My Italian permaculture garden is wild

For all of you who have visited us for an Italian cooking class, cooking holiday or wine tour or olive tour,  you know that I have a passion for foraging and for my permaculture garden. Over the years, I have had to battle snails, slugs, porcupines, wild boar and badgers, a broken drip irrigation system, plus soil that is filled with rocks and clay.....but finally, talking to the local farmers and getting everyone's advice on how to 'conquer' and work in harmony nature.....this year my permaculture garden  is going wild! It is producing more tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini than I know what to do with.

What a great sense of satisfaction, to have my permaculture garden producing so much that I can share my produce with neighbours and friends.

We use our own produce and source our ingredients locally for our Italian cooking classes. So you could not get more local and fresh than this. As I say to our guests "my permaculture garden does not look pretty...but it sure produces the BEST tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchinis, plus zucchini flowers ( or whatever is in season at the time) I have ever tasted!"

We also offer a selection of local produce: including meats, pecorino cheeses, local breads, olives and salad made of our own tomatoes and cucumbers straight from our garden, during the last stop of our Rome Olive Tours and Rome Wine Tours.  Just to give you an idea that it is not just us appreciating the quality of my organic homegrown produce.....I want to tell you a story of 'J'.. I hope 'J', one of our guests on a recent Rome Olive Tour, does not mind me telling you, ....but he said that he hated tomatoes, all tomatoes......that is until he tried some of my tomatoes, fresh from our garden..... and guess what, he LOVED them so much that he said he did not want to leave Italy, and if he had to leave to return home....that he would be back to visit us! Wonderful, we look forward to his return!

For more information about our Italian Cooking Holidays, Italian Cooking Classes, Rome Olive Tours and Rome Wine Tours, please contact me on info@conviviorome.com

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Extra virgin olive oil- Healing remedies of the Sabine Hills

We had to climb a mountain to get some rutin (ruta) leaves so we could make a healing lotion using our local extra virgin olive oil. It was absolutely worth it!

View over the Sabine Hills from Monte San Martino

The first time Sally and I tried to climb Monte San Martino, starting at the '4 winds' 'i quattro venti' crossing, we came across a huge herd of what seemed like giant goats. We called out for the shepherd and our only response came from two large sheepdogs, who definitely did not want us to pass.....so understanding the message, we retreated to safer ground. 

The next time we climbed this mountain to visit the ruined monastery perched on it's peak, we organised a group of 20 friends to come along for a picnic ( and as potential goat protectors) and of course did not see one fierce goat on the whole trail! 

Meeting some of the curious locals ( luckily only sheep this time!)

View from the top over the medieval village of Fara Sabina

Ruined monastery walls where the rutin plant grows

We have returned several times and have always enjoyed the spectacular views from the top. It is really magical. On our second trip with friends, we also learnt all about this 'magical' plant called Rutin that is said to have amazing healing properties. The rutin, ruta plant grows in abundance near the ruined monastery and we were given a local recipe on how to make this healing lotion: "place a couple of small branches of Rutin, (found next to the ruined monastery on a local hilltop) in a sealed container and cover with extra virgin olive oil, for 6 weeks. Then take out the plant and the lotion is ready". Extra virgin olive oil has the ability to absorb the healing properties (and smell) of the rutin plant ( as with other plants or herbs). Rutin is said to be great for circulation and also used as an anti-inflammatory ( only to be rubbed into the skin).
The smell of this plant so bad ( I agree, it really stinks) that it is said to have been used in medieval times, to keep witches away!

Author's note: This information about the healing properties of Rutin was given to me by one of our local ladies, Signora Lina, and not to be taken as a medical fact. As with all topical lotions using natural herbs and plants, please use with great caution. Rutin maybe good for your circulation but it can also irritate the skin.

Come along and visit this area, the Sabine Hills, with Sally and I, on a Convivio Rome Italian Cooking Holiday or a One Day Cooking Class, or Half Day Olive Tour or Wine Tour. There is so much to show you in this undiscovered land.

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Best Rome Day Trips - Easy Fun Day Trips from Rome

When planning your trip to Italy, Rome is top of the 'list' for tourists to visit. But once you have 'done' the major sights in the beautiful Eternal City, where would you go to take a day trip into the Rome countryside?
The train system is very efficient in Italy and you do not have to travel far to experience something authentically Italy and have a great day out.

As it is often hard to choose where to go for your Rome Day Trip.....I wanted to give you 2 Guides to Rome Day Trips: We have included both Martha's Tips, called '6 Rome Day Trips' and Guido's Guide called '5 Best Rome Day Trips' ( see below):

Italian Travel Expert: Martha has a list of her favourite places to visit:

6 Rome Day Trips : Ancient Sites, Hill Towns, Gardens, and Wine

You don't have to go all the way to Pompeii to walk on ancient Roman roads, visit Ostia Antica

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As an eight generation Roman, here is Guido's (my) guide on the 5 Best Rome Day Trips in the Sabine Hills and closer to Rome:

The Sabine Hills, an unknown and very beautiful place to visit- an easy Day Trip from Rome

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