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Gaining Ground Non Profit Farm

Cultivating Change: How Gaining Ground Nourishes Community and Reframes Food Insecurity

November 5, 2025 Jennifer Ross Leave a comment

In Concord, Massachusetts, a remarkable nonprofit called Gaining Ground is proving that small farms can make a big impact. With…

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Posted in: Food Insecurity, Food Security, Non Profit Volunteer Farms Filed under: concord, concord ma, farm, farming, food bank, food donations, food insecurity, food security, healthy food, healty incentives, massachusetts, non profit, nutritious food, SNAP, volunteer

EcoGastronomy Major Taylor Zupo

EcoGastronomy College Intern Joins HeartBeet Farms

May 21, 2017 Jennifer Ross

We were so excited to welcome our new college intern to the HeartBeet Farms team on Sunday! Taylor Zupo was…

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Posted in: Sustainable Farming Filed under: ecogastronomy, farm, farm intern, farming, organic farming, Sustainable Farm

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Recent Posts

Cultivating Change: How Gaining Ground Nourishes Community and Reframes Food Insecurity
Cocoa Economy – Crisis or Opportunity?
Cantaloupe Recipes
6 Fun Things to do with Watermelon
Turn Spicy Radishes into a Sweet Dish

heartbeetfarms

The Agri-Tourist Podcast, my journey back to agriculture! Join me to learn from agritourism farmers & entrepreneurs & help me build my farm strategy!

A majestic view while on a hike in Sicily with Hel

A majestic view while on a hike in Sicily with Helen, Anthony and Dan! Hear more about my agritourism adventures on the last 2 podcast episodes…link in bio! 💛💚

#

This is the 2nd interview I did while in Sicily.

This is the 2nd interview I did while in Sicily. This interview is with a dear friend Helen Cane Tarpinian. When I arrived at the Palermo Airport on Oct 11th, Helen picked me up and we went back to her beautiful home in Terrasini Sicily. Helen is an American living part time in Sicily. Her husband Vincenzo is from Sicily. So, her perspective of Sicily and my small perspective from the 12 days I spent there became a conversation that I wanted to capture for the podcast. One story that we somehow forgot to talk about in the podcast - as there were so many stories to cover - was Rossolini’s farm tour and Italian farm to table lunch in Terrasini. Rossolini not only has a farm - he is growing several tropical fruits not normally grown in Sicily,and he is also growing coffee. Of course I had to ask about cacao - and he actually did try to grow it, but they were hit with a frost and it didnt’ survive ... .but he is determined to try again!

The farm tour was amazing - we tasted our way through - and then we sat down for a real authentic Italian farm to table meal - 3 courses - plus wine…and more wine…and an after dinner cocktail made from passion fruit grown at the farm - accompanied by authentic italian music and singing….Although I knew few words….i could feel the sense of family, connectedness and joy during this festive gathering.

So Join Helen and I as we explore my first few days and last few days in Sicily - which were filled with more family, more delicious meals, visits to historic city streets, markets and churches, hikes, majestic scenery, gelato, cannoli and much love and connection. It was amazing and unforgettable.

A Special thank you to Helen, Vincenzo, and Anthony for graciously welcoming me into their home and making me a part of the family! Click on the link in the bio to listen to the podcast.

#sicily #sicilian #wwoof #weoofing #italy #farm #terrasini #farming

I’ve been involved with another monthly podcast

I’ve been involved with another monthly podcast with some local Long Island friends called Yakety Yak, Let’s Talk About That! Our last episode was focused on Halloween....Halloween candy...and my favorite topic...real chocolate! Check out episode 5, link is in the bio. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, share and comment. The podcast is available on all podcast platforms just like the Agri-tourist Podcast! Enjoy and HAPPY HALLOWEEN....my favorite holiday!👻💀🎃

You can hear more about ‘pepperoni’ in the pod

You can hear more about ‘pepperoni’ in the podcast interview with Nino and Gianfranco (link in bio)...but, while harvesting veggies at the Marsala farm, Gianfranco pointed out a vegetable that he called ‘pepperoni’....I looked at him oddly with a confused look on my face.....pepperoni?? He was referring to sweet peppers or bell peppers....not salami! It was a very funny moment at the Sicilian farm!! A funny moment that will not be forgotten! Thanks for so many fun and funny memories!

#sicily #marsala #farm #farming #peppers #pepperoni #sicilian

From tree to oil…check out how we harvested oliv

From tree to oil…check out how we harvested olives in Marsala, Sicily and the production process from freshly harvested olives to authentic, pure Sicilian olive oil 🫒 listen to the full podcast with Nino and Gianfranco, 2 passionate and extremely dedicated regenerative farmers from Marsala, Sicily….link is in the bio!

#olive #oil #oliveoil #sicily #sicilian #oliveharvest #oliveharvesting #olives #sicilianolives

Ciao from Marsala, Sicily….and my first WWOOFING

Ciao from Marsala, Sicily….and my first WWOOFING experience. So, 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.

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.

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.

Click on the link in the bio to listen to the podcast.
#wwoof #wwoofing #olive #oliveharvest #oliveharvesting #oliveoil #marsalasicily #sicily #sicilia #sicilian #sicilianfarm #farm #organicfarming #regenerativefarming

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HeartBeet Farms
is in New York.

6 days ago

I’ve been involved with another monthly podcast with some local Long Island friends called Yakety Yak, Let’s Talk About That! Our last episode was focused on Halloween….Halloween candy…and my favorite topic…real chocolate! Check out episode 5, link is in the bio. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, share and comment. The podcast is available on all podcast platforms just like the Agri-tourist Podcast! Enjoy and HAPPY HALLOWEEN….my favorite holiday!👻💀🎃
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HeartBeet Farms
is at Marsala, Sicily.

6 days ago

You can hear more about ‘pepperoni’ in the podcast interview with Nino and Gianfranco (link in bio)…but, while harvesting veggies at the Marsala farm, Gianfranco pointed out a vegetable that he called ‘pepperoni’….I looked at him oddly with a confused look on my face…..pepperoni?? He was referring to sweet peppers or bell peppers….not salami! It was a very funny moment at the Sicilian farm!! A funny moment that will not be forgotten! Thanks for so many fun and funny memories! #sicily #marsala #farm #farming #peppers #pepperoni #sicilian
… See MoreSee Less

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Recent Posts

Cultivating Change: How Gaining Ground Nourishes Community and Reframes Food Insecurity
Cocoa Economy – Crisis or Opportunity?
Cantaloupe Recipes

heartbeetfarms

The Agri-Tourist Podcast, my journey back to agriculture! Join me to learn from agritourism farmers & entrepreneurs & help me build my farm strategy!

A majestic view while on a hike in Sicily with Hel

A majestic view while on a hike in Sicily with Helen, Anthony and Dan! Hear more about my agritourism adventures on the last 2 podcast episodes…link in bio! 💛💚

#

This is the 2nd interview I did while in Sicily.

This is the 2nd interview I did while in Sicily. This interview is with a dear friend Helen Cane Tarpinian. When I arrived at the Palermo Airport on Oct 11th, Helen picked me up and we went back to her beautiful home in Terrasini Sicily. Helen is an American living part time in Sicily. Her husband Vincenzo is from Sicily. So, her perspective of Sicily and my small perspective from the 12 days I spent there became a conversation that I wanted to capture for the podcast. One story that we somehow forgot to talk about in the podcast - as there were so many stories to cover - was Rossolini’s farm tour and Italian farm to table lunch in Terrasini. Rossolini not only has a farm - he is growing several tropical fruits not normally grown in Sicily,and he is also growing coffee. Of course I had to ask about cacao - and he actually did try to grow it, but they were hit with a frost and it didnt’ survive ... .but he is determined to try again!

The farm tour was amazing - we tasted our way through - and then we sat down for a real authentic Italian farm to table meal - 3 courses - plus wine…and more wine…and an after dinner cocktail made from passion fruit grown at the farm - accompanied by authentic italian music and singing….Although I knew few words….i could feel the sense of family, connectedness and joy during this festive gathering.

So Join Helen and I as we explore my first few days and last few days in Sicily - which were filled with more family, more delicious meals, visits to historic city streets, markets and churches, hikes, majestic scenery, gelato, cannoli and much love and connection. It was amazing and unforgettable.

A Special thank you to Helen, Vincenzo, and Anthony for graciously welcoming me into their home and making me a part of the family! Click on the link in the bio to listen to the podcast.

#sicily #sicilian #wwoof #weoofing #italy #farm #terrasini #farming

I’ve been involved with another monthly podcast

I’ve been involved with another monthly podcast with some local Long Island friends called Yakety Yak, Let’s Talk About That! Our last episode was focused on Halloween....Halloween candy...and my favorite topic...real chocolate! Check out episode 5, link is in the bio. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, share and comment. The podcast is available on all podcast platforms just like the Agri-tourist Podcast! Enjoy and HAPPY HALLOWEEN....my favorite holiday!👻💀🎃

You can hear more about ‘pepperoni’ in the pod

You can hear more about ‘pepperoni’ in the podcast interview with Nino and Gianfranco (link in bio)...but, while harvesting veggies at the Marsala farm, Gianfranco pointed out a vegetable that he called ‘pepperoni’....I looked at him oddly with a confused look on my face.....pepperoni?? He was referring to sweet peppers or bell peppers....not salami! It was a very funny moment at the Sicilian farm!! A funny moment that will not be forgotten! Thanks for so many fun and funny memories!

#sicily #marsala #farm #farming #peppers #pepperoni #sicilian

From tree to oil…check out how we harvested oliv

From tree to oil…check out how we harvested olives in Marsala, Sicily and the production process from freshly harvested olives to authentic, pure Sicilian olive oil 🫒 listen to the full podcast with Nino and Gianfranco, 2 passionate and extremely dedicated regenerative farmers from Marsala, Sicily….link is in the bio!

#olive #oil #oliveoil #sicily #sicilian #oliveharvest #oliveharvesting #olives #sicilianolives

Ciao from Marsala, Sicily….and my first WWOOFING

Ciao from Marsala, Sicily….and my first WWOOFING experience. So, 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.

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.

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.

Click on the link in the bio to listen to the podcast.
#wwoof #wwoofing #olive #oliveharvest #oliveharvesting #oliveoil #marsalasicily #sicily #sicilia #sicilian #sicilianfarm #farm #organicfarming #regenerativefarming

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