What Italian Canadians Most Often Grow
in Their Gardens

	Il Contadino (The Peasant) Salvatore Zilembo Canada 1980 Oil on canvas Canadian Museum of Civilization For Salvatore Zilembo, this painting depicts much more than a peasant taking a break at harvest time. Based on childhood memories, it also captures the pleasure of living close to nature, and the peasant's love for his land and its produce.

Vegetables

Arugula (rucola)
Cabbage (cavolo)
Carrots (carote)
Celery (sedano)
Eggplant (melanzane)
Onions (cipolle)
Peppers (peperoni)
Zucchini (zucchini)
Lettuce (lattuga), including:
  Scarola
  Foglia di Quercia
  Romana
  Radicchio di Chioggia
  Radicchio di Treviso
  Friulian radicchio

Legumes

Beans (fagioli) - various types
Fava beans (fave) - various types
Green beans (fagiolini) - various types

Aromatic Plants and Herbs

Basil (basilico) - genovese (small leaves) or napoletano (large leaves)
Bay (alloro)
Fennel (finocchio)
Hot peppers (peperoncini) - several varieties
Mint (menta)
Oregano (oregano)
Parsley (prezzemolo)
Rosemary (rosmarino)
Sage (salvia)
Tarragon (estragone)
Thyme (timo)

Fruit

Apples (mele)
Figs (fichi)
Grapes (uva)
Pears (pere)
Plums (prugne)
Tomatoes (pomodori) - several varieties

	Tree-pruning knife Latium region, Italy 1960s Used in Canada Metal, wood Lent by Carlo Ferrera This instrument was used in Italy to prune fruit trees or cut firewood. Here in Canada, Carlo Ferrera uses it to prune the trees in his garden. The curved inner edge is for cutting narrow branches, and the outer edge serves as a hatchet, for cutting large branches or trunks.

	(1) Vine-grafting knife Made by Carmine Michele Zilembo Molise region, Italy 1950s Used in Canada Metal, goat horn Lent by Salvatore Zilembo (2) Pruning shears Latium region, Italy Date unknown Used in Canada Metal Lent by Orazio Di Cocco (3) Axe Handle made by Salvatore Valenti Sicily region, Italy c. 1948 Used in Canada Metal, wood Lent by Salvatore Valenti (4) Brush-clearing tool Latium region, Italy 1930s Used in Canada Metal, wood Lent by Pompilio Rocca
	(5) Sickle Made by Salvatore Lamonica Canada 1962 Metal, wood Lent by Salvatore Lamonica (6) Sickle Made by Felice Alfonso Rocca Latium region, Italy 1940s Used in Canada Metal, wood Lent by Pompilio Rocca In Italy, this sickle was used for cutting hay, wheat and shrubs. Here in Canada, it was used to clear scrub and weeds. (7) Pruning shears Sicily region, Italy 1950s Used in Canada Metal Lent by Salvatore Valenti Salvatore Valenti pruned olive trees in Italy. It was one of his specialties. Thinking that these shears might come in handy, he brought them to Canada, where he used them in his garden.