January 2009 Update

Happy 2009!

For once I am departing from the now traditional format for our update. This one is special. It marks a new era for Casa del Sole...

A change is as good as a rest!
So, what's the big change? Fundamentally, it's an change in outlook and philosophy. We will be walking the walk, not just talking the talk.

Perhaps it would be helpful for me to explain: When we first moved to Casa del Sole nearly 7 years ago we had a dream. This was a hazy, unformed dream with much of the unknown about it but it certainly involved a lot of hard work, a low level of self sufficiency and following a lifestyle that was less dictated by external factors (clients/bosses/media etc.) and more dictated by our own families wants and needs. Yes - it was idealistic. But not unrealistic. Financially we had the means (Richard was to spend a lot of time in the UK working - which was hard but not impossible) and we had plenty of enthusiasm.

And, externally, many of you might think that this is the life that we created over the last 6 years. However, I have to admit that we did take a few wrong turns along the way which led us away from our original goals (remember the 'low level of self sufficiency and following a lifestyle that was less dictated by external factors (clients/bosses/media etc.) and more dictated by our own families wants and needs'). We found ourselves at some points completely motivated by money. Whilst having a mortgage and bills to pay made money a factor in our lives it didn't need to be as big a deal as it sometimes became. We pretty much flogged our guts out through pregnancies, bad weather, small children & personal crisis all because we mistakenly thought we needed the cash to invest in renovating further bits of our farm so we could have more guests, to make more money... and so the spiral continued.

So, finally, we come to realise that the final portion of the barn will probably stay unrenovated for a good long time and that is fine because we have enough accommodation for our family and the odd visitor and Richard now makes sufficient money building and selling houses to pay the bills.

And suddenly, now I don't have to worry about guests or filming, I can start to do some of the stuff I couldn't do previously because of the lack of time or difficult circumstances:

• The first thing I am planning on is extending my garden so that we are 100% vegetably self sufficient. This is hugely time consuming so I couldn't do it before - but soooo rewarding.
• Already we have invested in some more chickens (for eggs). Extending our flock was previously impossible as they were a bit of a nuisance for guests who wanted to have a lovely evening meal on their terrace but who had to fight for their food with a gang of pushy birds.
• Our bees can now move onto our own land (previously I was worried about them being disturbed by rambling guests).
• Our 'Casa del Sole' range of goods will be extended so more of the good stuff will be available in our online shop.
• I'm currently planting more fruit trees/bushes/plants to provide for the above.
• 'Off Grid' is our new battle cry... As yet, we are unable to produce our own electricity (there is a large scale photovoltaic push in Italy but this is in collaboration with the electricity company and has convoluted political connotations that I am not 100% happy about. If anyone knows of an efficient method of storing PV electric on a very small scale I'd be most interested to hear from you). So, instead of converting to photo electric at this time we are simply reducing the amount of electric we need. This means we are implementing gravity feed on our water (currently pumped up to the house from our stream). The water pressure is very low now but that is fine for us. We use only wood burning to heat our house and all our water. Lights are all low energy and on timers... we go to bed early and pretty much work with the seasonal change in light availability. You'd be amazed how much your body appreciates this return to a more natural lifestyle. All of which it would have been very difficult to effect with a holiday rental business. And one of the wonderful side effects is that our electric bills are down by 2/3ds.
• Supermarkets are no longer acceptable places for us - local shops are the only way forwards for a sustainable community and travel will be on 2 feet, 2 bicycle wheels, 4 hooves and only in dire circumstances, in the car.

These are just a brief synopsis of the changes going on around the farm. We have a new air of optimism that has been lacking recently. Personally I think we'd done a bit of a media sell out over the last 3 years. But now we are back and things are looking even more ... earthy!!!
We would like to invite anyone who shares our outlook to visit us in the Chestnut House for working holidays - please email me for details.
We are happy to support Keighley Scouts on their summer trip and are open to any other suggestions of charitable help that we can give to groups or individuals.

Blessings to you and here's to a wonderful 2009.

Sarah, Richard, Gergory, Marco, Torio, Leo and all the animals.