L’Agricoltura

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
—John 15:4,8

The fruit of the vine is a beautiful thing. If you are hoping for reviews on the finest wine in Italy, go find another blog… because this one is sure to disappoint. I don’t drink wine myself. When offered and asked for excuses, I briefly explained that in my church, we don’t drink.
Francesco politely protested that he views wine as sacred. Jesus did miracles with wine. Wine is a part of the Catholic mass. Wine is present for special occasions. Although my religious views refrain from alcoholic beverages of any kind, I can see where Francesco is coming from. It is an ancient symbol of the blood of Christ, and of sanctification through His atonement. But because I live in a modern era when clean water is readily available, I’ll stick to l’acqua (water). The less wine I drink, the more for Francesco, and at the end of the day we are both happy.
I can also appreciate the importance of this product for the economy and culture of the region. Blanketing the landscape, over hills and near river beds and far up along the mountainsides, are rows and rows of grapevines. Cultivation of the earth is more than a means for wine, it is a way of life. The farmers of northern Italy tend to their plants, beautifully organized in tidy rows with vines sprawling out along the elevated wires from post to post. After harvest, they bring bunches of fruit to the wine cellars where the fermenting begins.

Grapes aren’t the only fruit that northern Italy produces in abundance. Out on walks, runs, hikes, and usually a mix of those three in one- I see many other fruits being cultivated. Apples, cherries, apricots, and fichi (figs)! I love fichi. The first time I saw a kiwi plant my jaw dropped. I had no clue that kiwi grew on vines! When I showed the photo excitedly to Maria after coming home, she laughed and said, “For you kiwis are born in the store!” After their daughter Maddi admitted that she’d never noticed a kiwi plant here, her dad threw the paper in his hands at her. How could she grow up here and overlook the kiwi? I guess we often take for granted what we have right in front of us.

In warmer regions, like near Garda Lake, olive trees are also prolific. Oh how Italians love their olive oil. If there is one basic food I’ve had here more often than pasta, it is olive oil. While America overuses butter, canola oil (what even is canola anyway?), vegetable oil, and other forms of fat- Italy holds fast to olive oil.

I love olives… and olive oil. I love it for its flavor, but also for its symbolic value. Of all the places in the world the Savior could have carried the crushing weight of my sins, He did so in an olive grove. Learn more here:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/abide-in-my-love?id=p28&lang=eng#p28

Gardening, farming, or even something as simple as growing flowers is healthy for the soul. It connects you to the food you eat, the labor that goes into it. During zucchini season, we eat a lot of zucchini. When the tomatoes are ripe, we eat tomatoes. It’s satisfying to enjoy fruit in its proper season.