Tuscany organic farmstay near Florence, Italy










Description 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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Reviews
12 Reviews of Tuscany organic farmstay near Florence, Italy
Reviewed on 20 Oct 2019 by Janine Lindgren
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. Read full reviewReviewed on 04 Oct 2019 by Julia Key
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. Read full reviewReviewed on 04 Aug 2018 by Janet Richards
Absolutely wonderful, peace, quiet, sun, organic food and beautiful surroundings, with excellent hosts. I would love to return here one day. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Jul 2018 by Louise Pannell
Learning how to make pasta from scratch was the most memorable part of the holiday. Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Oct 2017 by Lynn Cragg
Eating a warm tomato just picked from the vegetable garden, absolutely delicious. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Nov 2016 by Linda Grilley
Beautiful location, wonderful accommodations, fun hiking, welcoming owner. Great break from the urban setting. Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Jul 2016 by Emma Williams
A true highlight of our Italian adventure. Relaxing, rejuvenating, peaceful, charming and delicious! Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Jan 2016 by Gail and Pete Overholt
The most memorable part of the holiday was 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. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Apr 2014 by Kathlyn Botell
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...Such an amazing farm, on magical land, in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Sep 2013 by Smita Shah
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. Read full reviewReviewed on 15 Mar 2013 by Elysha Ramage
One of the best holidays we've had. Couldn't recommend this place enough! Read full reviewReviewed on 10 Apr 2013 by paula boyles
Our holiday was one of our best holidays since coming to live in Europe. The farm was very family friendly it was a comfortable, warm and relaxed environment. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
Wild LifeWe 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.
People
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.
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