ORGANIC VEGETABLE BOXES AT YOUR DOORSTEP IN MAREMMA

GAT Scansano's vegetable box
House-delivered, tasty and organic only

Nothing makes me happier than the weekly arrival of our organic vegetable box from Scansano. At least from spring to autumn. The sight of a box full of cabbages in the winter can be a little disheartening even for a lifelong vegetarian like me.

Italy is Europe's biggest producer of organic food (which may come as a surprise, considering that the country is better known for its garbage heaps in Naples and other ecological crimes). Around 50'000 farms and wineries in Italy are certified organic and almost 20% of the country's agricultural land is farmed according to organic or biodynamic standards.

Nevertheless, organic vegetable boxes haven't been around for too long. At least not in the Tuscan countryside, where distribution is complicated due to low population density.

A group of hardworking Italians is about to change this now. If you're a resident in Maremma, you can order your own organic vegetable box via GAT SCANSCANO near Murci.

3,5 kg weekly organic vegetable box: 40€ per month
5,0 kg weekly organic vegetable box: 50€ per month
6,5 kg weekly organic vegetable box: 60€ per month

Call them (+39 0564 51 90 52) to find out whether they already deliver in your area. If not, try to get a group of customers together, so as to make transport costs sustainable. And no worries if you spend only part of the year in Tuscany - the folks from Scansano are very flexible.

GAT Scansano also offers beehives for adoption or whole pieces of land to buy - in case you'd like to become co-owner of an organic farm in Tuscany!

Let me know, if you happen to know of any other organic vegetable box suppliers in Tuscany. I'd be happy to give them a shout out.

ANTIBIOTIC AWARENESS DAY, CAPPUCCINO & HOMEOPATHY IN A TUSCAN BAR

A couple of weeks ago I sat over Cappuccino in the local bar when overhearing the village plumber talking about antibiotics. No, I didn't eavesdrop. That would be an impossible thing to do in a Tuscan bar where people generally shout as if everybody present was wearing a hearing aid. Therefore anybody, whether closest in kin or total stranger is invited to join the conversation. Not that you have to. You're free to keep your head buried in the local newspaper. And that's exactly what I did that particular morning. Not for long though. As a homeopath I'm obviously as concerned about the over- and misuse of antibiotics as the man who installed our shower box. Every inhabitant of a Tuscan village has a nickname. Behind his back the plumber is being called Il Professore - the professor. Now I know why. Who else could be bothered to publicly address the growing nightmare of antibiotic resistance first thing over coffee on a Monday morning?

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THE TALE (and some pics) OF THE PERFECT TUSCAN CHRISTMAS LUNCH

I'm writing a book (which has been published in the meantime). Hence I raise the word count by cutting down on aperitifs (not an easy feat in my Tuscan village ), and I keep the storyline going by dodging invitations to Sunday lunch. But when I know that the table will look like this... and the food like this it's hard to resist... Hence we drove to the Chianti and followed the crowd through the woods to jump into the midst of the clatter, chatter and laughter of a Tuscan Christmas gathering, which was cleverly interrupted by countryside walks to make sure there was room for more, until - inevitably - the moment arrived, when all the plates were licked and the last bottle of Chianti was emptied and it was time to go home (you said you drive, right?). INGREDIENTS FOR A TUSCAN GATHERING Lunch was organized by Emiko Davies and Giulia from Juls' Kitchen , who with the help of their respective partners put together

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INCONTRI FESTIVAL: 30 years of world-class music in Val d'Orcia

Incontri in Terra di Siena festival at Locanda dell'Amorosa (photo Paul Flanagan) Stellar locations and classical music executed by with world-class musicians is the hallmark of the Incontri in Terra di Siena festival. Cellist Antonio Lysy, grandson of writer Iris Origo, organized the first concert in the Val d'Orcia 30 years ago and since then the festival has become one of the backbones of Tuscany's classical music season. This summer Incontri celebrates its round birthday wit h an impressive line-up of musicians flying in from all over the world. Flutist Emmanuel Pahud, pianists Leif Ove Andsnes, Lucille Chung, Alessio Bax (the festival's artistic director who appears on the Oscar-winning soundtrack of 'Call Me By Your Name'), tenor Ian Bostridge, violist Lawrence Power and many more reunite in some of the most stunning venues of southern Tuscany. The concerts are accompanied by a dedicated program called 'Oltre La Musica' which includes

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