Welcome to The Italy Project

Welcome.

When I tell people that I have bought a house in the countryside of Italy and what my plans are, their response is quite often 'you're living the dream'! My dream? Yes. However, 'la dolce vita', is not 24/7 gelato and spritz. There's a reality that can be physcially, mentally and emotionally exhausting. You work hard for those sweet moments where you can look back and appreciate what you've achieved. It is in these moments that you are re-energised to 'live the dream'.

I have been asked frequently to share my 'adventure' - the renovation of my home and establishment of my life in Le Marche: the good, bad and hilarious. To share those difficult moments and to celebrate the wins, however big or small.

So here I am - sharing a little of my adventure.

Where to start?

I became only the second owner of an old farmhouse outside the city of Jesi, in Le Marche, Italy, in February 2023. Le Marche, located on the east coast of Italy, is one of country's 20 regions and is one of its least known. It is surrounded by five well-known regions of Italy - Lazio, Umbria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Abruzzo. Within its borders is the republic of San Marino. The region spans from the Adriatic to the Apennines.

The house.

In total there are 6 buildings on 1ha of land. There is the main house (pictured above), a pigsty, a bake house, a barn and two 'lean-to' structures that are used to house hay, or machinery. In total it is 1,000 sqm.

The garden.

The land around the house contains trees, hedges and a lot of brambles and bamboo. I also have my own slurry pit: a leftover from when 70 cows called this place home. I inherited a rickety old 'greenhouse' and no dedicated garden beds. I have multiple mulberry trees, several figs and some wild cherries. My aim is to create a habitat that uses regenerative agriculture methods, bringing in diversity of plants and animals (big and small), to bring this little part of Italy back to production.

What's next?

Well, that's for future entries (can't give it all away now!). For now, I hope you can join me as I embark on my Italy Project.