THE FAMILY AND ITS COLLABORATORS
Here on our farm we are a big family…
Some of us have lived on this land for generations, others have arrived more recently, and we all contribute to making this place grow and develop in a healthy and harmonious way. I will tell you some of our stories…
Aldo Scollo
Son of Peppino, he has been following the Trigona farm since adolescence, when, on his scooter, he used to go join his father and learn the work from him. He has multiple tasks; tractor and truck driver, caretaker of the plants and land at Trigona, which he knows every inch of, he watches over the irrigation system and carries out the necessary phytosanitary treatments. He is passionate about looking after the vegetable garden. Throughout the winter season he takes on the role of team leader. Aldo is a determined and tireless worker.
Alessandro Di Leo
He is the son of Francesco, a very knowledgeable farmer, who can predict how the production will be just by walking through the rows of citrus groves. Due to his technical studies, Alessandro is experienced in the maintenance of vehicles and in working and building with iron. Throughout the harvest season, Alessandro dedicates a large part of his tasks to the supervision of the warehouse activities, looking after the preparations for the shipments of our products. He is a man of few words.
Raffaele
He is very skilled in the use of the brush cutter, which he uses to clear up excessive grass growth from the irrigation system and from the electric fencing that marks the grazing land. He also uses it to clear weeds during fire prevention work that is carried out before the summer time. He is very precise and accurate.
Massimiliano Di Grazia
(Also known as Massi) he is an attentive observer of natural processes, master of shapes and colors. Every morning he takes care of the animals, feeding them and keeping their food storage in order. He is so well in sync with our pigs that habit and trust are enough for him to carry out complex activities, such as the animals’ change of pasture and blood withdrawal. He is also the maker of the graphic and art pieces that enrich the walls of the structure.
Simone Scollo
Son of Aldo, he participates in various activities on the farm. Even though he is young, he is not lacking experience and has recently been coordinating the team in the orange and olive harvest activities. He does the orange and olive harvest, the management of pruning residues, the mowing of the grass, fertilization and irrigation, and when Massi and Raffaele can’t, he also helps in the maintenance of the animals.
Giuseppe Scollo
Together with his father Aldo and his brother Simone, Giuseppe manages ordinary agricultural work. He is capable in harvesting and pruning, in the management of new implantations and grafts, and in everything else that he learned from his father throughout the years. Upon finishing his studies, he started working on the Trigona farm and has also gotten to know it in detail.
Alessandro Scamacca
He is a strong and tireless young man, always in a good mood and ready to roll up his sleeves. His help is very precious, especially in the winter time, during the orange harvest, when it is cold and rainy and the oranges still need to be harvested so that they do not fall to the ground. His experience with oranges comes from his family, where both his mother and father have dedicated a lot of time to the work of harvesting and produce storage.
Aurelio Scamacca
He is a kind and quiet person. He is part of the harvest team, he is an expert in his work, and knowledgeable of citruses and how to pick them, both in harvest and in storage.
Francesco Gueli
(Also known as Ciccio) he has developed his work experience primarily in construction and for this reason he is often involved in structural, restoration and building maintenance work on the farm. He also participates in the harvest and other seasonal work.
Laura
She is our veterinary. She has arrived here all the way from Genoa and now, among other things, she looks after our animals’ health and the sanitary requisites related to their breeding. She is also responsible for the gynecological management of our black pigs, planning their proliferation, as well as taking blood samples and carrying out vaccines.
Alessandra
Wife of Alessandro di Leo and sister of Raffaele, she is a special woman, full of resources, energy and joy of living. She knows how to do everything, grow the vegetable garden, pluck a chicken, prepare preserves and desserts, and finally carry out culinary demonstrations for international audiences…and she never stops smiling (just make sure to give her her coffee!!!)
Francesca
She is my sister and the administrator of the farm F.lli Valenziani. She takes on the draining work of relating with the institutions, following organic certification processes, taking care of and checking the regularity of fiscal documents we produce and receive. She takes care of payroll and all other administrative demands tied to labourforce and other activities.
Armando
He is my brother in law, and the husband of Francesca. If you ask him what he does in life, he will respond that he plays tennis, but in reality he is a great lawyer, constantly giving us legal and financial advice. He tenaciously sustains us, without ever losing his sense of humor and his innate love for life.
Silvia
She is my mother and she is the historical memory of the Sicilian part of my family. She knows the origins of the farm we work on, the story of who started it and followed it through its various developments.
When she decided to move to Madonnina with my father in the early eighties, she curated the recovery of the manor farm and she created, and continues to look after, the garden that surrounds her. She is an exceptional cook and she is the heart and soul of our hospitality.
Claudio
He is also known as “u cumannanti”, the commander, since the times when he used to finish his shift at the helicopter base of Maristaeli and go follow up on the agriculture and farm work still wearing his uniform. He has dedicated all his time and energy to the growth of our farm, planting new trees, modernizing grafts and technical implants, adhering to the guidelines of organic production, and fighting against a crisis in the citrus sector. He is a fundamental reference point for all of us, and he helps us confront difficult times with his proverbial motto: You can do it!
Justyna
She is my partner and she landed in Sicily from the distant Cracovia. Other than preparing amazing cakes that capture anyone who happens to be passing in front of the house while she is opening the oven, she is the idol of our domestic animals, who generally follow and surround her everywhere she goes. Whatever she is doing, you will never find her without her cup of warm tea, even in the middle of August…
Andrea
It’s me. I grew up in ‘Madonnina’. We moved here when I was 4 years old. I played, I hurt myself , I had fun, I worked and I grew up here. I also escaped far away, like many other people, but then I returned when I realised how much this land has to offer