Ancient varieties of fruit trees that risk extinction have found salvation in the tree sanctuary at San Lorenzo di Lerchi near Città di Castello (Umbria), where agriculturists Livio and Isabella Dalla Ragione have carefully gathered a collection of over 400 rare or vanishing trees.
After over thirty years of dedicated research, the orchard contains over 150 different varieties of apple, cherry, pear, plum, fig, almond, medlar and quince, which for one reason or another are not cultivated for the mass market. The trees are cared for and harvested in the traditional manner, without the use of pesticides or other chemicals. The sanctuary welcomes visitors, who can also purchase saplings cultivated from the old trees. Those who are interested in helping with the upkeep can join the Adopt an Ancient Tree scheme by which they have the right to pick the fruit of their chosen tree. The subscription fee comes with two conditions attached, namely, that the adoptive parents visit their tree at least once every eighteen months and that they leave three pieces of fruit on the branches in order to satisfy the old country adage: One for the sun, one for the land and one for the tree.
