I almost forgot to share this, due to some distracting/ exciting days, but a couple of days ago, when we returned from a beautiful late-afternoon walk, Clare spotted something interesting on the path leading up to our house.
She picked it up and it was indeed what she thought it to be: a truffle.
Now if you know about truffles, ( valuable mushrooms that grow underground ), you will be aware of the fact that they are considered a delicacy. A special, strong tasting condiment that is used in fancy restaurants and the like.
This area is known for the things though and we have enjoyed them in various forms ( truffle sauce, truffles in pasta, etc. ), since we arrived here, last Summer.
We also were told, when we bought this plot of land, that truffles might grow there.
Last but not least, a while back, I spotted a man and two dogs on our land, in the early morning.
I informed Clare about it, walked towards the man and said ( in Italian ): "This is our land." ( "Questa è la nostra terra." ). He was, after all, in a forest area near a public track but, nevertheless, in our garden.
He replied, ad rem, with: "Io lo so." ( "I know." ) and then explained to me that he was looking for truffles, hence the dogs. He showed me a tiny truffle that he had found.
Although it's not forbidden to forage on someone else's land ( unless they have a fence and/ or 'private property' sign ), he got the message, called his dogs to him and walked down towards our ( absent ) neighbor's land.
All of this to say that Clare and I weren't super surprised to find a truffle on our land.
It still felt pretty special though :^)
After all, it was ( and still is ) the first one we found and they are intriguing things to see.
We studied the truffle and came to the conclusion that it wasn't fresh enough to consume, unfortunately.
We also aren't exactly sure where it grew because it had seemingly been dug up by some animal and likely replaced a bit.
This is a shame, as they grow back in the same spot and it would have helped if we knew where exactly this specimen came from.
Whatever's the case, we discovered our first truffle on our land and that is pretty exciting news. This is yet another food source that we can add to the evergrowing list of edible things to be found in our garden.
It's a list that contains three types of nuts ( walnut, hazelnut, acorn ), many different fruit (tree) types: peach, plum, fig, cherry, cornus mas ( cornelian cherry ), apple, pomegranate, possibly ( it they take ) apricot and loads of olives.
We also have plenty of edible greens on our land and are trying to grow kiwi, mulberry and different type of citrus trees.
All of the aforementioned makes me realize that we haven't had lunch yet, eventhough it is mid afternoon now.
Did it make you hungry too?
To get back to the truffles...
When I shared this discovery with friends and family, the first thing they think of is: 💰💰
Yes, truffles are valuable. Inget it. But - as Clare tends to say ( and I agree with her ) - we won't sell things, unless we have more than enough of them.
First we feed ourselves and then we think of either selling excess produce or - more our style - we barter with or gift to others.
We might be living in a commercialized world, we try to do things differently and often prefer ( returning to ) the old, more natural, sustainable ways.
What about you?
Sending love from Molise, Italia!
