From Physiotherapist to Farmer

Federico Chierico may be a farmer now but he used to be a physiotherapist in his hometown of Biella. At some point, he got tired of being a therapist and decided to make a life shift moving to the mountains of Gressoney in northwestern Italy and taking up a job working at the national park visitor center.

Federico started farming in the way that so many do by growing vegetables for his own consumption in his backyard. He was surprised to find that he felt more connected to the Earth cultivating his own small patch of land than working in the national park. “This is when it became clear to me that cultivating the land was my true vocation.” Federico explains.

Having his hands in the soil gave perspective and he started to explore synergic agriculture and permaculture consuming the work of Nicola Savio, Jean-Martin Fortier and Eliot Coleman, amongst other farmers. He took his first professional step into agriculture by founding Paysage à Manger, a project focused on the revival and cultivation of ancient and rare potato varieties. “It was a complicated but satisfying job,” he says.

After some time, Federico decided to return to his hometown of Biella. As he explains, “In 2023, I decided to do what I love in the land I grew up in. In 2024, I started my current project, Il Chioso Società Semplice Agricola, merging organic and regenerative agriculture, market gardening and permaculture. I haven’t looked back since.”

Transforming the Land

Il Chioso sits on 9 hectares, with only 1.5 hectares actively used. Federico rents the land caring for it in a very different way than it was before. “Part of the land Il Chioso was founded on was cultivated from the ‘60s with corn and soy for forage in conventional agriculture. From the ‘90s on, it was an extensive plant nursery for maple trees. Then, in the 2000s, it was turned into a field covered by ornamental magnolias and cherry plums planted by the owners, the Rivetti family,” he recalls. “The condition of the land was not optimal. Most of the soil is still very poor in organic matter, but it is starting to transform.”

Thanks to regenerative management practices, the soil structure has improved. The land now retains more water, soil organic matter has increased, yields are becoming more stable, and biodiversity is growing.

Under the remaining ornamental trees, Ouessant sheep roam and graze alongside chickens and geese. 4,500 square meters of the land is a market garden connecting 35 families in a community-supported agricultural project. Seeds are saved through a collaboration with the local mental health rehabilitation center. “Today our task is to shift the paradigm to the centrality of life networks, biological efficiency, human relationships, and the nutrition of local communities,“ says Federico. “The agricultural model I propose is certainly a disruptive one.”

Cultivating Community

Il Chioso’s physical structures serve as a metaphor of Federico’s dreams and wishes. “Something that distinguishes us from other farms is the centrality of the farmhouse as a communal place: the beating heart of the project, the farmhouse is a place to discuss the future in a constructive and joyful way, characterized by hospitality and openness to the outside world.”

This agricultural transformation is not just a physical one, but also a cultural one. Beyond the physical embodiment of community through the farmhouse, Federico has opened Il Chioso culturally and socially.

He has created a CSA, hosts WWOOFers, and a weekly on-site farmer’s market. “We try to radically embody humankind's need to change its relationship with the Earth associating thought to action,” he shares.

This embodiment shows in his off-the-farm work. Federico has collaborated and presented for Slow Food on food policies, collaborated with Fondazione Cittadellarte and Biella Città Arcipelago on food, agricultural and hospitality, and presented at conferences, for touring clubs, and podcasts. “Wouldn't it be more beautiful to consider a model that allows us to work alongside the immensely greater force that is nature rather than doing everything to subjugate, dissect, and annihilate it?” poses Federico.

Hope for the Future

For Federico, Il Chioso is not just a place for agricultural growth, but for community growth, knowledge expansion, and appreciation for the natural world. “We are proud about our communal project, seeing it bloom despite all trials,” he says. “We are only at the start of our journey because we have only been on this land for a short while, but we have so many ideas, projects and dreams for this place.”

From soil depletion to high upfront costs to limited access to land, Federico has managed to cultivate hope and action from adversity, prioritizing active engagement with the land and his community. His visions and goals are clear: to discuss the future in a constructive and joyful way. “We are happy to be a part of Top 50 Farmers,” he shares. “We are a fertile project working hard in our region and it’s important for us to be connected to other projects on a European and global level. What better opportunity than this?”

Written by Top 50 Farmers and Kiva Victoria