It's a brilliant sunny day when Carlo and I set out early for the mountains of Valtellina. We're meeting Massimo, a coordinator at the association Il Muschio in Morbegno, down in the lower valley.
The editors at Ombre e Luci had heard about the group's many initiatives—members working to integrate disabled and otherwise marginalized people while nurturing a deep respect for the natural world.
As we climb past meadows and forests, the horizon lined with snow-capped peaks, it becomes clear how profoundly Nature shapes the lives and vision of these people.
Our meeting place is a beautiful little village on the southern slope of the mountains. It's called Cadelasso, and the houses are built of stone—many restored, all adorned with flowers.
Massimo and Saverio greet us and immediately lead us to the small plaza to make introductions. I meet Guido, the association's president, who—despite being in a wheelchair—carries himself with the bearing and strength of a hardy mountain dweller. In fact, everyone looks remarkably healthy. You can tell they spend hours in the open air.
Today they're hosting seventy schoolchildren on a field trip. The kids are divided into different groups. Some are baking bread in an old wood-fired oven. Others are shaping clay into small objects, or crafting whistles and musical instruments—they work beautifully—from bits of nature: walnuts and hazelnuts, feathers, twigs, and reeds. The biggest hit seems to be building a mysterious RAIN STICK (let's hope it doesn't actually bring rain, given the ominous clouds rolling in). These activities happen thanks to collaboration with GEA, an association that works in educational psychosynthesis.
But I've come especially to learn about the agricultural work. Il Muschio cultivates more than five thousand square meters of land that was once a vineyard but had been abandoned for twelve years and overtaken by wild trees and shrubs. In 1997, they began clearing the land and planted one hundred fifty giant blueberry saplings. By 1999, they'd started a new plot of small berries—blueberries, blackberries, currants—on flat land. In 2000, they established the Orchard of Forgotten Fruits (about 1,600 square meters). In 2001, they brought another two thousand square meters into cultivation, growing buckwheat in rotation with rye and tomatoes.
The boys will be independent
The weather is turning ugly, so rather than wait for the school tour, I ask Rosy, Davide, Saverio, and Massimo to show me the fields. The first three come to the center regularly and take part in all the agricultural work. They've built real expertise, and combined with other knowledge, they've become genuinely brilliant guides. We follow a winding path through the woods to reach the blueberry patch and the orchard of forgotten fruits. The terrain is rough, but the three of them, in sturdy hiking boots, move with confident steps. They walk us through the whole process. These giant blueberry plants come from Trentino and are grown organically. There's a drip irrigation system, though it's rarely needed. The disabled young people are capable of handling all the cultivation tasks described in the separate sheet below. One of the association's key goals is to transform the young people from service users into full members.
After our walk, we return to the village and are welcomed with a fragrant polenta taragna—made with corn, buckwheat, and topped with local cheese. Delicious. By now the sun has returned, and the rain sticks are only imitating the sound of water, not inviting the clouds to open. We spend a cheerful afternoon, say our goodbyes, and head home. Thank you, friends. Until next time!
Giant blueberries
Giant blueberries are the kind you find in shops and supermarkets. They look similar to wild blueberries but are the size of small cherries. The plants grow larger than wild varieties and reach about a meter in height.
The berries grow in small clusters, like currants but denser, and ripen gradually. This means harvesting has to happen several times.
Each spring, the plants need pruning. The soil around them must be cleared of weeds and covered with pine needles, which lower the soil's pH—blueberries love acidic earth—and suppress weeds. Between the plants, though, grass grows vigorously and has to be cut with a trimmer. Around mid-June, the plants begin producing fruit, and at least two or three times a week the berries need harvesting as they ripen, so they don't mold on the plant and later fruit can develop properly. Each plant yields two or three kilos of blueberries, sold directly to ice cream makers and pastry chefs.
Il Muschio Onlus
The association was founded by people who, in various capacities, had lived with the challenges of disability and marginalization. Its main goal is to "provide an environment rich in social and educational content, with particular attention to disabled people".
Over the years, many projects have been launched with different funding models, but all deeply rooted in the local community. The number of young people attending the center is modest and varies based on need.
Only this year (2002) did Il Muschio become a registered cooperative and sign a formal agreement with the local health authority. Until then, funding came from diverse sources, with substantial private donations. The income from cultivation covers only 20-30% of the budget.
Two coordinators work there, and the young people attend for a variable number of hours per week—averaging eighteen to thirty, depending on what needs doing. During bad weather, they work at the day center in Morbegno, doing paper crafts. A greenhouse is planned for producing blueberry seedlings, which will allow agricultural work to continue even when it rains.
In short, they're tireless. If you want to contact them—they organize tourist trips as well—here's how:
Phone: 0342614099
Email: muschio@provincia.so.it
Address: Via V. Bernasconi, 21 - 23013 Cosio valtellino (SO)
Elisabetta de Rino, 2002
