Thank you, Friends!
The past two months have been very difficult, and I just wanted to thank all of you for your messages, phone calls, ideas and support. This message is also to re-invite you to our Annual Meeting Saturday April 11th, 5 pm.
A quick recap: The owner of La Macchina Fissa, Fausto, wants to sell this property, and has officially asked me to go within six months (by July 19th), and that is what I am trying to do. At a meeting on January 21st, Fausto expressed leniency, but determination: if six months become seven, it isn't a problem, but he has decided he wants the property cleared of all of my belongings, and he will not be changing his mind.
At first, many friends and members of Reading Retreats in Rural Italy suggested crowd funding and offering to buy the property, but after a meeting on February 10th, we learned that that would not be possible. Fausto's asking price was 450,000 euro. He told us someone else from Suzzara has already offered 590,000 euro, but hasn't given him their deposit yet. After I spoke to architects, an engineer, local property owners and members involved in real estate (and considering the condition and location of the house and the works necessary to bring everything up to code) our PLAN A, buying La Macchina Fissa, now clearly seems not only impossible, but best not even attempted. So PLAN B, moving as soon as possible, is what we're working on. I began looking for a new place immediately, and over the past month a letter (attached) was sent to public and private property owners in the Province of Mantua and beyond. I have already visited a few properties and am meeting with different people every week. The ideas are many and the realistic, long-term solutions are few, but I'd like to thank everyone for thinking of what we could do next and what would be best for the association and for me personally.
Members' emotions about our move range from "After all you've done there?"indignation to "My car and my mosquito allergic skin thank you for leaving that swamp and finding something even better!", and I am trying my best to see this inevitable move as a great opportunity - a new chapter for all of us, even the cats, goats, peacocks and chickens!
IMPORTANT: Our annual assembly meeting is in one month from today. Saturday April 11th, 2026 at 5pm. We will be reviewing the annual budget for 2025 and electing new board members as well as discussing when and how we will move out and the ideas, as known by that date, as to where. My goal is to keep the house and garden beautiful through July, and August looks like our "pick the pumpkins and move" month.
Getting ready to move by lightening the load: "Noon to Nine" Garden parties. Plant and Book Sales and some give-aways (for members only) will take place at La Macchina Fissa on the following dates: 23/24 May, 27/28 June, 25/26 July. Come buy a book or plant and walk away with a gift or two!
Everybody together for our last month here: Inspired by the Amish Barn Raisings of my home state, Pennsylvania, where the whole community gets together to build a barn in a single day, our Moving Parties will be held every Sunday of August: Sunday the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th. In the morning we pack, load up our vehicles, have lunch at La Macchina Fissa, and head to the new place, where in the afternoon we unpack and have dinner together before heading home.
They will be long days, and I really would appreciate your help! Please let me know if you can be part of one of the weekly caravans!
More news will follow our Annual Meeting. Hope to see you soon!
Clark