Saja was founded in Sicily as a social promotion association, officially established in June 2012 (but it had already been active for over a year), with the aim of serving as a laboratory and a meeting place with and within nature. It is a quest for autonomy and selfsufficiency, with the intention not of isolating itself from society, but of introducing new proposals to it.
They primarily work on a land of just under two hectares that was abandoned until their arrival. Immediately they started planting new fruit and forest trees and restoring the old citrus grove that occupies about half of the area (consisting of approximately 350 Tarocco orange trees, a traditional variety with red flesh). Since then, they have grafted more than 26 different citrus varieties to ensure continuity of production and varietal biodiversity, and have also planted a wide variety of fruits… Lemons, Avocados, Pears, Peaches, Apricots, Jujubes, Apples, Plums, Pomegranates, Quinces, Olives, Serviceberries, Grapes, Mulberries, Figs, Palms, Feijoas, Almonds, Guavas, Persimmons, Pecans, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Bananas, Sugar Cane, Casimiroa, Cherries, Blackberries, Tea Tree, Elderberries, Prickly Pears, and Pepino.
Their practices, in line with the principles of Permaculture— chosen as guiding framework— aim to minimize the use of electric or motorized machinery, resulting in energy savings and a more careful attention to individual plants. In the citrus grove and food forest, the soil is not disturbed by any mechanical or manual means to avoid interfering with the delicate microbiological system of the soil. They perform light pruning in late spring and fertilization in winter, using manure exclusively from a nearby organic farm and our chicken coops, compost tea, and cover crops of herbaceous and tree legumes. They work “in-house” with compost tea and bioferments to keep the microorganism population alive and active, promoting healthy plant development.
Homepage: https://saja.it/
e-mail: info@saja.it
