Agriculture and tourism are only part of what is done at Spannocchia. Our primary mission is connecting people to an authentic Tuscan landscape, local food systems, and sustainable living practices to transform their relationship with the natural environment. Through membership donations, we are able to create opportunities for people to experience the cultural history of rural Tuscany as well as modern regenerative farming practices at work. Donations help us run educational programs and underwrite the costs of our internship program. Through this work, we're also helping to preserve the estate.

Membership at any level allows you to participate in an on-site educational program or reserve accommodations through the agriturismo for a visit with friends or family. While you are there, you’ll also enjoy:

• A welcome gift on arrival.
• Special discounted pricing for tours and activities, including cooking classes and tastings.
• A complimentary historical tour of the Castello.

Members continue to enjoy a variety of benefits after (or before!) their visit as well:

• Ongoing participation in our international community, including information about the organization and upcoming programs, classic Italian recipes, virtual programming, and sustainability news.
• Early access to imported Spannocchia products in the U.S.
• Occasional members-only travel offers for discounted farmhouse rentals or B&B stays (certain membership levels only).

We wouldn’t be Spannocchia without a little help from our friends. In return, we promise that once you stay at Spannocchia, you’ll always have family in Italy!

In spring of 2022, Friends of Spannocchia launched our Internship Scholarship Fund. 

Our Farm Internship Program—with a focus on regenerative agriculture, respect for biodiversity, local food systems, sustainable living, and Italian history and culture—has always been an example of our commitment to the tenets of learning, growing, and sustaining. As we actively work for greater equity and inclusion in our educational efforts, we are also committed to an internship program that is accessible to individuals from more diverse backgrounds, places, and experiences.

Recognizing that the internship program fee is a barrier for some would-be participants, this fund helps us offer need-based scholarships for interns. We’ve also been expanding our outreach and developing new partnerships to support our equity efforts.

We believe in the importance of providing our unique educational experience to more diverse groups of young adults who share a common passion for sustainability, local food, and organic farming. While the internship program has always inspired both professional and personal growth—and hopefully new generations of environmental changemakers—with more diversity, this impact deepens individually and expands collectively.

Will you help us make the internship program experience available to a broader audience with a contribution to the Internship Scholarship Fund? Every dollar counts toward the ongoing work of greater equity and inclusion in our internship programming.

"I am so grateful for the experience that I've had at Spannocchia. During a time of transition in both my personal and professional life, this internship has provided me with ample opportunities to grow. On a practical level, I've deepened my knowledge of organic regenerative agriculture through firsthand exposure to environmentally sustainable practices. I'm so excited to take these newfound skills and apply them to a career in the agricultural sector moving forward. On a personal level, I will be leaving this program feeling more self-assured and confident in what I'm capable of achieving. The connections and friendships that I've made over the past few months will far outlive the length of the program itself, and for that, I'm extraordinarily grateful. I can't thank you enough for providing me with a scholarship through Friends of Spannocchia. Your generosity has allowed me to partake in and enjoy this beautifully enriching experience without financial hardship. Thank you again for allowing me to be here; it's been an absolute pleasure being a part of this internship program."

— 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Many "Friends" of Spannocchia choose to support us with donations to our general operating fund, often in addition to maintaining an annual membership. These gifts, of any size, provide necessary support to all aspects of our organization, and we are so truly grateful.

The Randall Stratton Memorial Fund: Learn more about this special fund and its projects in honor of one of Spannocchia's founders, Randall Stratton.

To donate to our General Operating Fund online: Visit our giving site and enter your desired gift amount.

For gifts of stock: For some donors, gifts of appreciated stock are a desirable way to make a difference. If you are interested in exploring this option or to receive instructions for making a stock transfer, please email Executive Director Sarah Allenby at sarah@spannocchia.org.

To make payment by check: Any type of donation, including membership, can be paid by check if you prefer. Please make checks payable to "Friends of Spannocchia" and mail to: PO Box 10531, Portland, ME 04104.

Grazie Mille!