Essays on Umbria, farming and rural hospitality. Opinions, observations and the occasional argument — written from a working farm, not a brochure.
If we lived in a perfectly natural world — or a naturally perfect one, perhaps without the human species — every single day billions of living beings would be eaten by other living beings. So what?
Why I don’t eat meat … and why I do. Read More »
Travelling in 2026 has become a different business altogether. Since the Middle East conflict reignited in late February, jet fuel prices have roughly doubled. Airlines, from KLM to Lufthansa, are quietly cutting routes: entire summer schedules have been rewritten.
Umbria is one of those regions that almost never disappoints. The landscape rarely lets you down, the art cities are human-scale, the food is honest and often very good.
How to choose an agriturismo in Umbria (without getting it wrong) Read More »
When Elena cooks, the verdict is always the same: “Lovely! Delicious! Best ever!” Every so often, though, a different one lands: “… lovely meat, this — shame it’s a bit tough…”. When we hear it, the meat is always ours: chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, all raised here.
Lovely meat, shame it’s a bit tough Read More »
