Marco Carbonara & Chiara Dragoni
Marco and Chiara are the owners of Pulicaro, an agritourism farm and restaurant nestled in the heart of Tuscia in central Italy. After completing their studies at the University of Florence (Marco holds a degree in ecology) and the University of Pavia (Chiara holds a degree in cultural heritage), they embarked on a project to restore a farmhouse—and the land surrounding it—that had been abandoned for over 25 years. Using nature’s rhythms as a model, they set out to create an organic farm that would operate in complete harmony with the ecosystem of which it is part. After many years of hard work, they succeeded in creating a dynamic reality, where chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, sheep, goats, and pigs alike are all raised in a semi-wild state. They also tend to an olive grove, fruit orchard, and organic vegetable garden. With a strong commitment to regenerative farming practices, Marco and Chiara produce delicious and nutrient dense food without the use of pesticides or antibiotics, making a thoughtful and intentional effort to steward the land, protect the watershed, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate climate change as they do so. Through their daily practices, they work to create a more resilient food and farming system, and influence future generations to do the same.