History. Nature. Values.
Masseria Francescani was born from the need to create an imaginary bridge between the traditions of the past and the ethical values of modern sustainability. Every single brick that composes it is a memory and a clear testimony of a distant time, with its origins and history. To that history, which we strongly wanted to preserve, we have woven ethical, sustainable, autarkic choices. Every feature of the Masseria has been a constant and pervasive stream of thought for us. We let ourselves be contaminated by its historical and concrete beauty, its linearity and refinement, its immense spaces and the greenery that dominates its exteriors. We let ourselves be overwhelmed by each of its elements : the imposing structure in Lecce stone that stands sumptuously and guards distant histories; the surrounding territory, raw, wild, Mediterranean; the light, that typical of the South, warm and penetrating. And it is Apulia that inspired us, this Salento of immutable simplicity and genuineness, which invites us to slow the pace and savor every moment with deep gratitude. We have learned to stay listening to the silent nature that surrounds us in this strip of land. Repetitive, calm, powerful. We gave ourselves completely to our guests in the only way Apulians know: with love and extreme dedication. A welcome that embraces but does not invade, that has always flowed in our veins, yet is constantly changing, projecting into the future.
Sustainability
Living on a Masseria, from the earliest times, has meant habits and modus operandi different from the common ones. The slow passage of time is a primordial characteristic of it: in Masseria, in fact, everything glides, everything flows, everything moves toward a slow, meticulous, rural unfolding. Being sustainable and pursuing ethically profound values has become for us, therefore, a form of extreme respect for a place that has remained unchanged in time and space. We have made choices that are increasingly conscious and more oriented toward a range of modern practices that make us spokespeople for an important message of change. A change that, in reality, is a real return to the past, when respect for nature and its seasonality, the care of the garden and the reuse of food waste were among the fundamental rules of living well. The olive tree is emblematic and representative of this philosophy of ours: its strong, centuries-old roots represent that from which we descend and which will always belong to us; its long branches, on the other hand, are projections into the future, evolutions of our soul ready to welcome change.
Ethical practices
Respecting nature and its rules requires commitment and dedication. Every choice made stems from constant research and study. The evolution of ourselves and of a timeless place like Masseria Francescani requires time, numerous attempts and infinite patience. Our vegetable garden is tangible proof of this. In fact, the long and delicate process of cultivation of this land, brings with it seasonal products harvested every morning and delivered to the wise hands of Nonna Franceschina, who with her wisdom and practicality, will know how to transform them into the dishes of the Salento tradition. The use of products at Km 0, the minimization of waste, the reuse of waste in the kitchen, energy saving through the installation of solar panels, the practice of foraging, the total disuse of plastic, are just some of the practical examples of our ethical and sustainable vision. The fast-paced world outside has made us reflect on how necessary it is instead to slow down, look back and, if necessary, even stop. Oxygenating the mind and recovering customs of yesteryear is the real key to being able to look to the future.
Ethical practices
Respecting nature and its rules requires commitment and dedication. Every choice made stems from constant research and study. The evolution of ourselves and of a timeless place like Masseria Francescani requires time, numerous attempts and infinite patience. Our vegetable garden is tangible proof of this. In fact, the long and delicate process of cultivation of this land, brings with it seasonal products harvested every morning and delivered to the wise hands of Nonna Franceschina, who with her wisdom and practicality, will know how to transform them into the dishes of the Salento tradition. The use of products at Km 0, the minimization of waste, the reuse of waste in the kitchen, energy saving through the installation of solar panels, the practice of foraging, the total disuse of plastic, are just some of the practical examples of our ethical and sustainable vision. The fast-paced world outside has made us reflect on how necessary it is instead to slow down, look back and, if necessary, even stop. Oxygenating the mind and recovering customs of yesteryear is the real key to being able to look to the future.
The vegetable garden
We grow our garden according to the Fukuoka method, known today as "natural farming," devised by Japanese microbiologist and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka. We scrupulously follow every rule of it and specifically: no plowing and pruning, no weeding, no use of fertilizers and pesticides. Everything revolves around the philosophy of "don't do," because in the universe, processes and changes happen spontaneously. Nature is capable of self-regulation, and the best way to care for a vegetable garden or a garden is precisely to "let nature do". We have espoused this line of thinking, which, although it leads us to obtain smaller than average fruits and vegetables, at the same time allows us to optimize resources for the sustenance and maintenance of the garden, as well as to derive significantly higher quality and flavor of produce. Our mission is to recognize ourselves, to feel that we are an integral and functional part of a system based on the naturalness of things, their purity and essentiality. We use the products that nature gives us, qualitatively good without artifice or excessive human intervention. We have returned to working the land, as our grandparents did. We have returned, naturally and proudly, to getting our hands dirty.
