Located between the outskirts and the historic center of Perugia, Umbria, the individual farm La Raica owned by young entrepreneur Michela Lucaroni is an example of peri-urban agriculture, which enriches traditional agricultural production with environmental and social benefits. Michela, a graduate in agriculture with a major in architecture and urban greening, has reclaimed part of her grandparents’ land, combining tradition with a renewed interest in the environment and biodiversity, which she deepened through a course in biodynamic agriculture. On a farm of approximately 7 hectares, entirely organic, the farm, founded in 2023, cultivates vegetables, both in the open field and in greenhouses, as well as hazelnut, almond, olive, and arable crops. Marketing takes place via a short supply chain. The farm’s focus has been on an agriculture that pursues integral respect for the environment and healthy eating. Organic farming is the starting point for going further, following a biodynamic and agroecological approach based on the coexistence of different species, the observation of nature, and the recovery of traditional techniques.

La Raica has ongoing collaborations and projects with local organizations such as AIAB Umbria and the PièDiBosco project in Assisi, aimed at children. These projects focus on environmental education, greenery management, raising awareness of wild plants, the creation of family gardens, and social farming activities. To implement the latter, the company hosts individuals with various types of disadvantages sent by AIAB as part of the SEI BioAS project, which aims to promote and strengthen social farming.

Raica’s primary objective is to raise awareness and communicate the values of respect for the environment and biodiversity, the recovery of rural culture, and listening to the rhythms of nature.