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So everyone should know my good friend Pattie Baker by now…author of Round America with a Duck and most recently Round Ireland with a Duck. Pattie has become such a dear friend and has encouraged me to continue trusting the journey…and so I have! It was Pattie’s inspiration that made me consider WWOOFing. (World Wide opportunities on Organic Farms) And when I thought about where I would want to WWOOF, Italy just popped into my mind….so that is where I put my energy…. researching farms throughout Italy from the WWOOF Italy website, and ultimately connecting with Gianfranco and Nino from Orto Infesta in Marsala Sicily.

Like everything in life, we can’t know whether our WWOOFing selections will turn out the way we imagine in our minds. Obviously we end up painting a certain picture in our minds of farming in Sicily. There is always so much to consider when selecting a WWOOfing destination. And at some point, you have t just take the leap of faith and just go for it…and that is basically what I did during my WWOOFing journey.

Upon returning, Pattie couldn't wait to chat with me about my adventure in Sicily. I recorded our conversation which basically was her interviewing me about my WWOOFing experience. I really loved her questions and I thought it would be a great opportunity for people to hear about my experience from a slightly different perspective. Enjoy my conversation with a true inspiration, Pattie Baker….

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture.

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This is the 2nd interview I did while in Sicily. This interview is with a dear friend Helen Cane Tarpinian. Helen and I reconnected recently around the same time I was researching WWOOFing farms in Italy and landed an opportunity in Marsala, Siciliy, about an hour south of Helen's Terrasini home.

When I arrived at the Palermo Airport on Oct 11, 2025, Helen picked me up and we went back to her beautiful home in Terrasini Sicily. The bedroom I stayed in the first night had a view of the water and of the majestic Sicilian sunset. Mountains on one side of her home and water views on the other. She was also steps away from jumping into the Mediterranean waters. What a paradise.

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 Rossalini’s farm tour and Italian farm to table lunch in Terrasini. Rossolini not only has a farm - he is also growing several tropical fruits not normally grown in Siciliy such as papaya and avocado - but 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! I definitely want to connect him with Jeff from Moka Origins - not only about the cacao but also the coffee!!

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 Siciliy - 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! This is jen ross, your agritourist podcast host. Enjoy my interview with Helen from Terrasini Sicily. If you enjoy the podcast, subscribe, share and comment! Ciao!

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture.

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• HeartBeet Farms
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• About Jen Ross, The Agri-Tourist Podcast Host
• Global Agritourism Network

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Ciao from Marsala, Sicily….and my first WWOOFING experience. 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. I have never felt so welcomed and so instantly part of a family as I did with Nino and Gianfranco.

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 woman.

This trip was so meaningful to me on so many levels. This is one of 2 podcast interviews from my visit to Siciliy that you will hear…and now the 2 reasons that brought me to Siciliy are also connected because of this trip.

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.

Orto Infesta Instagram
The One Straw Revolution by Masonobu Fukuoka
Marsala Vacanze
Orto Infesta Facebook

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture.

• Agri-Tourist.com
• HeartBeet Farms
• Instagram
• About Jen Ross, The Agri-Tourist Podcast Host
• Global Agritourism Network