Not all dreams are meant to come true, but there are some that you just can't escape. Giulia realized this too, and she told us about her dream.
Country life, with its colorful eggs and small daily miracles, isn't always easy, but Giulia doesn't give up. She has many plans for her little piece of land in Onore, in the province of Bergamo, which is increasingly taking on the appearance of her big dream.
How did this deep passion for nature come about?
Although I am not the daughter of farmers, I have always loved animals, vegetable gardens, and plants.
My first childhood memory related to nature dates back to a day spent with my aunt at her country house. She took me to collect eggs, telling me, "Hold them tight, otherwise the dog will steal them," and I followed her instructions to the letter, squeezing them so hard that I broke them all. It was a disaster, yet I remember that being covered in egg, with the dog running around me, seemed like a real party at the time.
When did you realize you wanted to go into agriculture?
I let this dream settle for a long time, but life presented it to me so many times that at a certain point it became impossible to continue ignoring it.
I have a degree in International Relations, I studied first in Milan and then in Trento.
The two years in Trento were perhaps the most decisive: there, it is absolutely normal to celebrate and promote traditional products and take care of your own territory. So, I thought that we also have a lot of untapped potential in Lombardy and that I could get involved personally.
My partner Matteo and I found a house with land in Onore, a small mountain village, and here we started farming and raising animals, which are now a fundamental part of our Strano Branco. We will soon be starting to renovate the house.
What animals are part of your Strano Branco?
We have goats, sheep, quails, ducks, geese, chickens, and even beehives, because Matteo is passionate about beekeeping.
As soon as possible, I will bring my horses here. I am currently taking courses to obtain my Integrated Riding certification.
How do you learn a trade like this when you come from a completely different world?
I have always loved seeing the beginning and end of things, and in agriculture and animal husbandry, you proceed by trial and error, which often leads to failure.
Instinct is important, and I must say that for me, interacting with animals came naturally right away. Then you network a lot, especially among younger farmers, comparing notes and giving each other valuable advice.
Throughout history, aprons have always been an indispensable garment for outdoor life. How do you use yours in your daily life in the countryside?
It's very useful in the vegetable garden: for example, I put the tools I need while I'm working in the loops for tea towels.
When I go to collect eggs, I often get distracted and lose myself in other activities, perhaps with the eggs already in my hands
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in my pocket. With other heavier aprons, I sometimes forgot I had them with me and broke them, but that doesn't happen with my Apron, because the pockets are very deep and it's so light that it's impossible to forget you have them in your pocket.
Your project is practically in its infancy. Where do you want to take Lo Strano Branco?
We would like to become an educational farm and focus on slow tourism for people who care about sustainability. Although Onore is small, there is a lot of young energy linked to horizontal tourism projects: structures that join forces to work together.
It is also the presence of all these people like us, with small but powerful dreams, that motivates me to continue every day.
For my family, on the other hand, I would like self-sufficiency, a great achievement for those who make life choices like ours.
What difficulties are you encountering in trying to achieve these goals?
Bureaucracy certainly complicates things, and the funds dedicated to agriculture and livestock farming are not so obvious. Sometimes you find yourself investing without knowing if you will recoup your expenses.
I am a fairly stubborn person and I know that sooner or later I will get to the bottom of it.
Photo by Lo Strano Branco
When Giulia starts her day, she feels happy, despite the difficulties, because this is the life that belongs to her. She has finally given in to her dream, indulging the visceral passion for nature that has always accompanied her.
You can follow the adventures of Giulia and her Strano Branco on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/lostranobranco/
