At the beginning, farming is of traditional type and it concentrates on vines, fodders, cereals and the breeding of cattle and pigs; later, it is decided to extend the cultivation to vegetables that are sold directly at the farm. After a few years, the philosophy of life of the founder group clashes against the traditional method of farming, which, by the way, doesn’t give the expected results.

So, in 1985, it is agreed to adopt the method of organic farming both in farming and in breeding. This method is guaranteed by Icea, Institute for the Ethic and Environmental Certification. The interest for the respect of nature and land leads the cooperative to an in-depth analysis of the biodynamic farming method, conceived in the twenties by Rudolf Steiner, founder of anthroposophy.

In 1996 this method was applied to all the farm for the first time, since then it has been close-examined  constantly, thanks to the contribution of researchers as Kolisko, Pleiffer, Maria Thun, Alex Podolinsky.
 
The Cooperative “La Collina” believes in biodynamic farming as a form of preservation of environment and of man wellness. This way of farming land takes into account soil fertility , biodiversity, and environment as common good that should be given back to future generations with an added value, that is why it respects its limits in production, keeping an efficient economy though, and granting excellent answers from both the agronomic side and the quality of products obtained .

Some key concepts of biodynamic philosophy:

-          it respect and promotes life, making use of a precise knowledge of the lows that rule the different kingdoms of nature: the minerals, the plants, the animals;

-          it promotes and increases soil fertility and vitality, improving, as a consequence, the quality of its products;

-          it considers the farm as a unique living and self-sufficient organism, in which animals, plants, fences, soil and minerals interact each other in order to obtain an harmonious growth, without pesticides and chemical fertilizers;

-          it believes that there is a reciprocal relationship between man’s health and the Earth’s health;

-          it is based on a correct rotation of cultures, in order to give life to the ground , and on the use of green manures and biodynamic compounds;

-          it takes into account of the different phases of the Moon;

-          it takes care of plants so that they can resist against parasites and illnesses.

All the productions, strictly organic and biodynamic, is sold at the farm and in food-shops scattered around the city. Other than fresh products, the cooperative sells manufactured products obtained by its productions and worked by small craft firms that are always certified as organic. In those stores you can also find other processed products coming from other Italian companies carefully chosen among those that follow an organic and biodynamic production. 

 See other products of La Collina that you can find on surbir.it