Sustainable Farm Tour & Northern Italian Cooking Class in Asti

This is a farm visit where the ingredients come from the ground beneath your feet. At Vivi’s home near Priocca, you will meet her chickens and friendly geese, walk among vegetable beds and fruit trees, and collect wild herbs before turning them into pasta, gnocchi, soup, or other family dishes.

I like the direct contact with local life, and I like that Vivi explains not only what grows on her land, but how to recognize plants with all five senses. The main consideration is comfort: you may spend time on your hands and knees in the garden, and the home has no air conditioning.

Key points at a glance

• Forage with Vivi: Learn to identify wild herbs and vegetables, then use them in the meal.
• See a working farm: Visit chickens, geese, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and hazelnut trees.
• Cook family recipes: Make two or three dishes, with possible menus including gnocchi, pasta, soup, bread, and tiramisu.
• Private and personal: Only your group takes part, with no large class crowd.
• Asti-area setting: Meet at Agriturismo Serra dei Costa near Priocca, in the Piedmont countryside.
• Allow extra time: The scheduled visit lasts about four hours, but the shared meal and conversation may stretch longer.

A farm visit that begins with what is growing

Many Italian cooking classes start at a kitchen counter with bowls already measured and vegetables already washed. This one starts outside. Vivi welcomes you to her home and sustainable farm, then shows you the plants, animals, and growing methods behind the meal.

That change in order matters. You first see the source of the food, then learn how to use it. You may collect wild herbs, garden vegetables, and other ingredients before moving indoors to cook. The result feels less like a demonstration and more like a visit to someone’s home where food is part of daily life.

The farm sits on the hills of Piedmont, surrounded by vineyards and other farms. The setting is rural rather than polished or theatrical. You are visiting a private home, so expect an informal experience instead of a restaurant-style cooking studio.

Meeting Vivi near Priocca

The meeting point is Agriturismo Serra dei Costa, at Strada Serra dei Costa, 2/A, 12040 Priocca CN, Italy. Priocca is in the Asti area of Piedmont, and the experience takes place in the surrounding countryside.

You arrange your own way to the meeting point. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and the activity ends back there. This is an important planning detail if you are staying in Asti or elsewhere in Piedmont. Check your driving or transport plan before booking, since the experience does not begin at a central city meeting point.

Vivi is the host throughout the visit. She introduces you to her home and farm, explains her approach to sustainable growing, and leads the cooking. Since the activity is private, your group can ask questions and work at a pace that suits you. That is especially useful if some people in your party cook often while others are complete beginners.

Walking the gardens, animals, and fruit trees

The first part of the visit takes place outdoors. Vivi shows you her chickens, friendly geese, vegetable gardens, wild plants, and fruit trees. The farm includes hazelnut and apricot trees, along with other edible plants.

The animals add a simple, lively touch. The geese are described as unusually friendly and talkative, so do not expect a silent stroll through orderly rows of produce. This is a working home garden, not a formal botanical garden. You may see plants in different stages of growth and areas used for practical farm work.

Vivi also explains how she tries to build a healthy growing system. One example is enriching the soil through replanting. She can show you how the farm supports plant growth rather than relying only on buying ingredients or treating the soil as an empty planting bed.

I like this part because it gives the meal a clear context. You are not simply told that the food is fresh. You see where some of it grows and learn what goes into keeping the soil productive.

Foraging wild herbs with all five senses

Foraging is the most distinctive part of the experience. Vivi helps you identify wild herbs and vegetables, then explains their traditional uses and properties. The aim is not just to point out a plant by name. You learn to recognize it through sight, smell, touch, and the other senses as well.

That lesson has practical value. Wild plants can be easy to confuse, so learning directly from a local host gives you a better sense of how careful identification works. Vivi also explains how the plants fit into traditional cooking and everyday use.

You should dress for outdoor work. One participant specifically recommends pants and a T-shirt because you may be on your hands and knees, reaching into the soil to pick the best herbs. Comfortable clothes and shoes make more sense here than an outfit meant for a formal meal.

The foraging portion may suit curious adults and children alike, but younger children will need supervision around plants, garden tools, and animals. The supplied information confirms that the class is open to children, though it does not give a minimum age.

From collected herbs to a Piedmont kitchen

After collecting ingredients, you move into Vivi’s kitchen. She teaches two or three Italian dishes based on family recipes, with wild herbs playing a central role in at least two dishes.

The sample menu includes homemade pasta alla chitarra or gnocchi, along with fresh vegetables and wild herbs. Other possible dishes described for the class include vegetable soup, herb and egg salad, homemade bread, and pasta with a light tomato sauce. One menu also included tiramisu.

The exact dishes can vary, so you should not book expecting every item listed above. The useful point is the style of cooking: simple recipes, natural ingredients, and a close link between the garden and the plate.

You may be assigned different tasks during the cooking. That can include shaping pasta or gnocchi, preparing vegetables, mixing bread, or assembling a salad. You are not just watching Vivi work. The hands-on format lets you learn techniques you can repeat at home.

For first-time cooks, this sounds forgiving rather than intimidating. For experienced cooks, the appeal is in the local ingredients and the chance to learn how wild herbs are used in a home kitchen. Since it is private, you can ask for clarification instead of trying to hear a lesson over a crowded room.

Sharing the meal at home

The finished meal is served with Vivi, and alcoholic beverages are included. This is not a quick tasting where you leave as soon as the last dish is plated. The meal is part of the visit, with time for conversation and a chance to enjoy what you helped prepare.

The relaxed pace may be one of the best reasons to choose this experience. The scheduled duration is about four hours, but the visit can run much longer when the group continues talking and eating. One group spent six to seven hours at the farm, far beyond the stated time.

That extra time should be seen as a possibility, not a promise. You may have another appointment afterward, so leave a generous buffer. If you want a strict four-hour activity, this informal format may feel loose. If you enjoy long meals and conversation, the flexibility is a plus.

The food itself is likely to be straightforward rather than elaborate. Homemade pasta, gnocchi, soup, vegetables, herbs, and bread are the focus. The attraction is the connection between the farm and the table, not a formal restaurant presentation.

Why the sustainable farming lesson matters

Sustainable farming can be an empty phrase when it is used only as a label. Here, the subject is tied to things you can see: replanting to enrich the soil, encouraging a healthy ecosystem, and using what grows around the home.

Vivi shares how she works with the land and how plants support one another. You also get a clearer idea of seasonality. The dishes depend on what is available in the garden and what wild plants are ready to collect, so the menu is not fixed in the way a restaurant menu is.

That makes the visit useful beyond the meal. You may leave with a better understanding of how herbs are identified, how produce is grown, and how a home cook can use a small garden in practical ways. Seeds were also given to one group to take home, though this should not be treated as a guaranteed inclusion.

What the $170 price includes

The price is $170 per person. That is a substantial cost for a four-hour activity, especially since you must make your own way to Priocca and hotel transfers are not included.

Still, this is a private experience rather than a standard group class. The price covers the farm visit, foraging, instruction from Vivi, the cooking class, the meal, alcoholic beverages, and gratuities. You are paying for personal time with the host as well as food.

The value improves if you care about several parts of the experience at once. Someone interested only in learning to make pasta can likely find a shorter and cheaper class. Someone who wants a private farm visit, local food, sustainable growing advice, wild-herb instruction, and a shared meal receives much more for the fee.

The size and makeup of your group also affect the value. Since only your group participates, the experience can feel worthwhile for families or small parties who want a shared activity. Solo participants may find the per-person cost harder to justify, depending on the booking arrangement.

Comfort, timing, and practical planning

The home does not have air conditioning. Piedmont summers can be warm, and the combination of outdoor foraging and kitchen work may feel hot. Light clothing, water, and sensible shoes are practical choices, though you should still dress respectfully for a private home.

The activity is offered in English. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The ticket is mobile, so you can present it from your phone.

Service animals are allowed. The information provided does not give details about wheelchair access, garden paths, or other mobility needs, so ask before booking if those points matter to you. Outdoor foraging may involve uneven ground and bending, but the exact conditions are not specified.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded or accepted.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this for someone who wants a personal connection to Piedmont rather than another polished city activity. It suits people who enjoy cooking, gardening, farm life, and long meals with a host.

Families may like the animals and hands-on tasks. Children can take part, and the farm setting gives them something to see and do beyond sitting at a counter. Parents should still expect garden work and should supervise children around plants and animals.

It is also a good fit for couples and small groups looking for an unusual day in the Asti countryside. The private format gives you more room to ask questions and share the work.

I would be cautious about booking it if you dislike dirt, heat, flexible timing, or unfamiliar plants. This is not the right choice for someone who wants a fast, polished cooking demonstration with every dish fixed in advance.

Should you book this Piedmont farm class?

Book it if you want the meal to begin in the garden. The best parts are the foraging lesson, Vivi’s direct connection to sustainable growing, and the chance to cook and eat in her home.

Think carefully about the price, transport, and open-ended schedule. At $170 per person, the experience makes the most sense when you value the full package: farm visit, private instruction, ingredients, food, drinks, and conversation. If that sounds like your kind of day, this offers a rare look at everyday food traditions in the Piedmont countryside.

FAQ

Where does the farm tour and cooking class meet?

The meeting point is Agriturismo Serra dei Costa, Strada Serra dei Costa, 2/A, 12040 Priocca CN, Italy.

How long does the experience last?

The scheduled duration is approximately four hours. It may last longer if the group continues eating and talking with Vivi.

Is the activity private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the tour and cooking class.

What food might I learn to prepare?

Possible dishes include homemade pasta alla chitarra, gnocchi, fresh vegetables with wild herbs, vegetable soup, herb and egg salad, homemade bread, pasta with tomato sauce, and tiramisu. The exact menu can vary.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must arrange your own transportation to the meeting point, and the activity ends back there.

Is the experience suitable for children?

Yes. The class can be enjoyed by adults or children. The provided information does not specify a minimum age.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded or accepted.