We raise Helix Aspersa Maxima snails in open fields at our farm in Elice, with a complete natural cycle system.
Cerchi lumache in Abruzzo o un allevamento di chiocciole da visitare? Cascina Bruno si trova a Elice, in provincia di Pescara, e alleva Helix Aspersa Maxima a campo aperto.
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Lumache Abruzzo
Short-cycle snail farming represents an innovative technique designed to optimize production times, concentrating the activity over a period of about nine months starting in midsummer and ending in late spring. It all begins in July and August, when we dedicate ourselves to the meticulous preparation of the enclosures; at this stage, the soil is tilled carefully to ensure softness and drainage, followed by disinfection to eliminate parasites or predatory insects. Immediately after tilling, selected vegetables such as green chard, cabbages or clover are sown, serving not so much as the main food source but rather as an ideal habitat to provide shade and maintain the right level of soil moisture.
When the vegetation has reached a sufficient height and the scorching August temperatures begin to wane, usually around the first half of September, the "baby snails" are introduced; these are newly hatched snails that are placed in the enclosures at a density calculated to respect animal welfare – we never overcrowd our enclosures. From this moment begins the autumn growth phase, during which feeding plays a crucial role: as the days shorten and cold approaches, vegetation alone is not enough, making it essential to administer our proprietary flour-based recipe rich in cereals and calcium. This extra nutritional intake allows the snails to rapidly develop their shell and accumulate the energy reserves needed to survive the cold season.
With the arrival of winter, when temperatures consistently drop below 8-10 degrees, the snails naturally enter hibernation by sealing their shell with a protective membrane called the operculum. During these months of biological inactivity, roughly from late November to mid-March, feeding and irrigation at the farm are suspended.
The cycle resumes vigor in mid-March, with rising temperatures stimulating the snails' awakening. Slowly the animals emerge from hibernation extremely hungry and the final fattening phase begins, characterized by abundant administration of flour-based feed and vegetables to maximize body growth and shell hardness before the arrival of summer heat. The process concludes between May and June, when the snails have reached commercial size and their shell edge is perfectly finished and hard; at that point they are harvested, purged to eliminate organic residues, and stored in cold rooms ready for sale or subsequent mucin extraction.
At our farm, music becomes nourishment for the snails.
We have integrated Harmoniculture into our method, an innovative project created by biologist and musician Emiliano Toso. His Translational Music, tuned to 432 Hz, is based on the discovery that the cells of all living beings vibrate and communicate through sound.
Scientific studies have shown that plants exposed to this music develop roots up to 30% longer, show greater resilience to nutritional stress and promote ecosystem biodiversity. The same benefits extend to animals, creating a harmonious environment that touches the heart of all living beings.
Our farm is equipped with speakers for sound diffusion that broadcast Emiliano Toso's playlist 24 hours a day, providing our snails with a beneficial sound environment that contributes to their well-being and to the quality of our products.
Our snails receive a strictly natural diet.
The basis of the diet includes the cultivation of chicory and chard, grown directly in the enclosures without the use of pesticides or chemicals.
The diet is seasonally supplemented with sunflowers, alfalfa, carrots, courgettes and pumpkins to ensure a complete nutritional intake.
We use a varied mix of corn, soy, wheat, barley, field beans, calcium carbonate and selected supplements to provide all the nutrients needed for the snails' growth.
Our Helix snails are destined for three main sectors, all characterized by high quality standards.
Our Helix Aspersa Maxima snails, naturally fed according to our method, are perfect for high-quality dining. The meat is tender and flavourful, ideal for both traditional and innovative recipes.
The snail mucin extracted from our Helix snails stimulates the formation of collagen, elastin and dermal components that repair the signs of ageing. Rich in natural active ingredients beneficial for the skin.
Snail mucin is rich in active ingredients that are also beneficial for internal health.
Our dietary supplements harness the natural properties of the mucin to support daily well-being.
Snail mucin is the main component of our cosmetic products, extracted with the MullerOne machine in a Cruelty Free way with full respect for the snails' welfare.
Thanks to natural feeding and optimal farming conditions, the mucin from our Helix Aspersa Maxima snails is particularly rich in active ingredients. It stimulates the formation of collagen, elastin and dermal components essential for repairing the signs of skin ageing.
Our snail mucin cosmetics are formulated to make the most of the regenerating, nourishing, antioxidant and soothing properties of this extraordinary natural ingredient.
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We prepare the enclosures by sowing chard and chicory.
We introduce the baby snails into the enclosures and feed them in preparation for winter.
Natural hibernation of the snails with feeding suspension.
The snails awaken from winter hibernation, we resume feeding them to let them grow fully.
When the snails are bordered (hard and complete shell) they are harvested by hand.
Nel guscio della chiocciola forma e crescita procedono insieme: la spirale si amplia senza perdere la propria armonia, offrendo all'animale uno spazio sempre nuovo e proporzionato.
La sezione aurea, indicata con la lettera greca φ (phi) e pari a circa 1,618, descrive un rapporto geometrico nel quale il tutto sta alla parte maggiore come la parte maggiore sta alla minore. Da questo rapporto nasce la celebre spirale aurea, costruita attraverso rettangoli progressivamente proporzionati.
Il guscio delle chiocciole segue generalmente una spirale logaritmica: crescendo, conserva una forma simile a sé stessa. Non ogni guscio coincide matematicamente con la spirale aurea, ma il legame visivo è profondo: entrambe raccontano una crescita ordinata, continua ed efficiente, capace di espandersi senza cambiare identità.
La natura non copia un unico disegno: utilizza regole di crescita simili per distribuire spazio, luce, materia ed energia.
Semi e squame si dispongono spesso lungo spirali incrociate. L'angolo aureo, vicino a 137,5°, permette di occupare lo spazio con regolarità e ridurre le sovrapposizioni.
Cicloni, correnti e bracci galattici possono assumere profili spiraliformi. Le cause fisiche sono diverse, ma il risultato richiama la stessa idea di materia organizzata attorno a un centro.
La giovane felce si apre a spirale, mentre molte conchiglie crescono aggiungendo materiale lungo il bordo. Forme differenti, unite dalla capacità di svilupparsi conservando equilibrio e proporzione.
Italy is the world leader in Helix snail farming for gastronomy and we are proud to represent this excellence. Since 2019, Cascina Bruno has turned passion into a proven method.
Our goal? To put our wealth of knowledge at the service of new entrepreneurs. We know that starting out can be tricky: our experience will help you avoid the most serious and costly mistakes that often compromise new farms.
What we offer:
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