Spring seems to have arrived in many parts of the country, and for countless Italian Americans, these early days of new life mean it’s time to get gardening!  In many cases, those Italian American gardens will soon be bursting with fruits and vegetables that have been passed down through generations of seed saving.

But for one Italian American in particular, the lessons learned watching Nonno and Nonna save the seeds of their favorite tomatoes have led to an expertise that has made him into one of the world’s foremost authorities on heirloom gardening.