Stefania Lusuardi
Innovator
Maso Canova
Italy
Social
Farming
Rural area close to city
The innovation journey
Stefania Lusuardi is the manager of Maso Canova, an organic farm and a farm-based kindergarten located on the Italian Alps, in Vallelaghi, Trentino Alto Adige. She is a 43-year-old woman, has three children and started the project from scratch in 2016.
She grows fruits, vegetables, edible flowers, and herbs. She also breeds different animals that support the farm ecosystem. She sells vegetables and fruits on-site and through local food networks.
Since 2018, she also run the area’s first farm-based kindergarten for children aged 0-6. Children spend most of the time outdoors with animals and on the farm learning, among other things, how to live in harmony with nature, how food is produced and processed as well as the role of different animals and insects within the farm. Various specialists are involved in the educational program: music therapists, art therapists, and psychologists. This is to take care of the different physical and sensory abilities of children.
The innovation impact
This practice bridges social and environmental sustainability connecting organic farming and education in a very innovative way.
The success of the kindergarten has led Stefania to work as a trainer with several regional educational institutions.
Networking is a distinguishing feature of her work. Stefania is a member of the Valle dei Laghi Biodistrict and she was among the promoters of a CSA in the municipality of Trento, involving 13 local farmers and 40 families. Products can be ordered weekly through an online platform. The CSA organizes also other activities such as showing cooking, oil tasting, and meetings to raise awareness about the seasonality of products, and the value of the land.