I LOVE SICILIA MAGAZINE ARTICLE - BY DIANE FISHER
Diane Fisher, United States, London UK to Cianciana (AG), Sicily
Organic Horticulture, Entrepreneur
From childhood in the United States and the fast-paced life of London to the slower pace of life of Cianciana, in the province of Agrigento, Sicily: Diane Fisher, semi-retired on the island, specializes in organic horticulture and produces organic olive oil on her organic small holding nestled in the gentle hills of Cianciana, now a new destination for the recent wave of expats in Sicily.
Her great-grandmother was of Sicilian origin, but Diane's true love for the island came at age 28, when she explored Sicily for the first time with her daughter.
"It’s hard to express how much I adore this island. Even the traditional houses are painted with historical purpose: blue for the Norman heritage, pink and orange for the Arabs, white for the Greeks, and yellow for the Jews. Sicilian cuisine, with its simple and seasonal ingredients, is a joy—an expression of the island's rich culture and history in a dish.
But above all, it’s the people I value the most. I love the traditional Sicilian values, where children are raised with confidence and respect. We need to take the time to get to know Sicilians and learn from Sicilians. There can sometimes be an unconscious mindset within the international community that considers Sicilian ways outdated. I don’t think that’s true.
The depth of Sicilian knowledge and experience isn’t always visible, especially in a world dominated by social media. But if we invest time to build genuine friendships and truly listen, we can learn a lot from this land and its people.
Working in agriculture, I can say that Sicily and its agricultural culture—characterised by a cautious and thoughtful approach—have an advantage in dealing with the challenges of climate change."