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Today’s guest is a filmmaker, community builder, and aspiring farmer who happens to be based right near me in Brooklyn — Maxine Simone Williams. Maxine uses storytelling, farming, and community engagement to illuminate how culture, food, and relationships shape our lives.

I first discovered Maxine on Instagram. I come across countless amazing farming-related posts, but Maxine — a brilliant, young, and inspiring woman — immediately caught my attention. I wanted to dig deeper into her story and her mission. She is a true wealth of resources, and what I love most is that she doesn’t just share information; she demonstrates the power of these (often free!) community resources by showing up, participating, joining in — and then sharing her experiences.

I learned so much from this interview — not only about local community offerings, but also about how a single plant, like cotton, can carry deep emotion, generational pain, and historical significance. At the same time, growing cotton today can also create space for healing, growth, and a sense of moving forward. Maxine opened my eyes to that.

I hope you enjoy this episode, and I encourage you to check out Maxine’s Instagram and YouTube. As I told her during our conversation, I can’t wait to join her one day in her community garden or on one of her NYC field trips. Enjoy my conversation with Maxine.

Maxine's Instagram
Maxine's Youtube Channel (How We Grow Series)
Leah Penniman, Farming While Black
NYC Community Compost Network - Master Compost Certificate
Maya Stansberry, Deep Routes
Dirt to Soil, Gabe Brown
Soul Fire Farm

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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….

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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! 

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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

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I know we’ve gone rogue, off the normal podcast schedule.  And it feels kind of  liberating in a strange way!  But it’s also given me the opportunity to reset a bit.  I haven’t completely figured out how I want to approach the Agri-Tourist Podcast going forward, but it’s given me some time back and will allow me time to test some things out.

One of those things is doing a video edit along with the audio edit.  I’ve avoided that mainly because of the time it takes to do all the editing.  But for some select interviews I am going to make the time and add a video podcast to the mix.  And we are going to do that for this interview….my interview with Pattie Baker, author of a few books - 2 in particular being Round America with a Duck in which I interviewed Pattie back in Episode 20 - and her newest book Round Ireland with a Duck!

Pattie was a real inspiration for me when I read her Round America with a Duck  book…then we spoke and that inspiration came alive…and then she went to Ireland and wrote a 2nd book about her amazing experiences. 

These books are not just about WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) - they are about a woman who is trusting her journey -a woman who is truly present in the moment - a woman who values interactions with people she encounters at every moment of her life - taking notice of things that most people just breeze by or ignore.

And throughout this journey, Pattie’s personal and family challenges surface…along with hearing the extreme challenges of many of the families she resided with during her stays. When you are WWOOFing or living and working with strangers, it reveals a lot about yourself to yourself and it reveals a lot about the stories of the people you are spending time with.  Pattie uses those experiences to really look at herself, her raw self…and has learned to truly  trust the journey each and every day.  Enjoy my deep dive around Ireland with Patty Baker and her bike mascot, Disco the Duck! 
Link to Video Podcast with Pattie Baker
Round Ireland with a Duck
Agri-Tourist Podcast - Round America with a Duck 
Agri-Tourist Podcast - WWOOF 

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 a special episode for many reasons.  We hit 70 episodes last week!! I can’t believe how fast 70 episodes went by - 70 weeks of my life and yours!!!  This episode will be highlighting -  very briefly -  the top 3 most listened to podcasts.  And what do I mean by highlighting them - I am pulling out some of the most meaningful sections - the part of the conversation that left an impact on me…and hopefully left an impact on you too!  

But I am also using this time to say a few words about going forward.  I value each and every person who has taken the time out of their lives to listen to these conversations.  That truly means the world to me.  As I truly valued the time that my podcast guests took out of their lives to spend some time with me and talk to me about all that they do…and also open up to me about their personal stories.  

It’s come time to pause, evaluate and take in everything that I learned….not a permanent pause but an interruption and change to the normal schedule going forward.  As a marketer consistency is critical. So, yes,  I am breaking one of my very own marketing rules.  But sometimes rules just need to be broken!  I will be doing pop up podcasts on an irregular basis - there are some that are planned for the near future that will take place.  But, for many reasons, I decided it was best to pause the weekly monday podcasts and mix it up just a bit.  

So why I am taking this pause? My youngest daughter just started college….for those who have experienced this….I know that I don’t need to say another word…I know you deeply understand.  For those who haven’t yet or have not experienced this….it’s definitely a pivotal time of reflection and change.. A time of questioning a lot of things.  And a time of new beginnings….all of which are very frightening and super exciting at the same time.  

The last 70 weeks of inspiring conversations have somewhat prepared me for these next steps…for these changes….so I thank every person who entered my life for the last 70 weeks…every one of you came into my life for a reason..and I value each and every one of you. And most importantly, for your own health, for the health and well being of our local farmers, and for the well being of our Earth….please make every effort to shop your local farms! 

Thank you for listening and hopefully you will stick around for what’s to come in the future…. here are the top 3 podcasts that you listened to the most...

A Chocolate & Coffee Agri-Tour Adventure with Moka Origins CEO Jeff Abella

A Plant-Based Visit to Florida with Emma & John Hoel of Peacefield Farm Sanctuary

Skip the Farmers Market and Learn How to Profit from a Pick Your Own Farm with Megan Neubauer

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We have all heard about the impending cuts that will be impacting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - also known as SNAP.  SNAP is  a food program that provides assistance to more than 40 million people across America and also provide income to farmers who are able to accept SNAP.  The program impacts 2 sets of people  - those in  need of assistance AND the farmers that feed them.  

Today’s conversation is with Amy Crone - founder of The Farmers Food Assistance Bureau (acronym is FFAB).  FFAB is a nonprofit organization formed with the mission of working with ALL federal nutrition benefits programs as well as all financial transactions to simplify them for farmers.

When I was farming, we were part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program in NY.  A farmer had to apply to be part of the program, get accepted and then go through training on how to facilitate the program and reconcile with NYS on a regular basis to receive reimbursement.  It was a time-consuming process, especially for a farmer who needs to be out in the fields.  So when I heard about what Amy was doing through FFAB and specifically with the MarketLink technology she created to help farmers get setup and utilize these food assistance programs with the use of an app, I was so interested to learn more.  

Amy’s commitment to giving more farmers the ability to easily enroll and use these food assistance programs is commendable…and it is having such a tremendous impact to the recipients of these programs and to the farmers who are now able to support these programs.   

MarketLink

Farmers Food Assistance Bureau

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Today’s conversation is with an old friend, someone who’s been with me since my days in corporate america, has known my kids since they were really young, and someone who has been an active agritourist with me along my journey.  His formal name is Thomas Chandler Werbe III, but I call him Tim!  Tim and I were recently reflecting and reminiscing about many of our adventures together - many of which have been focused on agriculture, farming, education, and plenty of outdoor activities.  Actually, I was in awe as we chatted up a storm about all that we have experienced and explored over the past 20 years….so many fun adventures, so many educational experiences, and so many funny moments!  So, without further ado, check out a special conversation between Tim and I while we highlight some of our inspirational agri-adventures over the past 20 years!  Thank you Tim for sharing all of these memories with me! 
Fishkill Farms
Stone Barn Center for Food & Agriculture
Hobbs Farm
Foundation House
New York Botanical Garden
Versailles Farm
Beaverkill Valley Inn
For Farm Movement - Dana Diprima
Little Bean Farm & Pantry
Tim Werbe Art

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Luis Angel Mendez’s journey at Red Tomato began 21 years ago. In 2001 Angel met Michael Rozyne, Founder, and Kate Larson, former Operations manager.. Michael and Kate were searching for two things, warehouse space, and a warehouse manager!  

The potential Angel saw in Red Tomato outweighed any possible risk, he saw this organization was brand new, cultivating its path into the future. This was meaningful work. Angel took a leap of faith and joined Red Tomato as a warehouse manager. 

Red Tomato was developing a supply chain prototype project from a simple but powerful idea: bringing together the people who grow food directly with the people who eat the food. While it sounds straightforward, many systems get in the way of that direct connection and create a lot more costs. 

Angel quickly learned to handle over 50+ fresh produce items, organic and conventional. He began to learn much more about farm economics and agricultural science.  He started to see the powerful connection between food, agriculture, and food systems.  After years of learning the business, Angel is now the Executive Director of Red Tomato. 

Angel is a Boston native and a father of four. Angel grew up in a low-income family and prides himself in helping others, especially those in need. The more he understood his work, its impact, and its ability to be the vehicle to change food systems, the more intrigued and excited Angel became at Red Tomato!  

One of Angel’s most important projects - his baby - is the Bypass Project.  The Bypass Project launched in 2021 in collaboration with Reos Partners, Connecticut farmers, and community food distributors in Bridgeport and Hartford. The Bypass Project determines how to “bypass” traditional systems so that everyone’s needs are met:

• Communities get access to affordable, healthy food
• Growers receive fair prices for their produce
• Direct relationships are built between farmers and communities
• Transportation and logistics costs are reduced

Learn more about Angel’s journey and the Bypass project  is now expanding throughout the US.  

Red Tomato

The Bypass Project

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Dana DiPrima is supporting hardworking small & mid-sized American farmers with small actions that have a big impact. She believes, and I wholeheartedly agree with her, that when farmers win, we ALL win.  

I found Dana’s podcast, One Bite is Everything, on  Apple Podcasts a few months ago.  I have been an avid  weekly listener.  Dana is tapping into many of the same themes that I have been hearing from farmers….and, although our podcasts and personalities are different, our missions, passions and overall goals are very similar.

I reached out to Dana to interview her for my podcast as I wanted to explore the feedback that she was hearing from farmers and food businesses.  She responded right away and we set up a date and time.  From that correspondence, she let me know about her non profit - the for farmer’s movement - and directed me to her website.  And, of course, I linked over and started reading about all the amazing initiatives she has going on. I came across a farm to table dinner fundraiser that she was hosting in the Catskills in upstate NY.  So I called my friend Tim - who is usually up for a new adventure - and we signed up!  

A few weeks later I found myself in the Catskills at the historic Beaverkill Valley Inn (known for being the home of fly fishing) on a beautiful Saturday evening, chatting it up with inspiring supporters and dedicated farmers while savoring a farm to table dinner!  These types of experiences leave a profound imprint on me, especially because of the new connections that are made and the opportunity to experience a new farm community in the Catskills.  

Enjoy my conversation with Dana DiPrima from the One Bite is Everything Podcast and please take her message to heart -  do something to impact a small farmer today….we can all do something…it’s as easy as donating $1 or shopping at a local farmers market or farm one day per week.  Every bit (or bite) counts! 

One Bite is Everything Podcast

For Farmers Movement

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