A Sicilian Harvest in Marsala with Gianfranco and Nino

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Ciao from Marsala, Sicily….and my first WWOOFING experience.  I did it!  I signed up for WWOOF Italy and found an amazing farm in Marsala, Sicily to spend a week volunteering.   

The farm name is Orto Infesta - run by Gianfranco and Nino. I have never felt so welcomed and so instantly part of a family as I did with Nino and Gianfranco.

Gianfranco and Nino are building something very special at their farm….a place for people to visit, learn, volunteer, and mangia…a place for people to purchase local, organically grown fruits and vegetables.  A place where kids can come and learn.  And a future agritourism destination where visitors to Marsala can connect and experience real food. 

During my WWOOFing experience we harvested and boxed vegetables and fruits.  I was also so fortunate to visit them during Olive Harvest season - so we spent many of my days at the different olive tree farms.  And, after those harvests, we brought the olives to the oil production facility to see our hand picked olives turned into some of the best, most delicious and certainly most authentic olive oil in the world….from olive tree to table in its purest form!

As I mentioned to Nino and Gianfranco, some of my favorite times took place at our daily meals.  A time for sharing and connecting…whether at the home table or sitting under an olive tree.  That’s where the real Sicilian magic happened…as people from different parts of the world came together as a family.  

I have to make a special mention to Antonia, Gianfranco’s mom.  She knew very little English and my Italian is extremely minimal…and although we could barely communicate in our languages - we communicated with plenty of hugs, kind expressions, and by helping with simple kitchen and home tasks.  And that was just enough to build a forever bond with this amazing woman.

This trip was so meaningful to me on so many levels.  This is one of 2 podcast interviews from my visit to Siciliy that you will hear…and now the 2 reasons that brought me to Siciliy are also connected because of this trip.  

Once again…thank you Nino and Gianfranco…for all that you have given me….especially your innate kindness,  your authentic desire to give… to me, to all of your visitors and to your community. 

Orto Infesta Instagram
The One Straw Revolution by Masonobu Fukuoka
Marsala Vacanze
Orto Infesta Facebook

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture.

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