Civitella is not an environment *in* which one works – it is an environment *with* which one works. For that reason, it is a place to be surprised, to be challenged – maybe even confused (in the best way) – as you listen and learn how the castle is gently guiding your work. It is surprising how many unexpected things can happen in a place so serene and healthy. What would be called a ‘routine’ or a ‘system’ anywhere else is, at Civitella, a dance rhythm, or an ecosystem, where all sorts of life nourish each other in a spirit of generosity: the birds drop seeds, the bees pollinate, the garden grows, the cooks prepare, we all eat and rise from the table and go create more food (or maybe we even become food) – perhaps of a different kind, but all in a spirit of generosity to which we are bound by the gifts that Civitella gives abundantly.