Creative Gathering in Tuscany, the emotions and the new dates

A month ago we said goodbye to the attendees of the second edition of the Three Acres Creative Gathering and here we are again, planning the third edition in October, in the season that better suits our mood and the desire to re-connect with our innate sense of wonder, our curiosity, our urge to share and be inspired, by other like-minded people and by Nature itself. Sometimes I wonder if it really happened. My life is usually quiet, but those days have been a whirlwind of emotions. 

We spent four days together in a cold Spring countryside, blessed by sunshine, green fields and blooming trees, but still charmed by a wood burning oven for the pizza, a hot plate of baked beans with fresh olive oil and the hug of a scarf, or of a friend.

When you take part to our gatherings you instantly become part of our extended family of friends. I would not be where I am now, working crazy hours but doing what I love every second of my life, without the support of Regula and Sarka. We created our network when we needed to believe in ourselves, and since then we’ve been there to help, support, advice, inspire each other. But, most importantly, we’ve been there when it was time to celebrate a goal, a book, an award, and when it was time to talk a debacle out and learn from it.

We opened our annual gatherings to other people because it felt good. It felt the right thing to do.  

Many friends have joined us along our journey, and each one of them made the gathering a little bit more special. We met Manuela during the first edition of the Gathering and now she is a dear friend. She touched us with her emotion, her love for bread. She taught us how to work with a sourdough starter. It is not a matter of flour and techniques, as everything is involved: heart, soul, dedication.

Irene set the table for our final lunch foraging flowers along a country road: the beauty is everywhere, you just should be open enough to notice it. I thought she could not find any flower along that road, as I’ve been walking countless times there without noticing anything special: with her we found wild sage, wild pea flowers, tender oak leaves and elegant fennel fronds.

Claudia taught us ho to make a rose and pink clay mask with extra virgin olive oil and Damascena roses. Everyone got to try it along with her fresh tonic water.

Tessa Kiros joined our gathering, too. You must know that she has been one of my main sources of inspiration through the years. Now I am proud to consider her a friend. Having her join us meant a lot, but it has been actually even more surprising and inspiring than I could expect. Her enthusiasm, her honesty and pureness got me so emotional that I began crying while she was talking after lunch at the gathering. It has been so liberating. 

We’ve been to Siena with Laura, to San Gimignano, we visited the Mensanello farm, the market in Colle Val d’Elsa and my favourite butcher to buy all the best local ingredients for our meals. 

Cooking was a family matter. We cooked many meals, with the precious help of my mum and my grandmother, who made her amazing lasagne for our Sunday lunch. I learnt a lot about myself, my job and my expectations. I gave a lot in term of emotions, experience and dedication. 

Now it is your turn. Do you want to join Tommaso, Sarka, Regula and me for our third Creative Gathering next October?

Three Acres Creative Gathering 2017, October 26th – 29th

What we will be up to

You will stay at a lovely but basic agriturismo in the Sienese countryside on the outskirts of a tiny village with only a few houses. We will pick you up every day and drive you to the Juls’ Kitchen studio where we have been teaching Tuscan cookery courses and food expeditions for over six years. The studio is cosy and features a large open plan kitchen where will will cook and eat and drink copious amounts of tea. We have a lovely big garden there with wonderful countryside views, olive trees, a vegetable patch and the company of a Maremma Sheep dog and a black cat.

We will light up the wood burning oven to make pizza, focaccia and bread, we will enjoy a spread of local vegetables and charcuterie to taste the real flavour of the countryside, we will walk under century old oaks to channel nature’s force and inspiration.

This year we will have a special tour to a family run winery in the Chianti region with a real Tuscan wine lover, Rebecca from Grape Tour.

We will explore the charming Volterra, a town surrounded by a unique landscape, chosen in the past times by the Etruscan people for its unrivalled position and a slightly mysterious force, which you will definitely perceive while walking along its paved back alleys at dusk.

We will also head to Siena for a walk and dinner in one of the most well preserved medieval towns of Tuscany, with some free time to explore the town on your own and perhaps buy some treats to take home.

We will have a sourdough bread making course with Manuela, who has been gifting us with the most fragrant bread since the first edition, and a DIY natural cosmetic workshop with Claudia, who’s been creating her beauty products from scratch for years: she uses just organic oils and butters, natural essences and a pinch of curiosity.

As the Autumn colours change the foliage of woods, we rediscover our timeless love for chocolate: Kerrin will guide us through a professional tasting while talking about the path which let her to transform her passion for chocolate into an exciting career.

Tessa Kiros will join us again for a motivational talk on food writing, sharing her contagious optimism and all her experience as author of 10 cookbooks.

We will also talk about photography, creativity, inspiration, life balance and commitment, all while enjoying honest seasonal food.

There will be plenty of opportunities for each student to practice the techniques learned during the weekend.

Secure your spot here on Big Cartel>>

Details

Siena countryside, Tuscany
Nearest airport: Florence or Pisa
You can also arrive in Rome and take a train to Florence
Max 6 participants

Book your flights as soon as possible as the gathering will be close to a national holiday in Italy, so everyone will be traveling during the long weekend.

Total cost

1.350€ per person, shared room, your own bed, one roommate
1.500€ per person, single room

*Contact us for payment options*

The cost includes
3 nights accommodation at Tenuta Mensanello, a beautiful Agriturismo just 2 km from the Studio **
1 dinner on Thursday at Juls’ Kitchen
1 dinner on Friday in a restaurant in Siena
1 dinner on Saturday in an osteria in Volterra
3 lunches cooked at Juls’ Kitchen
3 Italian breakfasts at your agriturismo
1 cooking class
Drinks and refreshments during the weekend at Juls’ Kitchen
Transport during the weekend
All teachings and excursions

Not included
Transport to and from Italy and to the agriturismo
Anything extra you would like to purchase personally
Travel insurance
Cancellation insurance

Cancellation Policy
Due to the involved logistics, we offer no cancellations or refunds. Please know you can make it before booking. We strongly encourage you to have travel insurance to cover the retreat in the event of strikes, natural disasters, health problems, and other unforeseen events.

The Schedule

Day 1  – Thursday the 26th of October

3pm Check-in at Tenuta Mensanello Agriturismo
5pm Introductions & Aperitifs at Juls’ Kitchen Studio
Welcome Dinner at Juls’ Kitchen with home made pizza baked in the Tuscan wood fired oven

Day 2  – Friday the 27th of October

Breakfast at Tenuta Mensanello
A trip to Colle Val d’Elsa weekly market for a second breakfast, Italian coffee ritual & ingredient shopping. Visit to an artisanal butcher shop
Cooking class and lunch at Juls’ Kitchen studio
Chianti Classico Wine Tour with Rebecca from Grape Tour
Food tour in Siena with some free time to explore the town on your own and perhaps buy some treats to take home
Dinner in a traditional restaurant in Siena

Day 3  – Saturday the 28th of October

Breakfast at Tenuta Mensanello
Session I – Sourdough bread making introduction with Manuela Conti
Session II – Photography and Food Styling
Tuscan Lunch with local produce at Juls’ Kitchen
Session III – Lightroom introduction
Walk in Volterra by night and dinner in a local Osteria

Day 4  – Sunday the 29th of October

Breakfast at Tenuta Mensanello
Session IV – DIY Natural Cosmetic workshop with Claudia Scarpaleggia
Session V – Chocolate tasting and how to build your career starting with your passion with Kerrin Rousset
Lunch in the garden (weather permitting) at Juls’ Kitchen
Session VI – A talk on writing, creativity and inspiration with Tessa Kiros
Goodbye at Juls’ Kitchen at 5pm

**Option to book an extra night at the agriturismo if you want to travel back on Monday. You are welcome to join us for dinner at a restaurant but each will pay for their own.

Who can attend?

It is open to everyone, not just photographers and bloggers, but all creative people who want to explore different styles and deepen their visual voice.

Who are we?

Giulia (me!) is a food writer and food photographer, the author of 5 cookery books, she has been running Tuscan cooking classes, food excursions and workshops for 5 years from her Tuscan family home and studio Juls’ Kitchen. She also writes an award winning blog Juls’ Kitchen:
www.julskitchen.com
Twitter & Instagram: @Julskitchen

Regula is the author of 2 books on food and drink culture. She photographs and writes for a living. She is also a graphic designer. Her focus lies with reality, this can mean natural light or going on a fishing boat at 4 in the morning to capture the essence of a situation.
Regula also writes a blog which was shortlisted for a Saveur Blog Award:
www.missfoodwise.com
Twitter & Instagram: @MissFoodwise

Sarka has been a professional photographer for 6 years working with editorial clients in the UK and her homeland Czech Republic. She has been tutoring photography workshops for years and she is your go to girl for the technical part.
www.sarkababicka.com
Twitter & Instagram: @Sarkababicka

Tommaso is the tech guy, Giulia’s partner in crime, a Social Media manager, amateur photographer and video maker. He is half of Juls’ Kitchen, managing the technical and social aspects of it. Proud official taster of everything that comes out of the kitchen.
Instagram: @Tommyonweb

Thanks to

Mensanello, because your honest hospitality just rocks. Frantoio Pruneti, for the best Tuscan extra virgin olive oil for our pizza, salads, beans, cosmetics and gathering. Jing tea, for giving us the best tea for our tea breaks. Simone, Debbie, Sofia, Rachel, Shirley and Rosemarie who trusted us and enriched our gathering with their enthusiasm and curiosity. Tessa, Manuela, Irene, Lorenzo, Laura and Claudia for gifting us wit their expertise and passion. Luisa, Emiko, Linda and her family for joining us.