For the last 20 years, we have been dedicated to preserving the land and promoting sustainable living through our organic farming practices.
At Podere Conti, we believe that food should not only nourish our bodies, but also be good for the earth. That's why we use only the most natural and eco-friendly farming methods, free of harmful chemicals and pesticides. Our crops are grown in nutrient-rich soil, using organic fertilisers and natural pest control methods. This not only ensures that our produce is of the highest quality, but also protects the health of our land and the surrounding ecosystem.
Having recuperated an abandoned olive grove saving some 400 old trees, we have also planted over 1,500 new olive trees in the last 20 years. We use traditional olive harvesting methods to produce an organically certified extra virgin olive oil from mainly Leccino and Frantoio trees, which provides a flavourful oil with low acidity. We use our olive oil in the restaurant, and a limited quantity is available to buy at Podere Conti.
We breed an endangered variety of local mountain sheep from Zeri renowned for its lamb which traditionally is cooked in wrought iron pans called "testi". As well as providing us with meat for the restaurant, the sheep form part of the circular system of cleaning as well as naturally fertilising the land and providing us with good organic matter for our no dig and composting systems.
We have an extensive choice of fresh herbs from those that grow wildly around us - borage, lemon balm, nepitella, dandelion - as well as those cultivated by us perennially - rosemary, sage, lavender, thyme, bay laurel - and annually - basil.
As well as recuperating various old fruit and nut trees scattered around the property - fig, cherry, grape, plums, walnut - we also grow peaches, prunes, apricots, apples and pears in our new fruit orchard. We also produce fresh, seasonal and organically certified vegetables for use in our restaurant. We strive to maximise the biodiversity of what we grow by having produce available in all the appropriate seasons.
