Foraging wild edible plants, and lime plastering

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

There will be a few more videos from our summer trip posted in the coming weeks, they will be posted as soon as I finish editing them.

[@joseywales7525]

you are living life as was and it should be. entertaining videos. o7

[@HunnenDoog]

Looking forward! liked the old ladder being used :)

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

@@HunnenDoog I'm planning to build a new one at some point, these traditional wooden ladders are beautiful and so simple in their construction.

[@matteomichielin7817]

I hope you three are lucky enough to be aware of how lucky you are. For how many projects will not come true, for every dream left half-finished or abandoned, know that a multitude of people are dying of envy just at seeing you so in tune in enjoying the present and fantasizing about a future together. I watch your hands work and I feel the itch on mine so much that I can't resist imagining taking, touching and doing what you do. For a quadriplegic like me, this is somehow pornographic.. In my eyes it's something therapeutic.. I advise you to take inspiration from the Les jeromes channel. you show so many activities so quickly in one video that you only give us a taste of what you did. so it's a waste. Why don't you divide the production into several monothematic videos? Editing would be easier too. Good luck !

[@tammykaltreider]

Thank you for bringing us along! From middle Georgia USA 🍑

[@jbyrd2516]

You may find the lime mortar research done by Kylie and Guy of Make Do Grow useful. They are restoring a two storey stone house in Portugal and are very meticulous in testing and researching their materials and methods. Lovely video, I have tree envy 😊

[@alaahamza62]

You remind me of the hills of Lebanon, the wild oregano scent, the wild mint near the springs, walnuts in the valleys, and the natural aroma of oak wood. Nature is truly a gift from God

[@TheBlueMoo]

So much beauty packed into this video! Thank you for sharing your family's journey with this beautiful property and area!

[@artelina]

Absolutely beautiful videography and what a spot for a house. That you have river, waterfall, spring and big trees close by is an absolute dream, adding extreamly high value to your immediate surrounding. Thank you for the calm, educational and reflective input. I will be back here.

[@pattyt7776]

There’s something almost hypnotic about your vlogs. It’s difficult for some of us to imagine a life in a way that requires so little but oddly so much. Thanks for sharing. ❤️❤️

[@neutonrenda2303]

Love your family property, such a special place knowing the history. The inside looks amazing as well, has that original character and charm.👍❤

[@davidmullens2464]

Love what you're doing. I drive through Sannio quite often, coming from my home north of Rome down to Puglia. The whole area from Benevento out to the east is another of those beautiful locations so unknown to tourists, where a simpler life can be lived. I know the joys of discovery of an old house & region, having gone through the same thing myself. Of course you're in the right sort of place for the best Mozzarelle di Bufala too. I nearly always stop off in Caianello to get a few kilos... Now in Funghi season. Thanks for the video!

[@TheLostTowerDiaries]

Lovely video 🥰 We are also trying to research the best lime mix for repointing our house which has had cement put on over the lime on one end and cement render on the other. So much damage has been done to historic buildings in the UK, especially by heritage organizations who now say they can't afford to put right their mistakes and are letting everything from castle to cathedrals laminate and crumble.

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

If you haven't seen them already, Nigel Copsey's seminar talks and David Wiggins' talks have been very interesting food for thought for us (the talks "Nigel Copsey - First Presentation" and "How lime mortar works" by David, both on KZbin). David also has a video on lime renders. Nigel has a book on hot mixes. We are currently leaning towards using hot mixed quicklime mortars, but doing so will be harder from a logistics standpoint (sourcing and storing quicklime, sourcing the right kind of sand, etc) as our local supplier doesn't have many options.

[@storiesfromthecascina]

@@SouthernItalyHomestead I just saw this comment after posting my question a few seconds ago. Will check these out!

[@jeanrichardson2044]

I am from New Zealand, which is a very young country in terms of occupation. I have huge admiration for the skills of your forefathers, in construction. The houses, walls, bridges...so beautiful. I never wanted to travel in my youth, now I am past it. Thank you so much for the wonderful photography.

[@etagegnehugurr6932]

So refreshing to hear how lime mortar is critical in old stone and soft brick buildings. So many restorations I follow don’t stress the importance of lime. Love what your doing!

[@ellenmadsen7308]

Maybe used broken tiles and bricks on your road. Also build a frame tilted slightly to the south to get those solar panels off the ground-even a few bricks underneath to get them away from the damp. Love your channel.

[@dmunoz1943]

Wonderful video, looks like you have yourself a little piece of paradise.

[@soniawoolley366]

Love your channel, slow living at its best ...

[@bccochrane1]

Really enjoy your videos, you have a wonderful place with the joy of your previous generations hard work within it. It is good to see that you really research what is needed for the building. I do have one tip for you as I have worked with lime for nearly 12 years now so have chipped off much cement in those years. Please consider some ear protection when using the bolster, even just some ear plugs to take the sting out of the noise. I do have a bit of ringing in one ear due to my failure to look after it. All the best with the rest of the renovations 👍🏻

[@praiseyethelord7121]

I am so pleased you both have taken on this challenge. Heritage is a huge thing for me. I see the same feeling in your words and choices. Many prayers and blessings.

[@millykay_kmw]

The walnut and pear trees may need to be spliced onto a rootstock in order to propergate. Sorry I dont know what tree to recommend for the rootstock for the walnut. Use apple or another pear variety for the pear rootstock. The mulberry either air layer or bend a thin supple branch, what will reach the ground whilst still attached to the main tree. Now carefully cut along the outer bark about 1inch leaving the bark attached to the branch and gently bend the branch down to the ground. Cover with soil and weight down with stone/rock.

[@gailbutler483]

I too make an elderflower cordial using elderflowers, sugar, and vodka. I've discovered that you can make a good facsimile of the famous French elderflower liqueur, St. Germaine, by adding four drops of grapefruit essential oil or several large slices of grapefruit zest minus the white pith. Love your beautiful home and surrounds!

[@gracielabeatrizdasilvabelo3285]

Que hermoso lugar,el paisaje,la casa ,y por supuesto la familia!! Les auguro una buena vida allí,respirando tanta naturaleza.Mis felicitaciones!! Un abrazo fuerte para ustedes ❤️😘😘💪🇺🇾

[@fernandomorais4184]

Life is a beautiful think, so enjoy, because is to short. Im sure you and your family can understand that, when you breathe and smell near that old nest. Thanks for sharing.

[@jasondk5127]

Beautiful video great job on the pointing and elder berry liquor! Thank again!

[@florentinalily]

I live in the Ariege, the south of France. We have walnut trees in the garden and this year I have made pickled walnuts for christmas. You make them when the walnuts are young and before they have formed a shell around the nut inside and use the whole thing; skin included. Worth doing and lovely with a mountain cheese. Thankyou for the vlog, a Joy. I look forward so much to your next one. I hear your nightingales.. we also have them here.. Did you know that the old tiles on the roof are formed over the knee of the maker?

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

Around this area people use the green walnuts for making nocino (an herbal liquor) and dyes. We'd like to make pickled walnuts at some point as well!

[@emanuelamenegon7040]

You can make “frittelle” with elderflowers (fuori di sambuco) 🙂

[@felipeiglesias]

Nice work. It seems that some progress is going on there!

[@CuriousCalligrapher]

I love elderflower w/tonic water

[@darrencraddock5355]

Hello there. What a beautiful project. I heard you mentioning a desire to propagate. Have you heard about margotting? We have done it a few times and it works great plus gives you productive trees much sooner and you can collaborate with neighbors to share the best varieties.

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

Thanks for this suggestion. We've tried margotting, the hard part is not being in Italy long enough to keep an eye on it as roots develop. One of our neighbors who rents some land from us has offered to help but so far it hasn't worked. Hopefully we'll manage to propagate the walnut soon, as it caught a fungus this summer during the heavy rains. I expect it won't survive past a few more years. Our mulberry also caught a fungus during this time. Hopefully I will have time to try again this spring.

[@AlistairAVogan]

What great fortune to inherit this beautiful house and piece of land. Btw consider the roofing shoes we wear in Japan: thin-soled and split toed so you can feel and grip the tiles more easily. You’ll find yourself more agile and less likely to damage the roof. I noticed a big difference when I switched over.

[@Oregontrailblazin]

Beautifully done .. try using a drill and a wire attachment when you clean the stones .. Try it ..

[@Daytona2]

Lovely to see it in the Summer. Interesting to hear about the issues with some lime mortars.

[@MsGringa24]

Ending Sky almost look like a heart 💛 shaped 🌅

[@TheJoan1959]

Really enjoyed these videos. I regularly watch another channel called Make Do Grow. They are renovating an old stone house in Portugal and use different kinds of lime mortar, and explain all of the various mixes they make/use. You might find it interesting to check them out.

[@NitasiaRoland]

Looking forward to following along!

[@57motherbear]

Love love love your videos.

[@johnnierotten5161]

Beautiful waterfall 😊

[@myitaliandream]

Hello, Try air layering the walnut. It might just work.

[@judyford9726]

Wonderful video love from Australia

[@cinziam457]

Beautiful music at the end :)

[@paolaarchimbaud9076]

Italy, nest of love and art.

[@finestbird4784]

Your videos are amazing and inspiring please keep uploading ❤

[@edwardmacnab354]

we had a walnut tree at one place we lived and it has a distinctive smell actually verging on the weird

[@storiesfromthecascina]

Been really enjoying your videos. We are faced with repointing our stone building too at some point sooner rather than later and have learned a lot from watching this episode - even though we've done quite a bit of studying ourselves. Would you be willing to share the sources/learning materials you used in regards to lime plaster? Wishing you all the best with your beautiful project!

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

Nice to hear from you! If you send an email (check the about tab on our page) I can forward you every resource that I can remember, in addition to Nigel Copsey's book that you noticed in another comment.

[@storiesfromthecascina]

@@SouthernItalyHomestead thank you! we just ordered Nigel Copsey's book and will send you an email soon 🙂

[@bekindfox]

Hi there,@@storiesfromthecascina so funny to find you here! In regard to lime I can only repeat other commenters' tip to check with the channel of two lovely people who are restoring a stone house in Portugal and they are going deep down into the rabbit holes, also with lime: Make Do Grow. I loe their channel, too!

[@storiesfromthecascina]

@@bekindfox we've been follwing make.do.grow since forever ❤️❤️❤️

[@richardrichard508]

Lime: very well summarised " a topic of ongoing lifetime learning" Understanding the "science" of lime use is of course very important: however when renovating and appreciating traditional buildings built before the advent of portland cement and petrochemical products; it si also very important to understand that the lifestyle of those previous generations was SO VERY DIFFERENT than those of the modern urbanites. People spent a great deal of the day outside: windows and doors did not fit perfectly which allowed air and importantly mosisture to evaporate. Doors and windows were often left open during the day. Cooking/washing was mainly done in outbuildings: the modern trend of generating high levels of moisture in closed kitchens and bathrooms are incompatible with traditional buildings: hence the requirement for forced ventialtion/extractor fans especailly in the modern plastic bag buildings where the fabric of the structure does not breathe as in traditional buildings of stone and lime. Yes NHLs are often initially "stronger" however before one condems NHLs for causing damp problems, each case where this has been stipulated should be studied in great detail before concluding that this was the cause: by first eliminating leaking pipes/gutters/lack of gutters/inappropriate insulation or incorrectly installed insulation/ use of any modern paints all of whcih are not breathable/ lack of ventilation/ raised ground levels etc. the list goes on. A great deal pf damage has been donein recent years in Europe to buildings built before the 1930's by the use of modern petrochemical products and use of portland cement I have made up "mixes" using lime putty over the years on the exterior of a 17 century building however in areas exposed to a lot of weather they have not lasted very well. Many additives have been used and many variations of mixes over 1000 years with what was " available locally" so as you say " a topic of ongoing lifetime learning" Apprecaite your open mind wanting to learn more and of course to question.

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

Thanks for these detailed comments, especially about the changing nature of indoor life. My grandmother told me she used to bathe at a river downhill for much of the year, and I believe they washed their linens in a stone basin near our well. Even a pot of boiled water was boiled in the fireplace, so a certain amount of the steam probably went up the chimney. Thanks for bringing up these valid and helpful thoughts.

[@MsGringa24]

Oh my lord, how beautiful is this scenery! You all are so lucky to have inherited such beauty! Do you both speak Italian? Who edits your videos? You should set up cameras for outside to see if you captured any wild bores 😬 Would you not like to keep the stone walls exposed rather than cover them ? How long does that water tank last and how do you refill?

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

Yes we both speak Italian. I (Giovanni) do all of the camera / audio / editing.

[@RebDalmas]

I just saw something where they discovered that the Romans had used salt water, and that was what made the lime morder superior. May be true, may not be. Perhaps someone that knows chemistry would know why and/or if it is true?

[@shooster5884]

What alcohol did you use for the elderflower? I make sloe gin every year. Same simple idea.. sloes sugar and alcohol. Shake it a few times a day til the sugar is dissolved and then just leave it. Good enough after 3 months but left a year is better.

[@jerrylion45]

Nice 👍🏻

[@LindaH-zm2il]

hello, my son and I enjoy watching your videos, hope to see more in the future... we are wondering, you mentioned you are in southern Italy... may I ask what part? It's beautiful there. thanks for the videos, they are great.

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

Our place is near the border between Molise and Campania, in the foothills of the Matese mountains. Glad you enjoy the scenery!

[@shirleygraham6229]

I am guessing that you aren't going to be living there during the colder months. Do you head back to America? For some reason I thought you were there to stay this year. Best wishes.

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

Summer trips only for now.

[@donfranco8615]

The scenery there is amazing along with all the nature. The only bad thing are those gawdy wind turbines which are pure garbage and detract from the majestic scenery.

[@parkdigwig3447]

1 part lime and 2 parts sharp sand Mix well with water. This is the “recipe” from an 18th Century restoration expert. He teaches classes on plastering and lime mortar stone work.

[@joaomoacer]

anyone know what a camera they are using?

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

It's a Panasonic Lumix G7. I would prefer something with a bigger sensor, as it can't handle low light very well.

[@ms-mac521]

👍👍👍

[@coby6417]

🌟👏👍🍀💐

[@lindamounts2193]

Will you ever move there permanently?

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

At some point, yes, but not soon. The important thing is for conditions to be right. At a minimum we'd need to be convinced that our son could thrive in the local school system, which isn't obvious right now.

[@TaeglicheNarzisst]

Seems like you have been touched by Grace. Never let it go now that you know it.

[@parkdigwig3447]

Beautiful landscape with its visuals otherwise ruined by the power generating windmills. I know it’s a necessary item in modern life- however they really do ruin otherwise beautiful pastures and hilly lands.

[@diversity-i1s]

The Walnut tree was, although maybe unfortunate; unintentionally / unknowingly coppiced, no need to worry, the tree will return to its former glory.

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

I hope so, the main problem now is that due to the excessive rain the stump has caught a fungus. I suspect much of the dead wood will rot within a year or two, and I'm not sure that it will be able to support the weight of a large trunk. Hopefully we'll be able to make a few copies just in case.

[@diversity-i1s]

Oh that is unfortunate, yes I would try to strike some cuttings in the winter, good luck.

[@lagringa7518]

It's not that hard to make elderflower syrup, just more sugar and lots of lemons and time.

[@florentinalily]

Hot lime is best for your stone and with limestone but the argument still rages..

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

The compressive strength question is kind of complicated. I think people like higher compressive strength because it doesn't weather away as quickly as older / traditional mixes. The strength isn't really essential for a stone wall I think because usually the stones are all in contact with each other (there's no "compression" happening, unlike the situation with bricks). With NHLs that are rated as "2", what that means is it's the minimum strength at something like 28 days or something, but research shows that NHLs keep gaining strength over time, so the final compressive strength of an NHL 2 might be much higher than 2 over many years. The hot lime thing has more to do with another property, which is how moisture moves through the mortar, as well as "clast formation" which I guess has something to do with the self-healing properties of certain lime mortars. There are some talks by David Wiggins on KZbin that explain these things in more detail. What's actually true is kind of hard to pin down, but what's verified with data is that NHLs often don't behave as advertised (has to do with some innate unpredictability coming from how they're manufactured, from what I understand). There's a book by Nigel Copsey (as well as talks on KZbin) that explain some of these things in greater detail.

[@alexandrulupu725]

You are still very brave to live in a stacked stone house, after what happened to big cities after a big earthquake. They are graves, waiting to happen.

[@carlogrignaschi8773]

Great job

[@TaMoose101]

Too much talking

[@TheDelem]

Ciao , bellissima zona ...penso che miele favoloso potrebbe venire là!! Avete mai pensato a mischiare la malta con la canapa per gli interni così funziona da isolante? C'è una famiglia su KZbin che ha restaurato una casa antica come la vostra con la canapa come isolante ...@ateliermavi