My love for farm-to-table living all began the summer I lived in the Italian countryside. It was right after my freshman year of college, and I had taken a leap of faith to work as an au pair for a family just outside Verona. I was there to teach their young son English, but I ended up learning just as much, especially about food and its ability to build community. Every meal we shared was made with ingredients from our own farm: sun-ripened tomatoes, just-laid eggs, and herbs picked fresh that morning. We ate according to the changes in the seasons.
At least twice a week, we would invite friends over for dinner—a tradition that quickly became one of my favorite parts of life on the farm. These meals were never rushed; they unfolded slowly over several hours and multiple courses of incredible, home-cooked food. There was laughter, storytelling, and a genuine sense of togetherness that filled the air. By the end of the night, everyone felt like family. Those dinners taught me that food isn’t just about nourishment; it’s about community.
