Good practice:

An Organic and Multifunctional Closed Cycle Farm: Energy, Food and Culture

Tularù is an organic and multi-purpose closed-cycle farm located 850 meters above sea level, in a mountain area 15 km from Rieti in north part of Lazio Region, between the valleys of the Salto and Velino rivers.
The property is 60 Ha, 30 of which are woodland, 30 of which are directly managed by the farm.
The company activity is based on the primary production of ancient cereals, vegetables, fruit and wild fruit and on breeding of cattle and chickens grown in a natural way exclusively with grass and hay.

In order to achieve significant savings in terms of expenses incurred, the farm Tularù has implemented the following closed-loop system:
Production of photovoltaic energy
Photovoltaic panels on a roof (6 kw) in energy exchange
Production of thermal energy
• Thermal storage: with 800 liter boiler without coil in series and with 600 liter boiler with coil for the production of domestic hot water, powered by solar panels mounted on the roof with east-west exposure;
• Inverted flame wood stove (gasification) of 35 kw;
• Thermal composting: system of about 30 cubic meters, from branches wood chips, pruning waste and forest cleaning.
• Pyrolysis: a wood-fired oven, which produces "biochar" as a byproduct, which, enriched with biofertilizer, guarantees excellent health for farm crops.
The direct beneficiary of the practice is the farm itself, which has created a chain of ancient Rieti grains involving 9 other farms, 1 local pasta factory and 2 ovens (stakeholders).

Own funds
• Thermal system € 6,000
Public funds
• Photovoltaic € 10,000 - Measure 6.1 of the Rural Development Programme of the Lazio Region 2014-2020
• Thermal system € 18,000 - "Conto Energia” (Energy account) 2.0 - introduced with EU Directive 2001/77/EC

The practice has developed a renewable energy supply mainly for self-consumption. The activity of this organic farm is significantly oriented towards multifunctionality. Discovering of the supply chain of ancient local grains, Tularù has been able to involve part of the local community to the objectives of sustainable agriculture. Moreover, through the restaurant and agritourism activity, this farm could also promote a sustainable tourism with a socio-economic impact on the rural community.

For the composting system to work properly, the humidity of the compost pile must be between 60% and 75%. Excessive humidity risks suffocating the bacteria. Construction of a good draining base, the insertion of aerating elements and access to a water source, preferably rainwater, are essential.

Using a mixed system of renewable energy mainly for self-consumption in a multifunctional farm dedicated to sustainable agriculture can raise awareness of environmental sustainability issues among an interesting number of people if a series of initiatives are implemented as in this agricultural company that has organized an association of producers of local ancient grains and of ovens and of oven and pasta factories, manages a restaurant and a farm holiday, organizes an international voluntary camp and visits to the educational farm.