In Egypt in the 300s, monks who lived in isolation planted gardens. They grew things like beans and lentils, but they also grew grapes and other fruits. When hungry visitors came, they were given the best of what the monks had to offer. Another monk, who lived in Germany in the 9th century, kept a similar kind of garden and wrote poetry about the plants. Rhapsodizing about melons, Walafrid wrote:
“when a knife-blade finds the guts of a melon a gush / Of juice comes out, and many seeds with it. Then / Your lucky guest can divide by hand the hollow body / Into several pieces and thus enjoy the luscious delicacy. / Its freshness and savour delight the palate; nor can this food / Defeat a man’s teeth, for it’s easy to eat and its natural / Properties cool and refresh his whole inner body”
Sharing food wasn’t just about the delight of guests – it was also sensitive to the difficulties that can come with illness and aging.1
[1] https://learn.elca.org/jle/patristic-christian-views-on-poverty-and-hunger/
https://www.huntbotanical.org/admin/uploads/hibd-hortulus-facsimile.pdf