Earlier this month, our Italian Farm Education Director, Niccolò Merighi, visited the US to bring together the Spannocchia community in New York City, Boston, and Portland, ME, while also exploring like-minded farms and food producers in the region and attending the NOFA-VT Winter Conference. We had so much fun welcoming Nico to the States and we loved seeing so many "Friends" throughout our travels. More than 130 of you joined us over three events, coming from as far as South Carolina, New Orleans, and Belgium! Check out our tour timeline and photos of our travels online here.
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Carrying on the theme of community from January, we can’t help but think about the INTERNS & APPRENTICES who make up such a vibrant part of the Spannocchia residential community each year. There isn’t a single day that goes by without at least a few of them on-site, reminding us of the power of community and of our educational mission. Interns and apprentices participate in our programs to learn more about regenerative agriculture, food traditions, and environmental issues, but the experience is so much richer. . . Read more about the significance of our Internship & Apprenticeship programs on our website.
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New Board Members: At our annual meeting last month, we were thrilled to welcome five amazing new (or returning) board members! Benvenuti to:
- Jacopo Goracci, Grosseto, Italy – farm manager at Tenuta di Paganico, PhD/Animal Husbandry
- Katie Moss, OR – Butcher Apprentice '23, organic farm management, MA/Art & Architectural History
- Anna Wells ("Roo") Piotti Castonguay, ME – Farm Intern '17, Bates College staff, PhD/Philosophy
- Sheela Prakash, NC/NYC – Farm Intern '10, cookbook author, MA/Food Culture & Communications
- Loring Schwarz, MA – recent board member, retired environmental nonprofit leader, Master/Forest Science
Departing Board Members: We also said arrivederci and grazie mille to three long-time board members. Thank you to Ariane Lotti, John O'Keefe, and John Piotti for all that you contributed to our organization over the past many years!
Trustees Emeriti: New this winter, we established two Trustees Emeriti positions for longtime past board members—and very dear friends of Randall and the Spannocchia famiglia—John O'Keefe and Richard Olken. We are incredibly grateful for John and Richard's decades of service to Spannocchia and their knowledge and passion for our work and the property. Please join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved honor!
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EXPLORE: Tuscany with A Tavola!
Discover food and wine in Tuscany this May with Silvia! Celebrating Italy's food and wine culture, our A Tavola! program combines cooking classes and field trips to local artisanal producers, small organic farms, Siena and Tuscan villages, and dining at intimate restaurants. Read more details online and register today!
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SHOP: New Anniversary Swag is Online!
In addition to our usual offerings, new anniversary-branded items are now available from our online shop for purchase in the US. Show your Spannocchia love with a wine tote or wine coasters featuring our anniversary logo. We also have vinyl stickers of both our standard and anniversary logos. Shop now!
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CELEBRATE: 100 & 800 years!
2025 marks big anniversaries for Spannocchia: 100 and 800(!) years! We'll be celebrating with activities, events, and special communications throughout the year. We hope you'll join us in some way—whether on-site in Italy, together in the US, or remotely through virtual opportunities. Read more here!
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Many thanks to all of the photographers and artists who donate their work, with special thanks to our talented friend Rusty Lamer for designing our 2025 Anniversary logo!
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