On her small organic farm in Umbria, Italy, Virginia Ruspolini brings together two family traditions: farming and beekeeping. Under the name APINCAMPO (“Bees in the Field”), she cultivates spelt and peas while caring for her bees, which she sees as a vital part of the ecosystem. For Virginia, organic farming is not the easy path, but it is the one most in line with her values of environmental ethics and sustainability.
We visited Virginia on her farm to learn more about intercropping and organic farming in Italy. She showed us how her intercropping of einkorn spelt and field pea is improving soil structure, reducing weed pressure, and supporting the health of both crops and pollinators. Her decisions are guided by care for the land, respect for pollinators, and a belief that small-scale organic farming can be both resilient and rewarding.
As one of the farmers participating in our on-farm living labs, Virginia offers a grounded look at intercropping in practice. Watch the video with Virginia to learn more about beekeeping, intercropping and organic farming in Italy.