The Merlanetta farmhouse is a biologically run farm overlooking the left bank of the Orba stream: the farm’s production is cerealitic – fodder but there is also an orchard made up of fifty ancient varieties all typical of lower Piedmont.
A large part of the company falls within the SIC area (site of community importance) and in the “SPECIAL NATURAL RESERVE OF THE ORBA RIVER” where the Piedmont region has identified the only area authorized for the search for gold for amateur scientific and educational purposes, considering that the sands of the stream are notoriously auriferous.
At the Merlanetta farmhouse there is the historical and interactive museum “ORO DELL’ORBA” and through the didactic activity it is also possible to carry out courses to learn the use of the various gold research techniques and then try their hand at this activity directly on the bed of the stream.
The Merlanetta farmhouse also offers a hospitality-only service in an apartment with a kitchen and all other comforts and also offers three motorhome parking areas equipped with all services.

Environmental enhancement was also achieved through the planting of a triple row hedge, as part of operation 4.4.1 – “Natural elements of the agro-ecosystem” of the Rural Development Plan of the Piedmont region. This Operation supports non-productive investments which include the introduction, restoration or expansion of shrub and tree formations aimed at promoting biodiversity, improving the quality of the agricultural landscape and in general the achievement of agro-climatic-environmental objectives.

The hedge was built with the financial support of the European Community using more than 1,650 specimens of English oak, hornbeam, dogwood, field maple, blackthorn and hawthorn.

Still with a view to enhancing the environment, a permanent forest was created, as part of operation 8.1.1 – “Afforestation of agricultural and non-agricultural land” of the Rural Development Plan of the Piedmont region. The Operation 8.1.1, in implementation of art. 22 of Reg. (EU) No. 1305/2013, supports the afforestation of agricultural and non-agricultural land, with the use of wood species suitable for the location and climatic conditions of the area concerned, in compliance with specific environmental requirements and pursues ‘goal of spreading agricultural and forestry practices suitable for increasing carbon sequestration, restoring, maintaining and improving natural and agricultural biodiversity and landscape.

This intervention was also carried out with the financial support of the European Community, planting on about 3 hectares of land more than 2,500 specimens of white poplar, black poplar, ash, cherry, hackberry, hornbeam, blackthorn, dogwood, evonimo.