BUON FERRAGOSTO a tutti from The Italian Radio Hour!In this week's episode, The Italian Garden Project and FIG FEST (Sept 14th) with Mary Menniti.Today, I’m especially excited to welcome someone I not only admire for her work but also know personally — Mary Menniti, the founder of The Italian Garden Project. Mary has made it her mission to celebrate and preserve the traditions of Italian-American backyard gardening, where food, family, and culture are all deeply rooted in the soil.

Through her work, she has documented countless gardens, shared stories that connect generations, and inspired many to rediscover the joy of growing their own food. She’s also the mastermind behind Pittsburgh’s beloved Fig Fest, a delicious celebration of one of Italy’s most treasured fruits. Today, we’ll talk about Mary’s background, how this beautiful project began, how it has blossomed, and what’s next — along with a few memories from her own Italian-American upbringing.

If you are in the Pittsburgh area, you can purchase tickets to FIG FEST on Sept 14th online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/figfest-2025-tickets-1474749347999