The complete guide to educational farms in the province of Belluno: 18 are accredited

BELLUNO. In the whole Region there are 361, in the province only 18 but they are the maximum expression of farms with a high educational, environmental and eco-sustainable sensitivity. Even the Belluno educational farms are trying to get up after the backlash inflicted by the pandemic, very hard for some that are still blocked, both because the accreditation arrived too little time to prepare a structured offer in the Covid period, and for the inability to involve schools, which has effectively blocked the organization of many initiatives even for the summer season.

Others, on the other hand, are at the peak of their strength, determined to get out of an impasse that risked cutting off their legs not only in the playful and didactic part, but also in the agricultural one and for some even receptive and catering.

HUMAN LAND

We followed them for months between 2017 and 2018 in their three-way journey “to discover the planet” through organic farms, voluntary associations and host communities. On the Facebook page “6 small footsteps” there is still the track crossed by father Jacopo Emma, mother Francesca and little Elia, just 3 years old at the time, literally traveling around the world. Strengthened by that very significant experience, at the end of 2019 the spouses founded the “Terra Umana” farm.

In the meantime, little Geremia arrived, in order to qualify as an educational farm in July 2020 and as a social farm last month. “We bring families into contact with animals and work in the fields, for example by collecting eggs, feeding the lambs, feeding the pigs, but we also offer the possibility of creating individualized didactic paths”, explains Emma. There are also projects for the reintegration into work of three disadvantaged people.

THE WORLD OF FORTUNATO

On the shores of the Corlo di Arsié lake, a small oasis of ornamental hens has taken root for several years, fruit of the passion and preparation of Gessica Bertelle who then, in that “World of Fortunato”, while collecting eggs, raises bees, alpacas and Facen di Pedavena and cultivates some plots.

“We bought two electric boats to be able to do bird watching in the lake without disturbing the animals, also offering a better service to people with disabilities, since the vehicles are more elevated and comfortable”, specifies the breeder.

«Inside our farm there is the educational hatchery, we do the shearing of the alpacas and we use the wool to make neck warmers. In short, we try to diversify ». Compared to previous years, this year “families have increased, which fortunately compensated for the absence of school groups”.

OH HOMES

At the Sant’Antonio di Auronzo di Cadore pass there is the Ai Lares farmhouse, an educational farm since 2005 and therefore one of the first Belluno structures to enter the virtuous circuit of the Veneto Region, located inside a former military barracks. A “extended family” business, the business is led by Luigi Larese who has been hosting visitors for an hour and a half every Wednesday for an hour and a half interested in learning about the dynamics of the forest and animals. For schools he has built a special guided tour to discover the processing of meat and the production of sausages.

In the last two years, however, “we have done nothing for the students, but have kept the traditional Wednesday visit open to all, by appointment”. It may seem little, but it is not at all if we consider that in addition to the management of pigs, beef cows and poultry, there is also the entire management of the catering part.

ZERCOLE

At the “selviturismo” Le Zercole di Pranolz Ezia Nard and his family offer its visitors, young and old, the opportunity to immerse themselves in an endless meadow of medicinal herbs, flanked by the docile presence of farm animals such as horses, pigs and goats, often left free to graze given the isolation in which the structure is immersed.

And of bees, which for children are a pleasant discovery. At the moment catering prevails, given that educational activities have stopped along with school visits.

“We haven’t been able to start with the green weeks yet, I think we’ll make it from mid-July. Normally we do workshops, walks, flower picking, visits to animals. I usually ask for a minimum of ten children to be able to dedicate the right time to their presence. In the future I would like to dye aprons and napkins, or prepare scented bunches to hang at home ».

***

Yoga also made its debut at Vallina di Quero

The mill of fantasy: the leaves of the cobs like boats in the canal

Lucia Furlan with a donkey and the Vallina farm in the background

Lucia Furlan inherited the seventeenth-century mill of “La Vallina”, located at the entrance to the Schievenin valley in the Quero Vas area, from her grandfather Luigi, who had bought it, rearranged it and put it back into operation. Today that jewel that is the symbol of the manufacturing of the lower Feltrino area is no longer in operation, except for small demonstration actions that are the flagship of the guided tours of the farm, registered in the register of educational farms in Veneto since 2005 and therefore among the first accredited in the province of Belluno.

“Those who come without a reservation can feed the animals, all suitable even for the little ones or people with disabilities, such as rabbits, geese, ducks, a donkey and a horse”, says the owner, who takes care of the structure with passion. but who is still busy with a second job in order to meet all the maintenance costs of the structure.

“There is the water of the canal that becomes an infinite game, where you can compete with the cobs and the leaves of the cobs, used as small boats to be fished out with the net”.

Nature offers a lot of possibilities even for adults, the elderly or people with disabilities, who are offered special guided tours. One involves the reactivation of the mill with the opening of the gate to make the water of the stream flow into the turbine tank and restart the hopper for stone grinding, used to grind the corn to be then given as feed to the animals. For the more active you can also take the path in the valley along the ancient road of the mills, with a final visit to the museum adjacent to the farmhouse.

In the summer, the bakery workshops and the activities in the garden always restart. New this year the “Educational Yoga” surrounded by greenery, proposed for children and teenagers from 3 to 12 years with the homonymous sports association, scheduled from 5 to 10 July and from 12 to 17, from 8.30 to 17.30 (for information call 338 3176692).

***

Belluno, open to the public every afternoon

A camel on the Piave, the company of Rivamaor small caravanserai

The Helmut camel arrived in Rivamaor in September and has already become one of the flagship attractions of the Fattoria del Piave by Elisa Da Canal and Damiano Prizzon. Docile and affectionate, in order to arrive in the province from Belluno he did not require any particular documentation, other than «the collection of specific information regarding diet, habits and treatment».

At his side graze donkeys, horses, Scottish cows, alpacas, llamas and dwarf sheep, the “woolly” pigs rest and scratch about a hundred poultry, including splendid ornamental hens, which share 3 and a half hectares of park and over 12 grazing for larger animals. A paradise in the land of Visome, which became an educational farm with the arrival of last autumn.

“We started with a family business which then evolved, becoming everything we have created now, that is an educational farm with breeding”.

The area can be visited freely, or you can book a guided tour, organized by Da Canal. «We have not yet started organizing specific initiatives, or particular days. This is mainly due to a question of prevention and restrictions. But as soon as there are fewer limitations, we will certainly relaunch all our initiatives ».

The absence of school groups weighed heavily on them too, since “interest was important, both on the part of nursery schools and primary schools”. Meanwhile, the activity of “Grazing children” has started and will last for the entire month of July, from Monday to Friday from 8 to 13, because the afternoon is reserved for openings to the public, as well as for the care of animals that know no breaks. In case of rain, indoor activities will be offered. It is recommended to bring a packed snack and be armed with curiosity, no problem getting your hands dirty and lots and lots of love for animals. –

***

ALL THE OTHER

ZUGNI TAURO DE MEZZAN