Inspecting the pool at the the farm with Lockie, one of the two farm cats, who is particularly interested in the family of frogs who have taken up residence in the mush of ripped tarpaulin, storm debris, earth, and plants that have sprouted up at the bottom during a period of neglect. Cleaning and repairing it is a big job, and maintaining it is expensive, but we think we’ve had a better idea, and one we’re more comfortable with.

Given our commitment to sustainable regenerative farming, and considering the severe challenges of the changing climate and droughts that Italy suffers, we feel we can’t indulge the extravagance, cost, and especially the water waste. So we are doing our research on converting it into a natural organic pond, filled with lillies, floating earth baskets, water plants, and yes, frogs, dragonflies, and even fish, to create a little watery oasis of biodiversity. It was the frog’s idea.