Discourse Dinner 01

These are our memories of Water: Worshipped & Willful, Earthsource’s first Discourse Dinner.

On Saturday, November 1st we gathered at Valle Ponci to sit at the table with water both as discourse subject and elemental living force. This dinner was organized in collaboration with the wonderful team at Valle Ponci, who welcomed us and invited us to connect with the landscape they lovingly steward. Together with Lorenzo Costa, they guided us in an immersive hike through the territory’s rich and intimate history with water. In the interior of this young Ligurian Alpine forest, the traces of an intricate relationship with water is revealed; dry stone walls holding up and partitioning pieces of earth for agricultural terraces, stone passageways for water, old cisterns from the seventeenth century, springs that were active until the nineteenth century, a Roman Bridge, all hidden below the canopy.

Ancient settlers knowingly guided water’s flow through the valley. Valleponci is defined by water. The presence of our species in Valleponci dates back to the neolithic. The dry memory of a flowing river that once glided through the landscape is why our species evolved a water culture there. There is more to be discovered, recovered, and remembered. It was an honor to witness and partake in Valleponci’s process of reconnecting with water. Summoned there by water, we listened to what she had to say. We offered her a meal and a seat at the table. 

Aly Beveridge of Radikal Hospitality developed an unforgettable menu inspired by water herself. The food responded to the autumnal offerings of what was growing on the land and some beautiful foraged elements like pink pepper and XX. 

We are very grateful to everyone that made this possible and participated.