Farm Sweet Home

How to describe arriving at Spannocchia?

It was a mix of absorbing and observing and realizing what, if any, preconceptions I had. 10 interns were spread between 2 large cars for the ride to the farm, a winding 20 minutes from Siena. My car laughed and joked the whole way, in excitement, asking the driver Daniela various questions about the farm and her role there. When we finally made the turn-off, into the nature reserve in which Spannocchia resides, we were nearly bouncing in our seats, oohing out the window, and talking considerably less. We climbed the hill(s), passing vacation rental homes, vineyards, the chestnut grove, towering cypress trees...and finally passed the stone walls that mark the inner Spannocchia property - where the Villa, Fattoria, and Casa Pulcinelli are located. Yes, it is beautiful. It is old and crumbly, holds the Tuscan light well, is lush with flowering plants, serves lovely views, etc, etc. Is it paradise, though? Dunno. It is a lovely and interesting new home, and one I will never forget - for all those good and less good reasons.

For while I live in Tuscany, a short drive from the medieval gem of Siena, I am also "employed" as a farmhand, working long days in the sun, amidst the flies (mosche). After a weekend of introduction, the 10 interns were finally given our primary duties (gardening, working with pigs or sheep, etc etc). Not to delay any further, please congratulate me (or something) on being the new pastorella (shepherdess, and then some). I care for the flock and help out in both the olive grove and the vineyards, and do whatever else might be needed (like prune lots of fig trees and rose bushes).

I have 29 new best friends. Or at least, weird-looking, not always accomodating cousins.... 23 sheep and 6 adorable lambs, with more lambs on the way, and breeding to come. Largely dumb as doornails, at least these ladies (and ram) make fun noises and look cute. We haven't totally bonded yet. But it's early.