Le Spinose

It was sad to leave our friends at OZU but it was time to move along to the next farm.

We spent some more time on the bikes riding through the Sabina region of Italy before arriving at Le Spinose (the porcupine) on Sunday. The ride was beautiful but very hilly (again) as we rode up and down medieval hill towns each precariously perched above the olive orchards below.

The green gold in this part of the country is the renown extra virgin olio which is nothing like what we buy at Safeway. It makes the simplest dish wonderful! We are totally addicted and will look for high quality imports when we get home.

Le Spinose is a large organic and biodynamic farm with olives, grapes, an acre of veggies, sheep, cows, and chickens. Our host is lovely Antonella, a world traveler retired from a crimes management job with the United Nations and a very classy, intellectual woman. From her years in Nepal she brought with her a Sherpa family of six who operate the farming and give us our daily tasks. The father, Pupu, (we had our giggles the first day but got over it fast) was a guide up some of the worlds tallest peaks for many years and consequently he speaks 8 languages and has many stories.

The accommodations must be the best WWOOFer ones anywhere! We have a lovely private apartment with a large bathroom and small kitchen and a great patio where we can have our coffee and listen to the sheep bells and chickens in the valley below.

This afternoon we start the grape harvest and wine production!