We learn with sorrow what happened on the farm of our member Mattia (WWOOF profile: https://wwoof.it/it/host/15171): we can imagine the dismay to see years of work and passion for the land go up in smoke. This is the message they sent out on social media (https://www.facebook.com/ondafertile): those who can lend a hand will be of great help in making Fertile Wave a reference point for natural agriculture in the Brindisi area once again.

On Sunday, June 29, we participated in the beautiful Biodiversity Festival, hosted by Moon in the Well and XFarm. It was an intense day, full of exchanges and connections. We left The Fertile Wave for a day to contaminate ourselves and come back full of new ideas.

But on the way back, a bitter surprise: a fire destroyed in a few hours the mobile chicken coops with all our chickens, the vegetable gardens, part of the orchard, the irrigation system, 2 cisterns, the greenhouse, materials and means essential to our work. Many old olive trees, the excavator and the motor cultivator were also lost.

If the flames did not reach the living structures, we owe it to our neighbors (Francis, Cosimo, his wife Angela and their children), who with heroic promptness secured what they could, especially the tractor. We are deeply grateful and thankful to have them by our side: true guardian angels of our territory.

Now is the time to breathe, gather our strength and start dreaming again, taking care of our place to make it flourish again. Together, welcoming all the extraordinary expressions of affection and support that have come to us from everywhere.

For those who are close by and want to help us with the enormous work ahead, we will open our doors this weekend for two days of collective and participatory work: we will start with the collection of plastic waste. We will communicate logistical and schedule info soon.

Those who are far away but want to make us feel their closeness can do so with a donation by bank transfer, with the reason: “Liberal disbursement in support of the farm l’Onda Fertile affected by fire” IBAN: IT45N0501804000000012399028 payable to: Azienda Agricola L’Onda Fertile of Francesca Radin.

What happened was devastating. But stronger is the need to pick ourselves up and continue this adventure with greater awareness, with gratitude and with a renewed collective momentum.

Thank you with all my heart,

The Fertile Wave family and community.