1. Pilot training course on multifunctional farmers' educative role
Call: IT02-KA KA2 - Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices-Strategic Partnerships for adult education
Call: IT02-KA KA2 - Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices-Strategic Partnerships for adult education
Pilot training course on
multifunctional farmers' educative role
MODULE: AGRITOURISM
CASE STUDY n° 2
Agriturismo ANTICA GOLENA
“Le terre della Contessa”
Guastalla (Reggio Emilia) 1

2. MODULE: AGRITORISM
CASE STUDY N. 2

3. HISTORY AND FARM DESCRIPTION
Situated in the northwestern corner of Provincia di Reggio Emilia, the farm is situated in a splendid natural surrounding: the flood plain of the Po River.
The management of the farm was given in concession to me, Cristina Boschi, from my mother in 2006.
The farm has belonged to my family for over 150 years: four generations of women who have been involved in agriculture since the beginning of the nineteenth century.
All the company property is in a floodplain, a particular and protected territory dedicated to forestry, in particular arboriculture from wood (in this case poplar) and traditional agriculture with rotation forage-cereal.
I started with the vineyard and replaced an ancient variety of lambrusco, the fogarina, typical of the area. 3

4. DATA & FIGURES OVERVIEW
Property extent
50 hectares of which 30 of the family and 20 rented
Agricultural products
Of the total of 50 hectares, 16 are arable land, 30 planted in poplar grove in rotation for a total of about 7000, 1 hectare of vineyard and other 3 hectares of natural elements between thickets and wetlands (non-productive tares).
Food products
Grapes
Products from the vegetable garden
Ancient fruits 4

5. Name: Agriturismo Antica Golena – Azienda Agricola Boscone
HOLDING DATA
Name: Agriturismo Antica Golena – Azienda Agricola Boscone
Address: Via del Bosco, Guastalla (RE)
/Web
Type of enterprise: individual business
Legal representative: Cristina Boschi
Year of commencement: 2006 5

6. PREVIOUS SITUATION OF THE HOLDING
The Company was in precarious and discontinuous economic equilibrium with low profitability due to high operating costs 6

7. MULTIFUNCTIONAL EXPERIENCE:
DIVERSIFICATION
1/3
My first decision, in order to create new services, was as follows:
to increase the number of horses in the farm 7

8. MULTIFUNCTIONAL EXPERIENCE:
DIVERSIFICATION
2/3
Currently, I have 6 horses and a donkey who help me a lot in my activities:
- walks in the floodplain of the Po, with the guests of the agritourism
- educational activities for children / for adults / seniors
- summer camps

9. MULTIFUNCTIONAL EXPERIENCE:
DIVERSIFICATION
3/3
Between 2008 and 2010, I created the following new services:
- Agritourism (only rooms)
- Food services
- Direct selling
- Educational farm
- Social Farm (in collaboration with the Department of Social Services of Guastalla and Reggio Emilia)

10. - to increase my motivations regarding agricultural life
CONSIDERATIONS
The decision to invest in multi-functionality was linked to two different needs:
- to increase income
- to increase my motivations regarding agricultural life 10

11. PROFILE OF FARMER-PROMOTER
FULL NAME: Cristina Boschi
AGE: 59
GENDER: female
EDUCATION: high school classical degree
(I attended also, for four years the Faculty
of Natural Sciences in Bologna).
YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 20
SPECIFIC TRAINING:
- Course for agritourism operator
- Course for educational farm operator
- Title of: guide of equestrian tourism
- Title of: equestrian country instructor 11

12. FARMER'S RESPONSIBILITIES
AND ACTIVITIES
In my farm I take care of everything:
- business management
- organization of the cultivations and poplars in the Po Golena
- care of the vineyard
- design / promotion of multifunctional services
Sometimes I use seasonal workers 12

13. KEY PROCESS AND COMPETENCE Competence Description
Process Description
Competence Description
Knowledge on basic on farm processing procedures and legislations
To be able to respect the procedures for on farm food processing
Know direct selling strategies on farm to the tourists
To be able to know on farm direct selling methods to the tourists
Seasonal works (tilling, digging, weeding, mowing-cutting) and crop rotation (i.e. wheat-alfalfa; barley-broad bean)
To be able to perform sustainable mechanical operations according to the organic procedures and rational crop rotation
Formulate proposals and programs concerning the use of the territory, the protection of the landscape, environmental sustainability.
To be able to apply objectives of sustainability for multifunctional farms (also as opportunity for new service to integrate farmers income). 13

14. KEY PROCESS AND COMPETENCE Competence Description
Process Description
Competence Description
Know direct selling of specific products requires additional requlations and legislations
To be able to know direct selling of specific products
Knowledge on basic agrotourism activities
To be able to know basic agrotourism activities
Knowledge on agrotourism based marketing strategies
To be able to know marketing in agrotourism
Know direct selling strategies on farm to the tourists
To be able to know on farm direct selling methods to the tourists
Applying HACCP and other food safety methods on farm food production
To be able to know and apply food safety standards 14

15. KEY PROCESS AND COMPETENCE Competence Description
Process Description
Competence Description
Maintainance and management of the houses, rooms, woods and spaces devoted to agritourism
To be able to maintain and manage the buildings and spaces devoted to agritourism
Customer reception and needs satisfation
To be able to receive guests and manage their staying in the agritourism
Restaurant management and choice of season ingredients for traditional menus
To be able to manage the restaurant and choose season ingredients for traditional menu
Guided visits and didactic teaching on natural and agricultural issues
To be able to manage guided visits and didactic programs of learning for schools and adult groups
Farm laboratories for schools and groups (i.e. bread laboratory)
To be able to manage practical baking and cooking laboratories
Marketing of the agritorurism/ educational services
To be able to manage the educational activities (internet contacts with clients, customer communication and satisfaction)

16. INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES
Cooking classes to enhance the traditional recipes of the lower Po plain (with experts in natural food education)
Guided tours for children and adults for the search for clay on the banks of the Po (creative workshops with clay and courses on the use of clay in natural medicine). 16

17. OBSERVATIONS
I believe that the development of my multifunctional farm is closely linked to the development of the territory. For this reason I am going to commit myself, in projects, promoted by the Emilia-Romagna Region (Strada dei vini e dei sapori) and by the Municipalities of the Bassa Reggiana, which have the objectives of: - promote typical local productions; - increase river tourism; - protect the environment and the landscape; - develop education programs on sustainability (aimed at children and adults). 17 17

18. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
OF THE ACTIVITY
STRENGHTS
WEAKNESS
I am a person who lives alone:
so I can decide everything about my farm.
I believe that a multifunctional company can succeed if it is run by an agricultural family 18

19. - Tourist enhancement of wetlands
RECOMMENDED TRAINING
I would like to participate in a training course on the following topics:
- Tourist enhancement of wetlands
- Sustainability education methods based on animation and play
- Animation methods and techniques on inter generational educational objectives 19

20. enhancement and conservation of the territory sustainable tourism
FARMER’S KEYWORDS
enhancement and conservation of the territory
sustainable tourism
marketing on sustainable tourism
social tourism
social innovation 20

21. PHOTOGALLERY AND VIDEO
L’agricoltura è un affare di donne”. Parola di Cristina Boschi
Leggi l’articolo su Mondo Agricolo on line: 21

22. PHOTOGALLERY (AND VIDEO)
The banks of the Po (Antica golena)

23. Educational workshop using clay
PHOTOGALLERY
Educational workshop using clay

24. The enhancement of the Po river as a tourist destination
PHOTOGALLERY
The enhancement of the Po river as a tourist destination

25. PHOTOGALLERY
Antonio Ligabue: the most important naive painter, who painted the Po areas

26. PHOTOGALLERY (AND VIDEO)
Educational workshop for old people

27. PHOTOGALLERY (AND VIDEO)
Seniors on the farm

28. PHOTOGALLERY (AND VIDEO)
Seniors on the farm

29. PHOTOGALLERY (AND VIDEO)
Products of an educational laboratory using vegetables

30. PHOTOGALLERY (AND VIDEO)
Participation to the fair of Guastalla

31. PHOTOGALLERY (AND VIDEO)
Folk music in educational farm

32. PHOTOGALLERY (AND VIDEO)
Birthday party