The parents of the 'family in the woods', Nathan and Catherine, were "fascinated" by a farmhouse in the Palmoli woods, offered free of charge for a period by a restaurateur from Ortona, originally from the town.
The father of the three children removed from custody by the Juvenile Court of L'Aquila visited the facility, also located in the Palmolese green area, and—as the owner explains— was deeply impressed by the self-contained residence surrounded by nature, with at least two large rooms, including a kitchen, a well for water, a dry toilet, and animal shelters . "He was very fascinated by the house," says Armando Carusi, the farmhouse's owner. "He didn't even have time to see the outside, which is the most beautiful part: there's a fountain with a spring. A unique place."
The restaurateur lives in Ortona, on the Abruzzo coast, and offered the newly renovated property on free loan to allow his family to reunite in an environment they love, allowing them to continue the lifestyle they love. "It's the little house where I was born and where I lived with my parents, who are no longer with us," Carusi continues. " As a child, my family and I lived the same life Nathan and Catherine are living now: without heating, so every room has a fireplace . There's also running water. I renovated it for a tourist rental. I'm not shocked by the family's lifestyle in the woods because I experienced it myself as a child."
"Nathan was also struck by some of the antique wooden tools in the kitchen," the restaurateur concludes. "There's also the opportunity to spin wool like they used to. And he loved that . He's a fan of these things. Today I sent Nathan several photos of the exterior, which he shared with his wife, Catherine. He told me that what he saw was enough. He loved the interior."
The couple therefore agreed to the transfer "for the time necessary to implement the requested housing improvements." "This is not a step backward," the couple's lawyers stated, "but a step forward that allows them to return to living according to their beliefs and their desire for freedom."
(Unioneonline/vl)