Cercatori's Farm
Cercatori di Semi da Gennaio 2017 ha finalmente una propria tenuta in affitto. Nei primi anni l'uso gratuito concessoci ci ha portato a non avere il pieno controllo delle coltivazioni mettendoci spesso in difficoltà. La tenuta dei Cercatori è a circa venti minuti da Roma, conta 15 ettari recintati. Qui coltiviamo tutte le varietà della nostra banca del germoplasma, poi distribuite sia gratuitamente. In più produciamo le sementi per il Progetto Melissa, con le specie Salva api api: Vedovina Maggiore, Vedovina Selvatica, Facelia, Borragine e altre specie, destinate alla distribuzione gratuita del progetto.
Utilizziamo la rotazione, i terreni incolti sono utilizzati come pascolo dagli animali che salviamo. Da qualche anno adottiamo animali da allevamenti clandestini o abbandonati, bovini ed equini principalmente, li mettiamo in regola con passaporti che ne impediscono la macellazione per poi ridestinarli gratuitamente. Non tutti, alcuni sono rimasti con noi. Coltiviamo solo con metodi naturali, in modo sostenibile, con impatto nullo o addirittura positivo in molti casi.
Dal 2022 in collaborazione con l'azienda Agricola Santa Teresa e la dottoressa Ana Maria Pulido Guerrero abbiamo iniziato una sperimentazione denominata Aridocoltura per produrre sementi di specie ed ecotipi adatti al cambiamento climatico in atto
How do we cultivate
On the estate we use only natural methods.
We use biodegradable sheets for mulching, as well as for tying. We use (a lot) of macerates and beneficial insects; we don't use any insecticides, fertilizers, or even synthetic herbicides.
We use well-composted manure as fertilizer; the macerates serve as foliar fertilizer. The large amount of soil, all medium-textured and well-draining, allows us to continuously rotate crops to limit the spread of plant diseases. For unavoidable diseases, such as poronospora, which affects numerous species, we use a light copper compound, but only when conditions are at risk. The presence of spontaneous borders and an ecological balance not threatened by the use of invasive and destructive methods allow us to:
Manual sowing on the estate
It allows interventions to be kept to a minimum, local fauna also helps this productive balance. The estate is an oasis where we forbid hunting and, fortunately, it enjoys an exceptional concentration of wild animals, from porcupines to badgers, from birds of prey to foxes, including amphibians such as toads and tree frogs, all involved in keeping the crops healthy. Although sometimes we have had some issues, like the porcupines that gnaw on pumpkins and roots at night, we have struggled a bit (a lot), but after a few attempts we found a peaceful solution using a particular ecotype of Lagenaria pumpkin which has a repellent effect and sowing edible pumpkins outside their dens, near the ditches.
Vegetable gardens and crops
This year, we've grown over 500 species and varieties. In the greenhouses, we germinate the vegetables that will be transferred to the various vegetable gardens. To prevent hybridization, we grow in multiple gardens, placing some species at a safe distance (about 500 meters). A special garden is dedicated to rarer species that require testing or selection. We grow four types of corn on the estate, spaced at least 700 meters apart, as do sunflowers. The crops have a limited number of plants for safety and greater care. The other corn varieties are grown in gardens outside the estate, as the only variety of species, maintaining safe distances from neighboring crops.
Peanuts in our Farm
We use hand pollination for cucurbits, as we can't maintain safe distances due to the large number of ecotypes. Monocultures are grown on small plots using crop rotation. Currently (November 2019), we're sowing an ancient wheat variety on one hectare, solely for the association's seed production. In March, we'll be planting hemp, which was excluded this year due to the uncertain climate surrounding the crop.
Free shelter and animal rescue
We publicize this aspect of Cercatori little, we have lots of space on our farm, and due to rotations there remain uncultivated plots, these become the pasture land for the animals which, rescued from the slaughterhouse, by terrible breeding conditions or no longer suitable for competitions and therefore semi-abandoned to their destiny.
We nurture them back to health, regularize them by providing them with a chip and passport, and then we find them a new home. However, not all of them leave, some remain. We also provide free stalls to those in difficulty, but with the stipulation that the animals must not be subsequently slaughtered (in the photo Pinocchio, terrible donkey from Amiata).
Pinocchio donkey from Amiata
Visits to the estate
The estate is closed to the public except for special events such as free seedling distributions or seminars and meetings. We are currently (September 2022) awaiting permits to build a structure suitable for hosting meetings. All updates will be sent to you by email.
The future plan is to complete a small reception facility to host volunteers free of charge.