Tuscany organic farmstay near Florence, Italy
“Healthy food, delicious wine, beautiful countryside and perfect peace – a break on this organic farm is good for body and soul.”
Highlights
Apartments in a renovated farmhouse | organic farm | pick vegetables from the garden | half an hour from Florence | children and dogs welcome | walking trails in surrounding hills | learn to make bread and pasta | optional: walks and drives to spot local wildlifeDescription of Tuscany organic farmstay near Florence, Italy
Escape to Tuscany in Italy and spend some time enjoying home grown produce, fresh air and peace, on this organic farmstay just half an hour from Florence. The farm sits in hilly country between Chianti and Valdarno Superiore, surrounded by nature. Deer nibble near the house and you can hear the local wild boar grunting and crickets chirruping as evening falls. This is a perfect place to relax away from busy urban life. Enjoy excellent local food, much of picked in the garden that day, good wine and the chance to relax.There are four apartments within the 18th century farmhouse, which has been thoughtfully restored using green building methods and materials. The farmhouse is now powered by solar energy, which heats the water, while wood gathered locally provides heating in the winter. All the food and products grown and made here – vegetables, eggs, olive oil, to name a few – are certified organic and the farmhouse meets Eco-Bio Tourism standards.
As well as simply relaxing here or dozing under the mulberry tree, you are invited to pick vegetables from the garden to cook with and to make bread in the wood oven – delicious with the fruity olive oil we produce here! There are walking trails through the surrounding hills and in the Vallombrosa Abbey, or explore Florence, Arezzo and Siena. Wine lovers can try a tasting in Chianti or just spend a few hours in the small villages dotted around this region.
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Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
Wild Life We encourage wild life animals to stay on our land : part of the crops are left for their sustainment and small pools are dug in dry season to give them water . Biodiversity is preserved and fertility is maintained since we cultivate the land according to the organic agriculture criteria.
Wild boars, dears, porcupines, foxes, hares come to visit us. Green wood pecker and jay fly around our olive trees, eagle flies high in the sky, at night you can hear the howl. You definitely have chances to meet them walking at night or early in the morning we also can tell you about habits and curiosities on wild animals.
Waste
In each kitchen of the house you will find baskets for garbage collection: one for plastic, glass, cans and tetra pack, one for organic waste, one for paper and one for the undifferentiated waste.
We use the compost made from the organic waste in the vegetable garden.
Towels are changed only on request. Soaps for personal hygiene are are all certified organic and offered in dispensers to eliminate the use of disposable products. All paper used in the farm is certified FSC- mixed .
Water
Rain water is collected from the roof house in two big underground tanks and used in the garden. The water distributed to the apartments comes from a well dug in the farm , is regularly purified and analyzed and it is under the control of an efficient system of distribution to limit waste.
Energy
We like to think that that is possible change for the better the production systems. It is possible to combine human activities with the respect for the environment.
We produces our own energy and hot water through solar and photovoltaic panels put on a wood canopy well inserted in the country context.
During winter our wood is burnt in a high efficiency heating that keeps all apartments warm.
Our apartments are equipped with a system of energy conservation: energy saving light bulbs; appliances in Class A; lights control device combined with the key of the apartment: once taken they all switch off automatically.
Buildings - The renovation of the house
Two principles were followed: on one hand we wanted to keep all the architectural elements typical of the Tuscan farmhouse and on the other we wanted to use only environmentally sustainable materials .
We made a real philological research on materials and on their use. The demolished materials were recycled and others were found at construction sites and markets, etc.
All new materials: wood, insulation, screeds, paints, are certified with one or more Eco-Labels/ environmentally friendly labels (FSC, PEFC, ICEA-ANAB, Naturplus, etc. ..), in order to have the certainty to be using materials with a real traceability and environmentally sustainable.
Transport
We encourage hosts to arrive by public transport since we can organize a pick up from and to the nearest train station/ bus stop.
Suppliers
We buy food that we do not produce from neighboring organic farms in order to help small producers like us and stimulate organic productions.
The Impacts of this Trip
Our owner is a member of a local Association whose main objective is to buy products at 0 km in order to give support to small and local producers (we call in Italy “Gruppo di Acquisto Solidale”). In collaboration with this Association workshops on arts and crafts are organized here, since we believe that producing things for ourselves is a lifestyle and an experience to do especially if it is also an opportunity for conviviality, meeting people and mutual enrichment. Guests are involved in these activities and invited to know local community: together we shall have fun in making bread with natural yeast, candles with natural wax, soaps with olive oil and small cloths in felt.
You will be helped to make your own visit to the region : we shall give you maps, material on day trip itineraries, recommend guides, but above all you will receive tips on places where to eat and to buy things out of the tourist circuit, where we usually go on free time or for shopping.
Environment
Wild Life We encourage wild life animals to stay on our land : part of the crops are left for their sustainment and small pools are dug in dry season to give them water . Biodiversity is preserved and fertility is maintained since we cultivate the land according to the organic agriculture criteria.
Wild boars, dears, porcupines, foxes, hares come to visit us. Green wood pecker and jay fly around our olive trees, eagle flies high in the sky, at night you can hear the howl. You definitely have chances to meet them walking at night or early in the morning we also can tell you about habits and curiosities on wild animals.
Waste
In each kitchen of the house you will find baskets for garbage collection: one for plastic, glass, cans and tetra pack, one for organic waste, one for paper and one for the undifferentiated waste.
We use the compost made from the organic waste in the vegetable garden.
Towels are changed only on request. Soaps for personal hygiene are are all certified organic and offered in dispensers to eliminate the use of disposable products. All paper used in the farm is certified FSC- mixed .
Water
Rain water is collected from the roof house in two big underground tanks and used in the garden. The water distributed to the apartments comes from a well dug in the farm , is regularly purified and analyzed and it is under the control of an efficient system of distribution to limit waste.
Energy
We like to think that that is possible change for the better the production systems. It is possible to combine human activities with the respect for the environment.
We produces our own energy and hot water through solar and photovoltaic panels put on a wood canopy well inserted in the country context.
During winter our wood is burnt in a high efficiency heating that keeps all apartments warm.
Our apartments are equipped with a system of energy conservation: energy saving light bulbs; appliances in Class A; lights control device combined with the key of the apartment: once taken they all switch off automatically.
Buildings - The renovation of the house
Two principles were followed: on one hand we wanted to keep all the architectural elements typical of the Tuscan farmhouse and on the other we wanted to use only environmentally sustainable materials .
We made a real philological research on materials and on their use. The demolished materials were recycled and others were found at construction sites and markets, etc.
All new materials: wood, insulation, screeds, paints, are certified with one or more Eco-Labels/ environmentally friendly labels (FSC, PEFC, ICEA-ANAB, Naturplus, etc. ..), in order to have the certainty to be using materials with a real traceability and environmentally sustainable.
Transport
We encourage hosts to arrive by public transport since we can organize a pick up from and to the nearest train station/ bus stop.
Suppliers
We buy food that we do not produce from neighboring organic farms in order to help small producers like us and stimulate organic productions.
Community
The Impacts of this Trip
Our owner is a member of a local Association whose main objective is to buy products at 0 km in order to give support to small and local producers (we call in Italy “Gruppo di Acquisto Solidale”). In collaboration with this Association workshops on arts and crafts are organized here, since we believe that producing things for ourselves is a lifestyle and an experience to do especially if it is also an opportunity for conviviality, meeting people and mutual enrichment. Guests are involved in these activities and invited to know local community: together we shall have fun in making bread with natural yeast, candles with natural wax, soaps with olive oil and small cloths in felt.
You will be helped to make your own visit to the region : we shall give you maps, material on day trip itineraries, recommend guides, but above all you will receive tips on places where to eat and to buy things out of the tourist circuit, where we usually go on free time or for shopping.
Climate
12 Reviews of Tuscany organic farmstay near Florence, Italy
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 20 Oct 2019 by Janine Lindgren
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We have many memorable parts to comment on. First the farm itself is in the beautiful Tuscan hills, olive groves, chickens, vegetables on the farm. The
house was historic and well preserved and renovated, (we loved the jacuzzi tub and marble kitchen sink). There were great things to see nearby, such as the
Masaccio museum and Vallambrosia Park. The host and her daughter were very friendly, and we met some nice guests from around the world.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be extremely cautious if you decide to rent a car, the roads up to the farm are very narrow with sharp switch backs, you have to honk to warn on coming cars,
then carefully negotiate passing. Pick vegetables from the garden to eat, best kale I ever tasted! Go for a walk down the road and head into the wood trail by
the school bus stop. Read Francesca's book of suggested nearby itineraries and towns to visit. We decided to stay more local, rather than driving all the way
to (for example) Volterra, because we wanted to return before dark, so we could still see on the mountain road. We visited the lovely town of Castle Franco,
the Masaccio museum in Cascia, and the nature park of Vallambrosia, with the monastery, lovely woods, church, museum, and store with herbal medicine
made by monks. One thing we did not realize was that extra things were available for a charge, which was misleading on the website, such as hot tub,
breakfast, and even the olive oil. We were led to believe these things were included in our stay.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
By staying at the farm, we helped support local organic agriculture on this small farm. We were able to use products produced on the farm; vegetables and
olive oil. We also visited local museums and sites which helped support them.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We were there in the beautiful October season, and it was wonderful.
Reviewed on 04 Oct 2019 by Julia Key
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I think it has to be the remote and beautiful location of Poderaccio - the countryside around the farm is absolutely stunning, and it's perfect for a chilled-
out, wind-down kind of holiday where you can simply relax and soak up the landscapes around you: vineyards, olive groves, and forest-clad mountains. We
also have fond memories of the pizza night Francesca held with all the guests, where we were able to have a lesson in how to prepare our pizza base, then
top it with the ingredients of our choice and bake it in the wood-fired oven. We enjoyed it all together (along with copious glasses of wine) on the terrace
overlooking the valley - a great experience!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You definitely need to either take or hire a car, in order to benefit fully from all the wonderful places there are to see around the farm. It's located on some
quite hairy rural roads, but once you reach the main road network (which you do very quickly), everything is within easy reach, especially Florence (half an
hour max by car). You should also take precautions against mosquitoes - we were there in late September and absolutely plagued by them. Always light the candles provided when dining outside at night (which in our enthusiasm we failed to do on the first night - with disastrous results!).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, definitely. Francesca and Francesco are really serious about sustainability and committed to doing everything they can to reduce their environmental
impact - from the to letries provided in the house to the local and organic food we were able to buy from them, to the vegetables freely available for us to
pick from the kitchen garden. All the apartments are built using sustainable building materials and operate in the most energy-efficient way possible. We
really appreciated the folder of information left by Francesca giving hints and tips about using local shops and services. The family themselves are pretty
much self-sufficient, and a real inspiration in this regard.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had a wonderful, relaxed time (our honeymoon) in a beautiful part of Italy, and were able to visit plenty of nearby cities and picturesque hilltop villages
when we wanted more action. Francesca and her family are super friendly and welcoming, always on hand to help and advise. The apartment has been
sympathetically restored, is well equipped with everything you need, and has stunning views over the valley from the dining terrace.
Reviewed on 04 Aug 2018 by Janet Richards
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Lovely relaxing singing bowl sound bath
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
I would not hesitate to recommend this holiday
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Absolutely wonderful, peace, quiet, sun, organic food and beautiful surroundings, with excellent hosts. I would love to return here one day.
Reviewed on 20 Jul 2018 by Louise Pannell
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Learning how to make pasta from scratch
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't plan too many activities, it's a nice place to rather relax and sleep in
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, I was more inclined to support local businesses and reminded of the
importance of recycling and the quality of foods we eat.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic
Reviewed on 06 Oct 2017 by Lynn Cragg
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Eating a warm tomato just picked from the vegetable garden, absolutely delicious.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Its a rustic rural retreat you will benefit from having a car to explore the surrounding area.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes we used local produce and purchased from local shops.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An excellent location to relax and re charge your batteries set in a very rural location.
Reviewed on 08 Nov 2016 by Linda Grilley
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Beautiful location, wonderful accommodations, fun hiking, welcoming owner. Great break from the urban setting. Easy to get to from Siena and Florence area. Do need a car.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Enjoy the beauty of a rural stay. Plan to make a meal in the nicely set up
kitchen using some of the locally grown vegetables.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Hope our stay was helpful to their organic farm's over all business. We did
take advantage of using their vegetables and eggs for dinner and breakfast. Bought some extras to bring along too. Local sourcing and use of organic is plus for environment and conservation.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Wonderful
Reviewed on 12 Jul 2016 by Emma Williams
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our cooking class with Francesca at the farm. She invited us into her home and taught us how to make fresh pasta and bread. We then had a lovely lunch with her overlooking the Tuscan countryside.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We found it useful to rent a car so that we could drive around Tuscany. I would also recommend doing a wine tour in the area and a day trip to Florence which is approximately 45 minutes by car from the farm.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely. Francesca sources her vegetables and olive oil from her own farm, and a number of other produce such as sheeps cheese and honey from neighbouring farms, thereby supporting hte local community. Environmental impact is considered in every corner of the farm, with responsible waste management practices and eco-friendly products used throughout the farm.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A true highlight of our Italian adventure. Relaxing, rejuvenating, peaceful, charming and delicious!
Reviewed on 05 Jan 2016 by Gail and Pete Overholt
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Being invited to join our hosts for Christmas Eve celebrations and for a working dinner (helping Francesca and Francesco cook a Tuscan Ribotta) the day after Christmas. I also really enjoyed the invitation to tour the garden and harvest for our own meals.
Our room was beautiful, spacious and our hosts were very attentive to our needs. The fresh air and surrounding beauty was a much needed get away!Francesca also was very helpful with recommendations for regional tours, travel tips, and local happenings and events.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
I think it best to have a car available if possible because touring the area was another wonderful part of our trip.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All of the above. Supporting this accommodation helps support organic farming in the area, thereby reducing environmental impacts of traditional farming practices not seen with organic farming.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was by far the most memorable part of our two week trip to France, Italy and Switzerland. I cannot say enough about the accommodation and our hosts! You will fall in love with Tuscany!
Reviewed on 03 Apr 2014 by Kathlyn Botell
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Everything. Francesca is wonderful. She met me and my boyfriend at the train station, brought us to our lovely room, in a restored barn, and we had fresh baked bread and home made olive oil awaiting our arrival. The stores were closed (it was a sunday) so Francesca gave us some pasta, home made sauce, chickpeas and fruit as well as fresh cheese from a neighbour - so we had food.
The next day she took us to the store, gave us more fresh baked bread, showed us the area, recommended hikes, and took time to explain her farm and what she produces and grows.
A truly wonderful lady, she took so much time to make sure we were comfortable. It was a shame we arrived just after she sowed the garden it would have been lovely to be there when the veggie garden is in full swing.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This is by far my favorite location and place to stay I have been to while traveling and I have been traveling for 3 years.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
This is a great eco holiday!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Such an amazing farm, on magical land, in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The family is lovely, and went out of their way to be incredibly accommodating. Highly recommended and hope to return soon!
Reviewed on 09 Sep 2013 by Smita Shah
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Unbelievably, spending the evening at the edge of the farm watching a race car rally. I have to admit it doesn't appeal when you first think about it, but Francesca is a consummate hostess, she set up benches at the edge of her property by the public road where the race took place, provided food and drink and a little group of us guests at the farm spent a fun evening watching race cars zip over a precarious bend and zoom off. It helped that the other guests were lovely too but Francesca really created a warm and inclusive environment which made it easy for all of us to get to know each other.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You won't need a car. Francesca collected me from the local train station at Incisa which is 40 minutes by local train from Florence and took me into town for food run as I had a self catering apartment. She also grows her own veg and provided me with a basket of delicious organic fresh produce, olive oil and if you ask, freshly baked bread. I stayed in the Farnia Apartment which has a private decking at back, is quiet and overlooks the 22 acres of land which make up the farm so I simply sat there and relaxed.
If you want more freedom to travel, then do get a car but be aware places like Siena, San Gimignano and Florence are a challenge to find parking and may have restrictions for cars.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - the farm is organic with its own vegetable garden, freely wondering chickens for eggs, bee hives for honey, fig trees and olive trees. Francesca is generous with her produce. She is happy to show guests how rain water is collected and solar power is utilised, the ethos is to live in harmony with nature. Guests are provided with separate bins in order to separate waste and recycle.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was simply wonderful. Francesca was welcoming and made me feel right at home, even before I left for my holiday. Her email replies were prompt and helpful. She was enthusiastic and friendly.
The farm is set in beautiful countryside with hills in the distant and the Arno river valley. You can roam freely, relax or go for longer walks as Francesca will point out trails and don't forget to ask about the teepee.
Reviewed on 15 Mar 2013 by Elysha Ramage
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Everything! From the delicious breakfast with homemade produce we had every morning, to the beautiful appartment with its amazing views to the wonderful walks we went on straight out the door.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Its the perfect location for anyone wanting high quality accomodation in a quiet but beautiful setting in ideal location for exploring Tuscany. Plus you have extremely knowledgeable hosts who are able to give you tips on where to go and what to see
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely! We were given a tour of the farm and all the reneweable technologies in place. Plus at breakfast the produce was homemade or came from another local farm.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
One of the best holidays we've had. Couldn't recommend this place enough!
Reviewed on 10 Apr 2013 by paula boyles
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The views of the countryside from the farm. They were wonderful!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring hiking shoes because it gets muddy after a rain but that's part of the fun when exploring the farm and surrounding area! A car is nice only if you want to do exploring places a little further out from the farm, like Siena. We didn't have a car and Francesca was gracious enough to offer to pick us up at the train station in Florence. She also helped us with getting the local train schedules for our day excursions and she dropped us off and picked us up at the train station.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We opted to have breakfast each morning prepared for us by Francesca and we were surprised each morning to find a different homemade bread, tart or whatever she made the night before for breakfast. She also invited us to have dinner with her and her family our first night and she served us products from her farm as well as products from local farmers in which they trade each others products. Yummy! Also, the eggs for breakfast come from her chickens who roam her farm and live off the land. Francesca even provided us with fresh vegetables from her garden to have for our own meals. Her property is run on solar heat and wood burning heating equipment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Our holiday at Poderaccio was one of our best holidays since coming to live in Europe. Not only was her farm very family friendly (she has a daughter the same age as ours), it was a comfortable, warm and relaxed environment. If you just wanted to be alone, you could do that. If you wanted to talk and meet the other guest, you could do that too. It felt like it was home away from home. Most importantly, I believe that Francesca's attention to details and the fact that she wants each guest to have their best experience staying on her farm that she goes above and beyond to make sure it happens. We will be back for sure!
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