“I’d like to propose a toast to the garden, to this beautiful planet, and to the gardener. You know, some people have gardens, some people don't. But, they need to have a garden because Grandfather used to say, “We are all a garden in the world." So, I give thanks to the garden and the gardener.” —Carlo MontesantiAnd so, we have gathered to the final course in this banquet, Dolce. Dessert. Here at this table, we reflect on inheritance. Returning once more to conversations with Carlo Montesanti,...
“I’d like to propose a toast to the garden, to this beautiful planet, and to the gardener. You know, some people have gardens, some people don't. But, they need to have a garden because Grandfather used to say, “We are all a garden in the world." So, I give thanks to the garden and the gardener.” —Carlo Montesanti
And so, we have gathered to the final course in this banquet, Dolce. Dessert. Here at this table, we reflect on inheritance. Returning once more to conversations with Carlo Montesanti, Jessie Jowers, and Arianna Gelpke, this episode lingers on to ask if we can remember landscapes, and if we can do so over a shared meal. What does it mean to grow (food, family, and tradition), in a world that has increasingly been shaped by speed, extraction, automation and touristic ideals? Amidst these changes, what remnants will we be able to conserve?
In "Dolce," we continue our walk at Slow Life Family Farm, moving between memory, archaeology and rituals made at the dinner table and reflect on the legacy of slow food—that it is not a cuisine and, maybe even, not exclusive to the romantic imagings of Italian provincial life. Perhaps, it is about the way we attend to Earth and care for its continuity, asking not what we can take from it, but what we can give in return. We also join Arianna at Corzano e Paterno to discuss the process of "reading the grapes" and the factors that influence wine-making.
This episode contemplates sweetness as something more than a flavour, as a longing for ways of living that keep us in relation to one another and the land which feeds us.
Fat of The Land is a series that asks us what we mean when we look for connection between people and the land. Following a desire for real relation, for deliciousness, and for slowness, each episode traces what happens when we follow this desire.
This episode is brought to you by generous sponsorships from Ritū and Terra Elaÿa.
Music and sound design in this episode is brought to you from the For The Wild Studio.
Thank you to Carlo and Jessie of Slow Life Family Farm and Arianna of Fattoria Corzano and Paterno for joining us in conversation.
Biographies
Carlo Montesanti: Born in Siracusa, Carlo is an esteemed English-speaking guide in Eastern Sicily, known for his work with BBC nature documentaries and Netflix’s Chef’s Table series.
Jessie Jowers: With a passion for the traditional uses of plants, Jessie brings a wealth of knowledge about local crafts, foods, and medicines to our farm’s daily life.
Arianna Gelpke: Arianna Gelpke is a representative of Fattoria Corzano and Paterno, working in the family farm, and wine, cheese and oil production. She is passionate for nature and working with the land in the pursuit of sustainable agriculture and high-quality artisan produce. Since Wendelin Gelpke purchased Corzano in 1971 and the subsequent addition of Paterno in 1974, the two-hundred-hectare farm has developed along three different lines: wine and oil production, artisanal sheep's cheese production, and “Agriturismo.”
Partners
Ritū
Fat of The Land is a series about what it means to be in relationship with land, food, and the people who tend both across generations. Ritū was made with the same kind of care; six ancient plants, ground and blended into a morning cup that honors the land it comes from, delivered in a compostable bag that returns to the earth.
Ritu built a custom landing page for us and would like to offer For The Wild listeners 25% their first month with a discount code FORTHEWILD25.
To order yourself some Ritu, head to:
drinkritu.com/forthewild
Terra Elaÿa
Thanks also to Elaÿa for the support of this series. Terra Elaÿa is a sanctuary where ancient ways meet the needs of our time. We emerge at this time of crossroads, standing as a space for the transformation, renewal, and re-enchantment of the human spirit. Located in the heart of southern Italy, we provide a place to come into a deeper relationship with life: to slow down, listen, and restore embodied wisdom.
Head to terraelaya.com to learn more upcoming Elaÿa experiences or to host an event.
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