Biotour 2018 - The fields seen from the water

Taking advantage of the historic river, aboard the Sant'Agostino boat and under the guidance of Florio Fumani of the Navigare con noi association, the distance was covered from Padova/Porte Contarine to Battaglia Terme and then reached David Bozza's partner farm El Tamiso Ca' Girotto in Pernumia. Here is the diary of the day:

After cycling through Padua that is still silent, on this wonderful summer day, we boarded the “Porte Contarine”. As soon as we left, we were about forty people, we realized that the world seen from the water is completely different. The friend Florio Fumani, a descendant of an ancient Paduan boat family, illustrated to us in great detail everything we encountered while sailing; real emotion in passing to the Portello, then to the Bastione San Massimo, the former gasometer, the “dei Graissi” Bridge, the incinerator (albeit with emotions of another kind...), the crossing of the Voltabarozzo Basin, where we got up a good 3 meters to reach the large basin of the Chiuse. Then the long stretch of the Discharge Canal to the Bassanello Bridge, including a technical stop so as not to hinder the rowers of the Rowing Club (Rare Nantes?). Beautiful greetings from the many people who run on the embankment. Then finally we slip in the Battle Canal, a marvel of technology (built in very few at the turn of 1200 by the Padovans, 15 linear kilometers that rise up to 7 meters above the level of the countryside, in Battaglia Terme) And so among gray herons, cormorants, historical and cultural anecdotes, and exciting “flush” passages under the ancient bridges, we arrived at the Battaglia landing where, once we picked up the bicycles, we reached the Ca' Girotto farm, on a cycle path, always following waterways, of which Pernumia is rich Very.

David Bozza, manager of the company, but also member and advisor of the El Tamiso Cooperative, illustrated the “rural” events of their family and the reasons why they have been proudly doing organic farming for many years, starting with his father Luciano and uncle Bruno, who are still active.

It has also not hidden the problems and difficulties in finding adequate enhancement of their commitment, especially in these times of expansion of Large Organized Organic Retailers, adopting logics and commercial relationships unrelated to our culture, and certainly not interested in the issues of social responsibility, fertility, biodiversity, seasonality and quality of food, which for us members of El Tamiso are indispensable.

Excellent organic vegetarian lunch by “our” cooks at the Osteria di Fuori Porta, who were also honored by the trio of sailors on the boat. And not without the peasant poems of Ignazio Canesso, our friend and “storyteller” partner.

Then a quick visit to tidy fields rich in radicchi, cabbage and broccoli (potatoes, onions, “Maranello” corn, etc. are already in stock) and to the large farm machinery park, where Luciano's genius and creativity excel.

It is a race back on the way back, that the doors of the Voltabarozzo basin have schedules to respect, but even here we did not miss a hilarious monologue on the “10 commandments” of our Severino/the farmer (Bozzolan), while sailing.

After an exciting and difficult passage against the tide under the Paltana bridge, greeted by liberating applause, we went down to Bassanello.

Greeting and thanking the crew, we have all re-proposed other appointments, to discover the many waterways that characterize and depart from our city.