The dream of the mayor, poet, and farmer
Gino Girolomoni – the father of organic farming in Italy – was born in a farming family in Isola del Piano (Pesaro-Urbino), on 13 August 1946. His mother died when he was just a child, and he had to take care of his sick father. He experienced the poverty and hard work of the countryside, but at the same time, he knew the values of farming life and the authentic solidarity of friends and family. After a short time spent in Switzerland, he returned to his home – the countryside of the Marche region – guided by his dream of reshaping the future, of creating a new economy, linked to the land.
At not even twenty years of age, he was writing poetry, organising art exhibitions, reading the Bible. He became mayor of Isola del Piano at a young age. His aim was clear: to get back the social and cultural conditions of the farming life that so many were abandoning in favour of towns and factories. That is how organic farming began to develop in the Marche, to restore “Dignity to the land!”.
For his entire life, Gino preached organic farming, holding over 500 conferences all over Italy. That is why we believe he was the “herald of organic farming in Italy”
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GINO AND TULLIA
An important event in Gino’s life was his meeting with Tullia, who became his wife, following him in many adventures.
Gino, Tullia and their children lived in the Monastery of Montebello, rebuilt as a symbol of rebirth in farming, where the Girolomoni farming cooperative and organic pasta factory were founded.
Their home was a busy place. Gino Girolomoni was full of energy, creativity and the ability to establish relationships with everyone around him, even with people of a certain importance.
Over the course of his life, he was involved with intellectuals such as Sergio Quinzio, Guido Ceronetti, Paolo Volponi, Ivan Illich, Alex Langer, Carlo Bo, and many more… but also with artists like Moni Ovadia, Vinicio Capossela, Luca Mauceri, Davide Monacchi, and all of the actors from the Teatro dei Sensibili.
“I compared the experience of the Cooperative to the birth of those mediaeval abbeys: they restored life to an area, as well as the monks, lots of families, farmers, smiths, carpenters, masons, and artisans were also involved. And that led to the development of innovations and markets. The difference – and a significant one at that – is that God was at the centre of that world, while we have placed ourselves at the centre of this one, and I don’t think we have gained much in this exchange.”
Gino Girolomoni, 2002
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