Caterina Perazzo — Terra Madre Company

Caterina Perazzo, owner of the “Terra Madre” Farm

“I’m Caterina Perazzo, owner of the ‘Terra Madre’ Farm, which was established primarily to produce food products such as jams, marmalades, pickles, baked cookies, and figs — when they’re in season, since we operate on a seasonal basis. We’ve also recently started offering bed-and-breakfast accommodations, as there’s high tourist demand due to the farm’s proximity to the WWF “Grotte del Bussento” Nature Reserve in Morigerati.

My father did a little bit of everything; he was the backbone of the farm. He was a nature lover who devoted himself entirely to the land and planted all kinds of fruit trees. It was my father’s dream that gave rise to all of this.

For the farm’s name, we chose that of the patron saint, Saint Demetrius the Martyr. Demetrius, in Greek, is in fact Geo Mater.

I’m sort of a jack-of-all-trades here on the farm; I’m my mother’s right-hand woman. I earned my degree in Forestry and Environmental Sciences in Potenza, and I missed the freedom I breathe here in Morigerati every single day. It’s not even the big things you miss when you’re away; it’s the small, ordinary, everyday things: a classmate’s remark, the famous Uncle Antonio with his little bell, even Aunt Francesca calling you from the stairs. And then there are my dearest loved ones, my grandmother in particular.

My mother is the heart and soul of the business: all the cakes and cookies start with her — I just mess around; I’m nowhere near her level. Thanks to our fruit trees, we make jams and preserves, which we then turn into tarts. We also make fig honey, which has nothing to do with bees: it’s a molasses that goes well with aged cheeses.

We’re also part of these new hiking groups that have established the Cammino di San Nilo — as well as those along the Via Silente, for cyclists.

For Morigerati, there’s no more time to waste; we have to act now. If my peers don’t do something, we won’t last much longer.”