Nonna's Garden Tour
may we all live with the excitement that paola gets when she sees her fig tree blossoming
Could it all be so simple?
This was the biggest question I asked myself after my time living with a Nonna in Sicily.
And I really felt this sentiment “could it all be so simple?” every time I walked through Paola’s garden.
To be fair, Paola’s garden is not your normal garden (and this is coming from someone who doesn’t even have space to put an herb pot in their kitchen window…..)
It houses 3 varieties of tomatoes, 2 varieties of figs, prickly pears, lemons, cherries, bay leaves, eggplants, cucuzza, zucchini, basil, parsley, mint, oregano…and probably a bunch of other things I’m forgetting. Basically a mini-farm but it’s nestled in between her apartment and the main road.
Paola loves her garden and she takes a lot of pride in planting, maintaining, and harvesting it. Many of our meals came from produce from this garden.
Check out this garden tour video I made to really see how magical it all is.
She says:
I love my garden because I find that it relaxing and then there is nothing more rewarding then coming and getting your fresh produce and you know it’s yours and you know its organic and you find everything… at different times you find all the fruits you need.
And following Paola while she walks through her garden is a reminder to live life in AWE!
Her face would literally light up every time she saw a new fruit or vegetable that had sprouted.
Admittedly a very contagiously excitable person, I also found myself shrieking with excitement when we found a cucuzza (variety of squash) hiding in the tree or the purple of an eggplant beneath the brush.
And don’t even TALK ABOUT the freaking figs. At the time of this garden tour video, we were in-between fig season, so Paola wasn’t expecting to see any. Yet, there were a few peeping out on the tree and we both lost our damn minds.
Lost our minds over…figs.
Which led me to wonder….
Could it all be so simple?
Could I be just as happy over the simplicity of finding a fresh fig as I could over getting a gel manicure? Could I be …. happier even?
Of course there are BIG life things that we need to be happy: money, family, friends, housing, etc. etc. etc.
And then there are a lot of LITTLE things that we need to make us happy. Many of these things are material. And bear with me here, I’m not suddenly a monk and about to announce that I have shed myself of any material items. As I type this, I’m wearing a new denim jacket and have a fresh gel manicure. BUT I do think that in our pursuit of “things that will make us happy",” we fall into the trap of “ *needing* those things in order to be happy,” which in turn orchestrates a lot of unnecessary (a) stress to obtain those things and (b) suffering if/when you cannot obtain them.
And let’s face it, there’s always this pressure on us to keep wanting more, striving for more. BUY this, HUSTLE more. That’s capitalism 101, baby. But what if I don’t want to HUSTLE so I can BUY more. Because there’s always more, right? What if I just want to work hard enough so that at the end of the day I buy myself a gorgeous fig and just slowly eat it?
It’s a mindset I’m practicing.
So, when I see myself starting to spiral into the unknown complexities of life. I bring myself back to these moments of walking around Paola’s garden.
How lit up we were just seeing life happen naturally, as it should.
And while I understand that me eating a fig isn’t going to solve all of my problems, I found that when I bring it back to asking myself “could it be simple?” I can usually cut to the root of what it is that I really want, what it is that will make me truly happy. And funnily enough, I actually don’t need that much to be really, truly happy.
Now, I will probably never shed my desire to want things, or be happy when I buy things. And that’s okay. For me, even the idea that I can get my joy from eating a fig is enough to swing the pendulum in the other direction from seeking, seeking, seeking so much for happiness.
When you’re seeking so much, you often miss what’s right under your damn nose.
Back in NYC (although sadly, without a sprawling garden), I’ve opened my eyes to the simple pleasures around me. And it’s not going shopping in Soho or drinking $20 espresso martinis on a sidewalk corner. It’s taking a walk through my local park in Bedstuy and realizing how many different varieties of trees there are. It’s hearing the sound of the Mr. Softee truck. It’s drinking my morning cup of coffee on the stoop and watching the people walk by.
And then, if I do ever get that $20 martini on that trendy corner, I can really sip it. Really appreciate it. Look around and see this beautiful and wild city I get to live in. Really, actually enjoy it all.
Life doesn’t have to be so extreme: there’s a middle ground between living off the land in Sicily and living in one of the most materialistic cities in the world.
And on that note, I herby wrap my reporting on my adventures with a Nonna in Sicily. I’ll hold the experience close to my heart forever, but this chapter must come to an end.
Plus…I fear I’m on the verge of turning into *that kid* who went to camp and then for the rest of the damn year would only talk about“this one time at camp….” We all know that kid. You know what I mean…?
Time to make some new experiences! Stay tuned for more storytelling, recipes, and my unsolicited thoughts on food & culture. Sobremesa 4 life.
I will say : I really really really enjoyed highlighting this Nonna and I’d love to continue to showcase other relatable (yet remarkable) humans around the world who celebrate their unique culture through the lens of food. A focus on those who are leaders in their community by forging human connection and amplifying joy.
My dream would be to start a multi-episode series where viewers/readers can build a relationship with the human in the spotlight. And guess what? You all just experienced the pilot series ; )
Real talk - this sort of work takes a lot of time, energy, and $. So and ask to all you readers! If you are, or you know any aligned partners who are interested in attracting viewers/readers who will associate the positive, authentic, educational, and vibrant experience of the series with their brand - send them my way! I’d love to collaborate!
I’d love to bring this to life. It’s my belief that we understand the story behind our makers, we are more connected to the food and therefore each other ❤️
Love you mucho,
Tessa
p.s. follow me on Instagram and Tiktok for my video storytelling!
It is proven that happiness & laughter, friendships & being surrounded by family and friends, working - like what Nonna does in her garden which is work that brings pleasure and happiness along with exercise without even knowing you are exercising, being active by walking whenever possible, eating fresh produce, having a purpose, having a glass of wine, being loved - all of this gives longevity and a very healthy body and mind. Follow in Nonna’s footsteps to live a healthier longer life ♥️.
Thank you little girl for enlightening all of us from your journey with Nonna to make us understand that a simple, active life is really all we need to achieve happiness 🥰
I have really enjoyed the experience and stories of your time in Sicily with Paola. I know firsthand how much planning and work goes into a garden... as I become less mobile and have difficulty managing the garden with my husband, the garden has become more what we need than what we like or want
Still, it's a big job that we love. Our planting beds will soon be ready for fall veggies and then nature takes it for the winter season and gives it a break. I have learned to take it slower, to smell the flowers on my way and pivot our life as we grow old.
May your life always be rich with joy, hope, love and adventure and please keep sharing those lessons with us. Thank you, Tessa