In its original Latin meaning, “to cultivate” does not simply mean “to grow plants,” but also to inhabit, care for, and honor what grows. It is a word that conveys the full depth of intention even before the act itself: to create the conditions for life to emerge, develop, and endure. The garden is much more than a productive space: it is a place of growth, balance, and connection, where every element contributes to creating the conditions for something to truly flourish.
This is the insight we gained from our visit to Cascina Don Guanella, an agricultural social cooperative based in Valmadrera, in the province of Lecco, founded with the aim of providing a place where many young people can “flourish” as they transition into adulthood. Don Agostino Frasson, director of Casa Don Guanella in Lecco and president of the Cascina Don Guanella Social Cooperative, told us the long history of the community, which was founded in the immediate post-war period to provide a home for the many children left orphaned. Over the years, it has evolved to meet the needs of the times: from an institution to a boarding school, eventually becoming the first full-time school in the area. Over the years, it has welcomed young people—some from far away, where they experienced fear, hunger, and violence, and others from the streets and prisons.
This property, which spans more than 6,000 square meters of land dedicated to vegetable gardens and the cultivation of berries—primarily raspberries—as well as fields of grain, an olive grove, and a vineyard, is home to a barn housing cattle and a herd of goats, a dairy, a bakery, a brewery, and a winery—a place where the term “locally sourced” is an understatement. In this “chain of life,” as Don Agostino Frasson calls it, agriculture brings to life the concepts of hospitality, care, respect, and education.
Respect, first and foremost, for the land and its fruits, achieved by banning chemical products and adopting practices consistent with the principles of what we now call “regenerative agriculture”—practices that contribute to soil conservation and a more balanced and sustainable form of agriculture. One such practice is mulching, made possible by our Tenax Cover Pro, the professional mulching sheet. Mulching involves covering the soil to protect it: it helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and protects the soil, reducing the need for invasive interventions. A practical approach that moves toward agriculture more attentive to natural balances and soil fertility. To support vegetable growth, we used Tenax r Hortonova, the trellis for climbing vegetables, designed to help plants develop in an orderly and functional way. But as the etymology of the word “cultivate” reminds us, to accompany growth, it is not enough to simply “support”; often, it is necessary to “guard.” That is why Tenax Defender, the hail protection net , was essential—it protects the vegetable garden and preserves its balance, helping to create the most favorable conditions for its development.
In addition to this initiative, Tenax also supports the Don Guanella center in Cassago Brianza, where adults with disabilities are guided through personalized educational and life-skills programs designed to foster independence, interpersonal relationships, and the development of their own abilities. In this context, Tenax has chosen to provide its gardening and cultivation products, offering concrete support for agricultural activities as educational tools and fostering opportunities for active participation, growth, and sharing.
At Tenax, we wanted to “be part of” and make a tangible contribution to this project by putting our products to work to meet the real needs of the people and the Cascina don Guanella community, recognizing that agricultural innovation can have a significant social impact and serve as a tool for tangible growth.