Why I Grow My Own Food: Italian American Gardening with Nick Ranieri | The Italian Garden Project

“It is my hobby… It is my genuine food… It gives me joy.” In this video, Nick Ranieri shares why he continues to grow his own food, not out of necessity, but out of purpose. For Nick, the garden is more than a hobby. It provides food for his entire family, his children and grandchildren, and gives structure, movement, and meaning to his daily life. Even in the heat and humidity, he chooses to be outside, working the soil, rather than inside watching television. “If I didn’t have my garden… where would I be?” As he explains, the garden is about more than vegetables. It is about independence, rhythm, and staying connected to something real. It reflects a way of life carried across generations, from southern Italy to the United States, and maintained through daily practice. Nick was born in Mola di Bari, Province of Bari, Puglia, Italy, and immigrated to the United States in 1965. Today, he gardens in Commack, New York, continuing traditions rooted in agriculture, seasonality, and family. This video is part of The Italian Garden Project, where we document Italian American gardeners, their knowledge, and their lived traditions. These are not formal instructions, but real moments shaped by experience, memory, and care. Learn more about Nick Ranieri’s garden: https://www.theitaliangardenproject.c... Read his Garden story at the Smithsonian Gardens: https://gardens.si.edu/garden-story/a... Stay connected with The Italian Garden Project Follow us on Instagram   / theitaliangardenproject   Follow us on Facebook   / theitaliangardenproject   Subscribe to our YouTube channel Following our channel, watching our videos, and sharing them helps support this project and allows us to continue producing long-form storytelling and archival content. Support our work To help us continue documenting and preserving these stories, you can support us with a one-time or ongoing monthly donation: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_... Visit our website https://www.theitaliangardenproject.com #theitaliangardenproject #garden #gardening #longisland #italianamerican