Written By Sarah & Gillie
We awoke on our first morning at Paladini farm to the smell of pancakes cooking – with a twist. Chestnut pancakes, made from chestnut flour harvested and milled by our host Colm and the volunteers. On our first day, Colm explained to us how important the chestnuts are to the success of the farm – beyond having an endless supply of roasted chestnuts to eat, the flour is their most profitable product, and they also use it to barter for materials and food needed to keep the farm self-sufficient.
Later that day, we began our worksite activities, which included (among others) plucking hundreds of chestnuts from the trees that grow so plentifully here. Others painted, chopped firewood, or helped Nora and Giovanni with compost and gardening.
In the afternoon, we trekked through the lush green wilderness that makes up paladini’s backyard to a rocky river beneath a bridge. Though it was freezing, many of us braved the swim and lived to tell the wild tale. On our way back, Nora was generous enough to guide us through a nature-inspired art activity in which we had the chance to appreciate the world around us.
Most of our days at Paladini followed in the same manner – mornings of chestnut pancakes and various farm work, afternoons of rest and reflection, and evenings at the campfire singing or hearing stories from all around the world. On Friday afternoon, long-term volunteer Giovanni spiced things up with a game of capture the flag using the entire farm as our terrain; it was a very eventful few hours indeed.
The weekend brought new adventures – on saturday night, the group headed up the main road to a charming pizzeria at the top of the hill. Accompanied by our host and new friends, we ate pizza, shared bruschetta and platters of rosemary french fries, and enjoyed a brief return to a more urban setting.
Sunday meant a rest day first and foremost – after getting the chance to sleep in, we participated in a fun italian lesson with Colm involving leading our friends around blindfolded using Italian commands. In the afternoon, the group traveled into the nearest town for the autumn festival, a lively afternoon of beautiful views and truffled dishes.
Luckily, we were spared of rain later that night, and though Monday was gloomy it stayed clear. as a result, we resumed working on the farm – some new activities included sanding and painting a welcome sign as well as building a firepit. Our afternoon activity was bracelet making with volunteer Soraya.
Tuesday was our last full day, and we began it in the pleasantly familiar manner of breakfast and work. That day, some of us got the chance to plant apple trees in one of Paladini’s orchards, following an established Paladini tradition of leaving one’s mark.
Our last official activity was with a volunteer named Stella, who – through a series of creative questions – encouraged us to reflect on our emotional strengths and vulnerabilities. We finished out the week with one final gathering at the campfire, full of music, laughs, and an italian attempt at s’mores. The next morning, after an adventurous and productive week, we headed off on a surprise trip to Sorrento, a city in southern Italy’s beautiful coast. Here, we will refresh and recharge at the beach before continuing to Matera.
