Ceramics became increasingly important to Leslie while in university because she stopped visiting Mexico after high school. She was a full-time student with a part-time job and couldn’t find time to go back and visit her family. It made her want to connect more than ever and get back to that feeling of her roots. That’s the feeling that she got from working with clay. Clay reminded her of Mexico, walking through the tianguis, or markets, and seeing all the pottery and fresh produce. Her memories are also based around cooking and eating meals together. For Leslie, a molcajete, a traditional mortar and pestle, reminds her of her grandma’s kitchen. A molcajete is a statement piece in a Mexican kitchen. It’s iconic.

Initially, Zee was just growing tomatoes and bell peppers; the typical things other nurseries sold. In her own backyard, however, she was growing Okra, Amaranth, Mallow, and many other heritage vegetables. The inspiration came when her mom and grandma were in disbelief that all of these heritage crops could be grown in California. They had not seen Amaranth in twenty-five years since coming to the U.S. This made Zee go on a quest to track down seeds that were not so readily available here. The following Spring, Zee applied to the Fremont Farmer’s Market, and that’s where her nursery journey truly began.

This year, J & P Cosentino Family Farm will be celebrating their 80th anniversary the weekend of June 20 - 22, 2025 in time to celebrate Summer Solstice. The preservation of this family farm feels like such a blessing in the midst of diminishing agricultural land in lieu of cemented roads, offices, and apartment buildings. As one of the last farms standing in San Jose, it has become a supportive community hub hosting farm kitchen pop-ups, guest pop-ups, watercolor classes, farm tours, picnics and much more.