Good Evening,
As I’m writing this we are looking at 1–3 inches of snow forecasted for late tonight into tomorrow morning.
We spent the day getting ready and just finished pre-treating properties. The plows are prepped, the salt is loaded, and the team is standing by for our commercial partners AND residential customers. While most people dread the forecast, we enjoy the logistical challenge of keeping our clients properties safe and open for business. Each storm is a little bit different and it keeps things interesting.
But while I was out prepping the trucks in the cold this week, my mind drifted to the opposite of snow. I was thinking about the heat of a Roseto summer, my grandmother’s kitchen, and the "weeds" she used to love eating.
I started thinking about my childhood, how common food gardens were and how to incorporate it all into a valuable article. I ended up with a few articles, so this week, I’m launching a new series about my roots. It explores how the "old ways" of the Slate Belt—foraging, gardening, and wasting nothing—might actually be the blueprint for the future of the Lehigh Valley.
In this week’s issue:
Why my Gram’s obsession with "weeds" might explain the famous Roseto Effect (and the science that finally backs her up).
Dandelions on Division Street: Why my Gram’s obsession with "weeds" might explain the famous Roseto Effect (and the science that finally backs her up).
Rediscovering Edible Landscapes: Practical steps to take that "Roseto Mindset" and apply it to a modern, high-design backyard in Bethlehem or Saucon Valley.
The Bigger Picture: You might wonder why the owner of a landscaping company is talking about dandelion salads. It’s because I see a disconnect in the Valley.
Up in the Slate Belt (Roseto, Bangor), we have a legacy of growers, skilled workers, and nutrient-dense food traditions. Down here in Bethlehem and the greater Valley, we have a massive demand for quality and sustainability.
Ruggiero Sustainable Solutions is building the bridge between the two. Whether it’s connecting Slate Belt stone masons with Bethlehem estates, or bringing heritage food concepts into modern landscape design, we are here to link the region together.
We might be plowing snow tonight, but we are planning a better future.
Stay warm and drive safe.
Mike Ruggiero Ruggiero Sustainable Solutions Ruggiero Landscaping
P.S. If you are interested in a proposal or design consultation for 2026, please use the link below to visit the official Ruggiero Landscaping website and request form.
"Dandelions on Division Street": How My Gram’s Summer Ritual May Hold Clues to the Roseto Effect
Growing up, I remember summers in Roseto like they were yesterday. The sun was warm, the air was thick with the scent of tomato vines, and every backyard seemed to have a pear tree, grapevines, or both.
And then there was my Gram. Standing in her kitchen on Division Street, she would issue the command: "Go out and get me some dandelions."
At the time, I didn’t think much of it. To a kid, old people just liked eating weird stuff. Especially the ones on my Dad’s side of the family. The next article I’m releasing involves my Dad taking me out in the woods as a kid to pick wild watercress from streams, then delivering to my Gram and surprising several other neighbors with it. That happened a handful of times but the dandelions were a common staple.
I remember my Dad and the neighbors would go out and harvest big bags of the greens from specific spots in the area. Some people would make wine from the flowers. As far as I can remember, my Gram just wanted the greens. She’d rinse them in cold water, eat them in a salad, or sauté them with garlic and olive oil. To her, it was perfect.
Now, decades later, I’ve realized there was more to that ritual than I knew.
The "Weed" That Wasn't
Most people today see dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) as the enemy of the perfect lawn. But to my Gram—and the Italian families of Roseto—they were cicoria. They were food.
Modern research is finally catching up to what my Gram (and I’m sure most humans before 1900) knew instinctively.
Dandelions are a nutritional superfood:
Nutrient Dense: They are packed with Vitamins A, C, and K—one cup provides over 500% of your daily Vitamin K.
Liver Support: Traditionally used to stimulate bile and aid digestion.
Anti-Inflammatory: Rich in antioxidants like polyphenols that fight oxidative stress.
Every time Gram sautéed those greens, she wasn't just making dinner. She was serving up natural medicine that supported heart health and longevity.
The Missing Ingredient in the "Roseto Effect"
In the 1960s, researchers flocked to Roseto to study why our town had such unusually low rates of heart disease. They called it "The Roseto Effect." They concluded it was the community—the social cohesion, the lack of stress, the multi-generational homes—that kept people healthy.
They weren’t wrong. But I believe they missed something sitting right on the plate.
The Roseto diet wasn't just "pasta and sausage." It was rooted in freshness and frugality. We ate with the seasons. We ate wild greens like dandelions and watercress that act as natural diuretics and blood pressure regulators. We wasted nothing.
Bringing It Back to the Valley
I’m sharing this not just to be nostalgic. I’m sharing it because this is the foundation of Ruggiero Sustainable Solutions.
We have a unique opportunity in the Lehigh Valley. We have the "Old World" wisdom of the Slate Belt—the growers, the foragers, the stone masons. And we have the modern demand of Bethlehem and Allentown.
My goal is to use my land and my company to reconnect these two worlds. To build landscapes that don't just look good, but do good—feeding our families and healing our soil just like Gram's garden did.
So, the next time you see a patch of dandelions, pause before you mow. There is strength in the bitter, beauty in the wild, and healing in the traditions we carry forward.
Rediscovering Edible Landscapes: Beauty Meets Bounty
My Gram didn't have a "landscape design." She had a yard that fed her.
Today, we often separate our yards into "pretty" (flowers/shrubs) and "utility" (vegetable patch). But at Ruggiero Sustainable Solutions, we believe you can have both. You don't need a farm in the Slate Belt to grow your own food; you can do it right here in the suburbs.
Here is how to apply that "Roseto Mindset" to a modern property without sacrificing curb appeal:
1. The "Edible Ornamental" Swap Stop planting generic shrubs that do nothing but occupy space.
Stop planting generic shrubs that do nothing but occupy space.
Swap: Burning Bush → Highbush Blueberry. You get the same brilliant red fall foliage, delicate spring flowers, and pounds of berries in July.
Swap: Privacy Hedge → Espaliered Apple Trees. Train fruit trees flat against a fence or wall. It looks architectural and sculptural, saving space while producing fruit.
2. Vertical Garden Bounty If you have a smaller lot in Bethlehem or Easton, go up.
If you want to start growing your own food but have a smaller lot in Bethlehem or Easton, go up!!
Vertical Vibes:
Use iron or cedar trellises for vining crops like beans or cucumbers.
Use trellises or wall planters for climbing veggies like beans or tomatoes.
Mix in herbs (basil, thyme) amid flowers for a lush, aromatic tapestry.
Hanging baskets of strawberries add whimsy without hogging ground space.
Mix them with flowering vines like Clematis.
The result is a lush, green living wall that offers privacy and produce.
3. The "Potager" Approach The French have actually done this for centuries. Treat your vegetable garden like a formal estate feature.
Treat your vegetable garden like a formal estate feature.
Use raised beds with natural stone edges (referencing our Slate Belt heritage).
Plant in geometric patterns rather than straight rows.
Use "pretty" edibles: Rainbow Swiss Chard, purple kale, and nasturtiums (edible flowers) look just as good as Hosta but taste much better!
4. Fruit Tree Focal Points: A single compact fig or pear tree (in pots for cold climates) becomes a centerpiece, yielding shade, fragrance, and snacks.
Surround with low-maintenance ground covers like clover or mint for eco-friendly lawns.
A single compact fig or pear tree (in pots for cold climates) becomes a centerpiece, yielding shade, fragrance, and snacks.
Here’s a quick sketch that shows the concept a bit more clearly.
An example of how a landscaping featuring and your backyard can serve you AND make the neighbors jealous.
The Bottom Line:
A landscape should serve you. It should be beautiful to look at, resilient in a storm, and yes—it should give you something to eat.
Stay warm and drive safe tomorrow.
Best,
Mike Ruggiero
484.794.6733
Ruggiero Sustainable Solutions & Ruggiero Landscaping
