Integrated Truffle Orcharding
Aranda de duero, Spain
Have a look at our trip from February 5-12, 2023
Come join us for a “Live Truffle Tour & Workshop” as we explore new approaches to truffle cultivation with a broad view of soil health, the advantages of companion planting, and quality truffles. We’ll share experiences of surviving recent weather extremes and we’ll visit truffle orchards and vineyards where farmers are experimenting with holistic methods to promote resiliency for rural lands and livelihoods.
We’ll have opportunities to share ideas and experiences from diverse truffle sites.
With your participation we’ll address some of the long-term challenges we face in managing truffle orchards and rural lands with changing weather patterns.
We’ll tackle questions like these:
How can we care for the soil in our orchards and vineyards to support healthy plants and root ecosystems?
How can we optimise land use by including other plants to provide additional income, improve soil structure, water retention and soil fertility?
How do our management activities of irrigation, weed control and pruning influence truffle production and long-term resiliency?
How can we design our orchards with an understanding of local wildlife and reduce animal browsing or insect damage?
Learn about the dynamic role of predators in balancing rural habitats.
The Other Truffle Lovers
Control of insect damage has become an important concern for truffle producers throughout the world.
Among the many challenges that truffle farmers face are the other truffle lovers: insects and wild boars, badgers and small burrowing mammals who are attracted to the truffles.
They may help disperse spores but often cause damage to the truffle quality or to the trees. How can we apply an integrated approach to insects and diseases in our orchards?
seedling protection and pruning
José Santana is an expert at small woodland management and tree pruning techniques.
How and when can we prune our trees to promote the sun and shade of thriving woodlands?
We will dedicate a field trip to discuss methods, timing and physiology of tree pruning.
How To Market these Black gems
How will you handle your bounty of truffles?
Successful truffle farmers face further challenges when it comes to cleaning, processing, preserving and marketing volumes of truffles.
We’ll meet local experts who are in the business of supporting truffle growers through their company that buys and sells fresh truffles & specialty truffle products.
Here is what we provide for you:
Transportation to Aranda de Duero from Madrid and back, and all transportation for the program events.
Hotel accommodations with breakfast for 7 nights.
Live presentations and site visits with local professionals working in the truffle, wine and agroforestry sectors.
Seven mid-day feasts with regional wines included.
Guided visits to the city of Aranda de Duero, and traditional wine cellars.
Meeting with an expert Truffle Marketing Team.
Dates: February 5-12, 2023.
Cost: €3800/person.
Contact Christine Fischer to reserve your place.
The Truffle Tour language will be English but you’ll have many opportunities to join-in with your Spanish.
enjoy the excitement of hunting ripe Black Truffles in spain
What can we learn from the natural Black Truffle habitats, their soils and the native plants that thrive in the brulées?
Truffles and Terroir
What are the secrets to the aromas that truffles and grapes bring from their soils to our feasts?
The aromas of fresh truffles are nearly impossible to describe other than they smell of the earth.
What factors influence fresh truffle aromas?
What management activities can threaten the quality of truffle aromas?
We’ll discuss this concept of terroir with truffle growers, wine-makers and chefs throughout the week as we explore soil dynamics.
Yes, we shall dine on truffles
and Regional Wines
We’ll enjoy the regional culinary traditions of Castille and Leon, and outstanding chefs who demonstrate their skills and imaginations, capturing the ephemeral aromas of truffles.
We plan to have a wonderful & delicious time sharing our ideas, with hopes to encourage ecological restoration of rural lands that support fabulous truffles and so much more.
