Borgo Podernovo: like one big family
The village is the only large family that has given work in the past to dozens of peasant’s families. They cultivated cereals, corn, fruit trees, beef cattle, horses, rabbits and poultry. A blacksmith and a carpenter also worked in the village to meet the needs of the farmers. The real glue, however, was the respect and mutual trust between the owners and the farmers.
As history has evolved, the agricultural world has transformed profoundly, but the passion for the land has not changed, thus continuously preserving a deep respect for nature and its laws.
Borgo Podernovo, since 1909
The historical documents in our possession that has been handed down from generations and visible in the village museum, tells the story of the Borgo starting in 1909. The founder was Francesco Malvolti. A nobleman from Orvieto who received the land as a seal of friendship with a Marquis from Orvieto and who in turn, divided his possessions between his two sons Antonio and Luigi. It is due to Luigi, a young descendant of the Malvolti family and through his energy and courage, the Bolsena Estate was created thus founding the most beautiful and flourishing agricultural company in the area.
The Farm equipment
In the 1950’s, agriculture underwent a strong transformation thanks to the introdcution of machinery.
Here was the start of tractors, combine harvesters, and other agricultural machinery gradually replaced manual laborers and as a result, increasing productivity and reducing the exhaustion of farmers working on the land.
This progress led to a radical change to the countryside; less manpower needed and due to this decline the farmers slowly began leaving the village.
The last of the family farmers left the village in the 1980’s.
Agritourism
Since 2000, the village has reinvented itself opening its doors to the organic volcanic stone farmhouses to the many visitors from around the world.
The farmhouses are situated overlooking Lake Bolsena and crosses the famous ‘Via Francigena, a path travelled since the Middle Ages by the pilgrims who travelled from Canterbury UK to Rome which today, is the most famous slow walked routes.
Why choose organic?
In 2015, Borgo Podernovo farm chose the organic path and here is why:
“For our children and future generations to come and or the future of our planet, we have chosen the path of organic and eco-sustainability. For this reason, we are among the founding members of the ‘Bio District of Lake Bolsena’, who are actively engage in maintaining the delicate balance that exists in the area of community interests and for the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna."
In the area, strictly organic crops are therefore a moral obligation, even before production choices are made.
The OBJECT MEMORIES and the Village that once was.
