Our big Great Dane, Leroy had a medical emergency that turned into a House episode & has been a month and a half of vet trips. In between his appointments I went to the Boar Hunter's end of the season lunch which is always fun! (A video and post are coming on Instagram!) And this last weekend was Gaggi's birthday - which means there was a plethora of funny stories to share of the birthday boy! (there may just be a post for this too, definitely a video!)

Our neighbor Pierangelo has been working on a stretch of our road - some spots better than others and has inspired Jason to chip in! Plus it's that time of year to start restocking the cantina with olive oil & we chat about what oils we like, when to use different ones and where they are from.

Speaking of ordering things for the upcoming season of guests - we finally kick our crappy KitchenAid to curb, after a short bitch session we share a few details about our new Swedish mixer.

Thanks for listening and we hope you can join us at our farm, inn and cooking school this year! www.latavolamarche.com

#lifeinItaly #expatsinItaly #countryliving #homesteading #italianfestivals #italianfeasts #extravirginoliveoil #sentiremedia

We first do a recap of the holidays - from Christmas Eve's fish dinner to La Befana festival in our tiny neighboring village of Urbania. Boar hunting season is nearly over and we live right in the thick of it - find out what gifts the hunters left us this year! Finally after nearly 11 months of curing our lard is ready - find out how it turned out! And the latest water cooler talk from our valley - the wood harvesting has begun! Then we chat about Spain's new decision to have a 100% tax on properties purchased by non-EU citizens - could Italy be next?!

#lifeinItaly #movetoItaly #expatsinItaly #expatpodcast #Italypodcast #Italyfestivals #Italianholidays #Italytravel

Finally a proper full episode - starting with a recap from a November to remember! We took our first road trip since getting dogs and visited the marble quarries above Cararra for an unforgettable private tour & then our thoughts on visiting: Lucca, Prato, Pisa and Padova! We chat about a few holiday favorites: mazzafegato & cotechino. And Jason is on a new donkey kick...! Happy Holidays and thanks for listening!! Buon Natale!

Welcome to another episode of New Life in Italy! I'm Samantha Wilson, and today, we’re diving deep into the power of chasing big dreams—especially the dream of moving to Italy and building a meaningful life here.

In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Bartner, the co-founder of La Tavola Marche, an organic farm, inn, and cooking school tucked away in the stunning countryside of Le Marche. Ashley and her husband, Jason, took the plunge 17 years ago, leaving their fast-paced lives in New York to start fresh in rural Italy. They didn’t have all the answers—just a dream, a lot of courage, and a willingness to figure things out along the way.

Ashley opens up about what it was really like to make such a big move, from learning the ropes of farming and hosting guests to teaching cooking classes and navigating life in Italy. She gets honest about the challenges too—like dealing with unexpected power outages in the middle of a Thanksgiving dinner for their neighbors—and how those moments helped them grow.

One of my favorite parts of our chat is hearing Ashley talk about the mindset it takes to follow a dream, even when it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Her story is such a great reminder that the only person who needs to believe in your dream is you. We also dig into the realities of running an agriturismo—the hard work, the surprises, and the moments that make it all worthwhile.

As we wrap up, I challenge you to think about your own dreams. What’s that one thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t taken the leap yet? Whether it’s moving to Italy, starting a new career, or stepping into something completely unknown, I hope this episode inspires you to take the first step.

And don’t forget—if you’re serious about making Italy your new home, check out all the resources waiting for you at SmartMoveItaly.com. I’ve got guides, tips, and expert advice to make your move easier.

Stick around until the end of the episode, too! I’ll be answering listener questions about energy ratings for properties, pet passports, and the process of applying for a Permesso di Soggiorno.

So grab your espresso (or a glass of wine!), and let’s get inspired together. This is your New Life in Italy. Let’s make it happen!

Resources:

La Tavola Marche

The Podcast From Italy

Smart Move Italy

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If you loved this episode and want to hear more, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to move toward their new life in Italy and live the life they deserve.

Tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding new episodes every week and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!

If you want to learn more about ways that my team and I can help you live your dream life in Italy, visit us at www.smartmoveitaly.com or send me an email!

Until next time!

Ci vediamo!

Mentioned in this episode:

Sentire Media Website...

An autumn episode of all of our favorite October happenings in our neck of the woods of Le Marche, Italy. Truffle season has begun along with each weekend another truffle festival! We took the guests to Sant'Angelo in Vado's festival to see and taste a gigantic frittata made with 600 eggs and 6 kilos of truffles! Then we were invited to the annual boar hunter's lunch which is always small town fun and especially since Gaggi joined us this year! An update on the garden and the saffron harvest is underway! Plus the countdown to closing for the season....

#lifeinItaly #Italianfestivals #truffles #trufflefestivals #expatsinItaly #Italy #travel

The air changed quickly and autumn has arrived, along with hunters of all sorts along our road - from mushrooms to hunting and tomorrow opens white truffles!! A short recap of September and a bit of history on the legendary Club dei Brutti - Ugly Club of Piobbico. And yes, we are both card carrying proud members!

Thanks for listening!!

The height of summer is over but the heat is still strong! This short but jam packed episode is all about August - jarring tomatoes with ol' Dr. Gaggi and the usual shenanigans ensued + we packed a summer worth of festivals in the last 2 weeks: the Corn Races, Rally Drift Car Racing on Monte Nerone, a feast of Crostolo and today's the big Polenta feast in Piobbico!

Thanks for listening!!

And there are only a few spots left for our 4 night Truffle Hunting Holiday!

OCTOBER 30-NOVEMER 3, 2024

NOVEMBER 6-10, 2024

Day 1 - Arrive to Welcome Prosecco Aperitivi,

Followed by a Five Course Seasonal Feast paired with Superiore Wines from Le Marche

​Day 2 - Morning Truffle Hunt & Lesson on Cultivated Truffle Gardens with Light Lunch

Afternoon: Four Course Dinner Party Cooking Class

Day 3 - Market Tour, Tasting & Lunch

Evening Italian Quiz Night, Aperitivi & Light Dinner or Visit the local Festivals

Day 4- Morning free to explore, Afternoon Truffle Hunt - this one is off the trails, over the rivers and deep into the woods

Evening - Aperitivi & Truffle Tasting at the White Truffle Festival

Day 5 - Breakfast & Departure

Includes:

• 4
• nights accommodations at our farmhouse inn with your own spacious
• private apartment with ensuite bathroom & kitchen/living room
• breakfast daily
• 4 dinners + 2 lunches
• local Marche wine included in all meals
• 2 truffle hunts with expert guides
• guided market tour/tasting in Apecchio
• half day cooking class with custom handmade apron to take home
• quiz night with snacks & wine
• aperitivo & truffle tasting at the White Truffle Festival in Acqualagna.

Get the details and RSVP: https://www.latavolamarche.com/truffle-hunting-holiday.html

#lifeinItaly #expatsinItaly #Italianculture #Italianfestivals #summerinItaly #Italytravel #LeMarche #trufflehunting #italianfeasts #agriturismo #sustainabletravel #sustainableliving #tuscany

It's the dog days of summer, but here's an update on the garden and growing tomatoes 3 different ways and getting out & about as summer festival season kicks off! Then we discuss Italian kids and car seats or the lack there of!