L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 www.italoamericano.org 3 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS say they are so old-school that they are cutting edge. They are living a lifestyle that many of us are trying to get back to. The modern American lifestyle has left us craving their simpler, less fragmented way of life. Your work documenting Italian American gardens has led to the first Italian American backyard vegetable garden being included in the Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens. Can you talk about your collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute? What does it involve? The garden of Giovanni and Maria Macchione in Sewickley, PA, was the first to be submitted for inclusion in the collection and is now preserved through pho- tographs, sketches, written description and other details so that this information can be avail- able to researchers and the gener- al public now and in the future. Another documentation of a Pittsburgh garden is underway. It will be completed and submitted later this year. We are currently in the process of identifying appropriate gardens for docu- mentation in Brooklyn, Baltimore and Washington DC. We hope to begin several in California within the coming year. Our documentations are done primarily by volunteers who feel passionately about the need to preserve this important part of the Italian American experience. The motto for The Italian Garden Project is "Nostalgia for Yesterday...Lessons for Today." What lessons can the traditional Italian American garden teach us? Lessons are everywhere in the Italian American garden, from the rain barrel connected to the downspout, to the hole dug for composting kitchen vegetable scraps, to the tomato stakes made from re-purposed rebar. Sustainability is not a new con- cept for the Italian gardener. It is a way of life. Heirloom seeds have been brought from Italy and saved from one season to the next for generations, not only preserving biodiversity, but cre- ating continuity with the past, experiencing the identical fla- vors that their ancestors enjoyed. You can't eat much more "local" than your own backyard, and what is now considered gourmet, such as rapini, radicchio, and endive, have always been a part of the Italian diet. These lessons and more abound in the Italian American vegetable garden. Is the traditional Italian American vegetable garden at risk? If so, what can be done to keep the tradition alive? Throughout the 1900s, tradi- tional Italian-American vegetable gardens were so commonplace that we took them for granted. Unfortunately, there are now fewer and fewer every year. The gardeners are getting older and the tradition is not being passed down the way it had been for generations. Although the gar- dens won't exist in the same numbers or the same exact style, I do see great interest and enthu- siasm for preserving the tradition in some way. I've found that many people are looking for a way to connect to their Italian heritage, while also longing for a closer connection with their food and with the earth. When reminded of their rich agricultur- al history and its relevance for today, they are inspired. They may decide to grow a fig tree, seek out heirloom seeds from family members, or try to find seed commercially for a particu- lar tomato or squash they remem- ber from childhood. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is when someone approaches me after one of my lectures, saying that I've inspired them to plant an Italian garden. What resources would you recommend to someone wish- ing to start a vegetable garden in their backyard? You can see many examples of classic Italian American veg- etable gardens on our website www.TheItalianGardenProject. com, as well as watch video of the gardeners themselves. We will be adding new content on an ongoing basis to address all aspects of the traditional garden. Also, many gardening organi- zations and clubs sponsor Vegetable Gardening 101 type classes. There is a Master Gardener network available throughout the country to assist the home gardener with ques- tions or problems, and of course there are dozens of online resources to address all aspects of gardening. What advice do you have for someone living in an apartment in the city and wanting to have a vegetable garden? Adding freshly picked herbs to a recipe or making sauce from sun-ripened tomatoes is a possi- bility even for apartment dwellers if they have a sunny porch deck or balcony where they can grow in containers. For those who don't have any out- door space, they may want to consider seeking out a communi- ty garden. More cities than ever now have plots available for the general public. What's your favorite Italian dish made with produce from your vegetable garden? To me, a simple dish of Roma flat green beans and tender, boiled and cubed potatoes, tossed while warm in a little olive oil, fresh basil and garlic says sum- mer in the garden. Where can we catch you giv- ing lessons and talks? I've cut back on public events and classes this year to focus on garden documentations and two upcoming books, a children's book about a grandfather's love for his fig trees, as well as a cof- fee table book called, Food, Family, and the Earth: Reflections on the Italian American Vegetable Garden. I am continuing to do private classes and lectures for clubs and organizations, which can be scheduled by emailing me at info@theitaliangardenproject.com. Mary Menniti founded the Italian Garden Project to preserve the tradition of Italian American vegetable gardens Mariano Floro of Sewickley, PA, planting tomato plants that he grows from seed from his hometown of Falerna Continued from page 2

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