Bruno D’Intino, a retired farmer in Thorold, Ontario, has spent a lifetime tending to his vegetable garden, a tradition he learned as a child growing up in Abruzzo, Italy. Now, his efforts have been officially recognized as he took home first place in the ‘veggie garden’ category in the Thorold Garden Club’s annual city-wide contest. This recognition is a testament to his dedication to growing a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, lettuce, radicchio, hot peppers, garlic, basil, and figs, which sustain his family throughout the year.
D’Intino’s passion for gardening began early. Raised on a farm in Italy, he absorbed the knowledge and practices of his parents, Carmen and Rosa. “When we were four, five years old, you just follow them, and you get experience,” D’Intino recalls. His family grew everything themselves—vegetables, grapes for wine, and tomatoes for sauce—a self-sustaining lifestyle that he carries forward on his small plot of land today.
After moving to Canada in 1967, D’Intino continued his family’s agricultural traditions, finding comfort and connection in cultivating the same crops he grew up with in Italy. “It’s my background,” he explains. “I try to keep my culture, and I enjoy it when I do it.”
The garden, located next to his house, is meticulously maintained and bountifully productive. Despite being retired, D’Intino is as busy as ever, dedicating his time to growing food for his family year-round. His dedication doesn’t waver, even when he worked six days a week before retirement. “You have to make time,” he says. “There’s a lot of small things you have to do.”
One of those small but critical tasks is preparing the garden for the winter months. D’Intino’s fig tree, a standout feature of his garden, requires special attention. “The figs are almost finished now,” he says. “You have to prune it, you have to cover it for the winter; it’s a lot of work, but it’s enjoyable.” Despite the work, D’Intino’s garden not only provides for his family but also connects him to his roots, preserving both his heritage and the seasonal rhythms of farming.
D’Intino’s success in the Thorold Garden Club contest came unexpectedly, as he hadn’t even entered intentionally. “A couple of ladies passed by and they took a picture,” he recalls. “They told me it was a contest, and they were impressed with the fig tree.” Winning the contest has been a rewarding experience for D’Intino, who has always gardened for the love of it rather than for recognition.
The key to D’Intino’s bountiful harvest is his year-round attention to the garden’s needs. “First of all, you have to fertilize it,” he explains. “Then while you grow, you’ve got to know what’s good or bad for them.” His hands-on approach, combined with a lifetime of experience, ensures that his garden thrives. Although D’Intino finds joy in growing all kinds of vegetables, his love for the process of growing itself seems to be his greatest passion.
For D’Intino, gardening is more than just a hobby; it’s a way to preserve the traditions and skills passed down from his family in Italy. His garden not only sustains him physically but also serves as a living link to his heritage. And as he continues to cultivate his crops, he plans to stay true to the same practices that have sustained his family for generations.
Bruno D’Intino’s journey from the farmlands of Abruzzo to his award-winning garden in Thorold reflects the enduring value of tradition, hard work, and passion for agriculture. His success is a reminder that sustainable, self-sufficient farming can thrive in any setting, and that the love for growing food connects generations across time and place. As more people turn to local, homegrown produce, D’Intino’s story is an inspiring example of how a deep-rooted connection to farming can lead to both personal fulfillment and recognition.
