouraged to buy a food item from the local stalls or shops which we then pool back at the Agriturismo as a buffet lunch. This gives them much pleasure as they have a purpose rather tan just wandering around and guests really enjoy the interaction with the locals. Our area is not a tourist destination and the locals re genuinely pleased and interested in them.

In addition we visit local restaurants and places of interest, plus a wine tasting tour of small family vineyards. With many festivals on virtually all the year round, we visit these if time permits. We are very fortunate that traditions in the region are well protected an our actions of bringing guests to them and possibly purchasing craft and preserved food items are much appreciated by the locals. We have a comprehensive guide for guests that covers many issues and we do explain our environmental issues and many other matters about the locality, walks, church services etc.