Snow-tipped Mt. Etna.
Lets just say I got bored one morning and made my breakfast into a pizza. Yogurt bianco, muesli, and fresh pomegranates.
The morning starts off by feeding the animals and turning off the irrigation for the orange trees. Because one person can do all that it's basically whoever wakes up first. Feeding the chickens, hens, and geese is a great way to start the day. Straight up battles.
Some other work we've done is helped out the neighbors to harvest olives, helped Nirav pack some boxes to be shipped to his customers all over Italy, harvested almonds, pomegranates, lemons, and avocados, put compost-y manure around young orange trees, and a lot of side jobs here and there. There is no replacement for hands on work out in the fresh air and warm sun. So refreshing.
Unfortunately the day we picked lemons and avocados I didn't bring my camera, but it was so cool. I've never seen avocado trees. They are giant and perfect for climbing. I felt like I was in an exotic rain forest. To harvest them one person had to climb a long ladder or the tree itself and use an extended clipper while the other person would catch them (or get hit in the face, haha Amanda). Nirav, as well as a lot of other people, have deals (or not) with other land owners. For example, a while back Nirav found this abandoned piece of land that had loads of lemon and avocado trees, so he got in contact with the owner and he now harvests all the goodies then gives the owner a share of the money from the sales. According to locals there are also gypsies that ride around on horses (I've heard plenty on the street right by La Casa delle Acque) and steal food from abandoned properties, but sometimes they are not abandoned!
Unfortunately the day we picked lemons and avocados I didn't bring my camera, but it was so cool. I've never seen avocado trees. They are giant and perfect for climbing. I felt like I was in an exotic rain forest. To harvest them one person had to climb a long ladder or the tree itself and use an extended clipper while the other person would catch them (or get hit in the face, haha Amanda). Nirav, as well as a lot of other people, have deals (or not) with other land owners. For example, a while back Nirav found this abandoned piece of land that had loads of lemon and avocado trees, so he got in contact with the owner and he now harvests all the goodies then gives the owner a share of the money from the sales. According to locals there are also gypsies that ride around on horses (I've heard plenty on the street right by La Casa delle Acque) and steal food from abandoned properties, but sometimes they are not abandoned!
Two face on the prowl.
Chestnut shells to use in the garden to stop slugs.
The world trekkers. We took the pic because Christian, Lovisa, Laurence, Ben, and John were all heading off to other farms in Sicily. Amanda (far left) and Ruth (far right) just arrived separately but they are both from the United States. That's always good to hear! Epic times my friends.
Chestnut shells to use in the garden to stop slugs.
We drove up like we were going up to Mt. Etna and stopped in the forest to pick chestnuts, and well nothing is better than free stuff (especially food). I'm blown away by how many fruit and nut trees there are in Sicily. It's not uncommon for me to be on a walk and find an almond or fig tree on the side of the road and just go to town.
Paterno. That's a normal sight to see. All dudes! I don't know where all the women go, but not out in the town that's for sure.
Exploring Paterno.
On one of my days off I went to an internet cafe in Paterno to buy my GreyHound ticket home, and the day before one of the neighbors made homemade bread in the old school oven. It was exceptional. I cut up an entire loaf to take with me and also brought some heavenly olive oil (from olives we harvested and pressed within two days). Anyways, after I bought my ticket I timed it so it would be right when the local high school was getting out. I posted up on a bench enjoying my superbly simple lunch and watched the interactions going on, to really soak in the culture and gauge it with my own upbringing. Afterwards walking home I was in one of those untouchable moods, like put a wall in front of me and I'll break through it with my bare hands.
Volcano sunset from La Casa delle Acque. Fittingly, seeing as we're right by an active volcano.
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