Adopt a vineyard row in Italy

I believe in giving back to the community, so I have been a volunteer for different causes for several years. Since I have become a parent, my charities of choice have been the NCT and the Breastfeeding Network. I have been involved with NCT newsletters since 2007 and with the BfN since 2008. I'm currently editing/designing the Cambridge NCT newsletter and volunteering as Breastfeeding Helper at local NHS baby clinics. But what has a picture of a vineyard got to do with all this?
   
When I visited my family in Italy in August, I heard of another good cause, which I'd like to showcase here. I grew up in a small village called Castagnole Lanze, located in Piedmont between Asti and Alba. For those of you who don't know the region, the capital city is Turin, where the 2006 Winter Olympics were held. Asti is renown for its Palio and wines (don't be fooled by dire Asti Spumante versions sold in supermarkets), Alba has a donkey Palio and a truffle fair. That's where the prestigious white truffle comes from - its nickname 'the white diamond' says it all. Piedmont wines are hearty and full of body (Barbera, the famous Barolo, Barbaresco... click Piedmont wines for more info).

Now, this initiative, which struck such a cord that it made national TV news, is championed by local residents with the support of the council. All is explained at www.lanze.it, which has an English version. All you have to do is to download a form, fill it and email it back with your payment.

The adoption contract consists of:  

• Choice of the row in your favourite vineyard
• Name and surname of the adoptee on the adopted row wooden head stake
• Instant information on the status of the adopted row by webcam on the website
• Opportunity to visit and attend the row processing, harvesting and winemaking
• A minimum of 12 bottles of 0.75 litres of high quality Barbera
• Personalised label with name and surname of the adoptee, row number and name of the vineyard
• Possibility of presenting the row to friend or loved one as a unique gift

These are the objectives of the campaign:   

• Land and wine landscape safeguard and protection, as a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage List
• Ensuring the survival of grapes producers, custodians of the land
• Search more high-quality product in the bottle
• Creation of tourist itineraries in the territory
• Encourage and reward "loyal Tourism"

Interested? Visit www.lanze.it for more info.

A row of Barbera

Can swine influenza really increase breastfeeding rates?

I've been volunteering as a breastfeeding helper in Rugby for over a year now and found that breastfeeders are a minority. 

This became apparent when I manned a stall at a children's centre during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week in May. I stood on my own for a long while despite having brochures, freebies and lots of breastfeeding material. I soon got bored and cruised the room to talk to mums who were attending a busy play session. Some looked at my badge and looked sheepish when they admitted they were bottlefeeding, others were keen to get information on weaning, teething and mixed feeding - hot topics at the cafe as some mums turn up with older babies or keep coming after the first months.

Chatting with the coordinator today, I found out that the number of breastfeeding mothers is going up since the advent of swine flu. Mothers who didn’t intend to breastfeed are worried about the threat and are giving breastfeeding a go. 

The topic was covered in the latest BfN’s newsletter. For those of you who cannot be bothered to read lengthy articles, here's the feature in a nutshell: ‘Breastfeeding may not prevent babies catching flu, however, in the current absence of a vaccine, best available research suggests that exclusive breastfeeding is the most important thing you can do to help reduce the risk of your baby suffering from associated complications such as pneumonia and chest infections.'


Resources: the Department of Health offers a factsheet on Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Swine Flu at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Children/Maternity/Maternalandinfantnutrition/DH_099965

Read the NCT's comprehensive guide for mums-to-be and parents at http://www.nct.org.uk/info-centre/information/view-117

If you are breastfeeding and getting treated for swine flu, visit http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/Anti_viral_treatment_for_swine_influenza_April_2009.pdf.