Organic Herb & Vegetable Garden at The Breakers

One of my FAVORITE parts of The Breakers was that they had an Organic Herb and Vegetable Garden on the grounds that they grew and maintained themselves.  They also used what they grew in their restaurants.

I had heard about their organic garden prior to our visit and I was super excited to check it out.

Dale and I took a stroll thru the gardens one morning and I took another walk thru them at least once.  I absolutely LOVED them. 

In this first photo you can see a huge cactus/aloe-type plant they potted.  It was mammothly large!  They had a lot of potted plants and numerous raised beds.

Here's a look at some of the raised beds.  We were free to walk in and take a look at any time, stop by touch/feel/smell the herbs - it was so neat!

They offered a weekly garden tour, too, but we weren't around while that was going on...I think we missed it by a day! 

Some of the chef's would come out in the mornings to pick what they wanted to use for the day!  Talk about 'from garden to plate', eh?

The decorative bricks that surrounded the raised beds were delightful, too!

But it wasn't just this area that featured what they grew...many of the fruits were along side the one golf course walkway!

But before I get to those photos I thought I would post another shot of the herb gardens.

I counted at least 5 different kinds of basil!  Now that is impressive!

There were a few other raised beds that they were prepping for the next item to plant/grow but almost everything was well into the growing stages!

Nearly everything was clearly marked, too!  Which was super helpful for someone like me who was interested in what they were growing!

I probably nerded-out a little bit but it was so fun!

Just past the herb section of their garden was a walkway that ran along side the one golf course.  Again you could see the decorative brick under  your feet and green at every glance!

I mentioned in an earlier post that the salamanders and lizards were NOT afraid of humans and popped out to surprise passer-byes often.

The same went for the local squirrels.  As you can see this one didn't take his eyes off of me as he was ready to climb this tree.

I wish I had been able to more of the local birds - we did see some in the sky - flying by - but not as many on land as I had hoped but then again we didn't got outside of The Breakers all that much in the few days we were there either.

While walking by several different varieties of fruit plants, trees, etc...we saw these CUTE pineapples! 

They also had an Avocado tree that was doing well and a Lychee that already had a permanent sign...among others!

There was one tree on the opposite golf course that I was unfamiliar with and am still wondering what it was.  I'm tempted to call The Breakers and ask them.  I don't think it was a Sugar Apple but then again I haven't seen a Sugar Apple up close and personal before.  I will try and post it here down the road in case anyone has any ideas on what it COULD be.  I was so excited I was able to see The Breakers Organic Gardens while we were there!

Interested Animals & Container Garden Progress

I'm still doing a little bit of catch-up with posts.  I figured today I would do a few collages of two subjects and combine the blog post.  This first photo collage is of some of my favorite animals from the fair a few weeks ago.  The two birds I just LOVED the colors of the feathers and they were so cool.  Their temporary living quarters were very clean and of the most spacious I have seen.  The Rabbits had their whole family there and chillin' in their own pen area.  They were precious!  This horse was nodding off while standing...or maybe just blinking...but it was cute and I LOVED the brown and white color combo and spots!

I've been trying to update you all on the Container Garden and Rooftop Garden Progress!  Well, here is some more!  The Dragon's Tongue Beans have been a real hit this year!  We've had great luck with those!  We are already sure we are going to do them again next year!  I'm almost wondering if we can do them year-round indoors...we might try!  Then the other two photos here are of the Brussel Sprouts!  We have one that is doing REALLY well.  Another one that is doing ok.  And the other two are up-in-the-air.  I think we might pull one of them today.  I think the branches are too close to grow the sprouts and they aren't really sprouting much.  But we are very excited about the ones that have 'nubs' on them - like the ones you see here!

 

Mouse Melon Progress

Take a look at the Mouse Melon Progress on our Rooftop Container Garden at work! 

I have to say I'm so excited that Sam brought one of these in for us to grow!  It's doing so well!  We've munched on a few that have matured but I'm certain there are a lot more on the way! 

Mouse Melon - or - Melothria scabra is a vine grown for its edible fruit. Fruit are about the size of grapes and taste like cucumbers with a tinge of sourness. Vernacular names include mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkin, cucamelon, Mexican miniature watermelon and Mexican sour cucumber.  This plant is native to Mexico and Central America, where it is called sandiita (little watermelon). It is believed to have been a domesticated crop before western contact began.

These plants are slow-growing when they are establishing themselves, but can eventually grow up to ten feet under proper conditions. They are drought resistant and pest-resistant due.

Similar to the cucumber, these plants produce both male and female flowers. These plants can fertilize themselves, but the flowers are not self-fertile. Flowers are small and yellow, about four millimeters in diameter. Fruits develop at the base of the female flower.

Our tomatoes aren't doing very well but we might see 3 of them.  Some of the peppers are doing ok and some aren't...more progress on those down the road, too!  We have 2 solid Brussel Sprout Plants 'happening' and I will post about that soon, too!  As well as others!

Let me know how your garden is doing!!!!

Peppy Peppers! But Just As Sweet!

If you can scroll down you can see I have already blabbed about my hopes and dreams regarding tomatoes this year...well...today I am going on and on about Peppers!  Today is Sweet Pepper Day - I will chat about Hot Peppers at another time.

First up...Pepper, Alma Paprika - (Capsicum annuum) Highly productive plants are loaded with thick walled cherry-type peppers. One of the best varieties for drying and grinding for paprika, or for fresh eating. Ripens from cream-white to orange to red. 70-80 days from transplant. MILDLY PEPPERY AND VERY SWEET.

I liked this Pepper not only because it was peppery and sweet but because of the various colors AND because they are good for drying and grinding and a HIGHLY productive!

Next up...Pepper, Miniature Chocolate Bell - (Capsicum annuum) Short, stocky plants covered with lovely 2" long miniature bell peppers with an excellent fresh flavor. Family heirloom from Ohio SSE member, Lucina Cress. She stuffed these peppers with cabbage, pickled and canned them, and then sold them at her church fundraiser. Great for salads. 90 days from transplant. SWEET.

This - I chose - because I have been wanting to try Chocolate Peppers.  I ALMOST bought a start plant a few years ago and always regretted NOT buying it so I figured I would try and make it happen this year.  They say they are good for Stuffed Peppers as well as pickling and canning...PLUS...Great for Salads!  That's what I will use them most for - that and snacking!

 
Pepper, Sheepnose Pimento Organic - (Capsicum annuum) Tomato-type peppers are exceedingly flavorful with sweet juicy flesh. Very meaty, good for canning. An Ohio heirloom from the family of Nick Rini. Keeps for an extended period when refrigerated. 70-80 days from transplant. SWEET.

I thought I would look for a different sort of a red pepper that was sweet and found this one!  I also thought it was GREAT that they keep for an extended period when refrigerated!   I'm looking forward to these!

These can all be found over at Seed Saver Exchange.  I LOVE what they have to offer - I like the history behind them - and as a BEGINNER at gardening I appreciate that they have step-by-step directions for each of their offerings!

Future Rooftop Garden

4 of us at work are going to try and do a Rooftop Garden this year! 

A co-worker and I went to an Indoor Gardening Class last night thru Jamestown Community College Warren Campus and the Penn State Ag Extension.  It was fun and VERY informative.  Much of the Indoor stuff we probably won't be doing especially when it comes to lighting, etc...but we walked away with many more ideas for the project we have planned!  I'm VERY excited about this actually! 

We will also be trying to re-use and re-purpose old equipment as much as possible - since there is so much of it around our building.

One of the main places we have decided to 'shop' for our seeds is Seed Saver Exchange.  So far...here is what we have planned from this catalog...Bill - one of our part timers was interested in A & C pickling Cucumbers.  My Mother-In-Law who is also our office manger wanted Stupice Tomatoes.  Casey who is one of our Sales People checked off Joe's Long Cayenne, Hot Portugal, Tolli's Sweet Italian, and Georgia Flame Hot Peppers.  Sam - who is our production person would like to do Amish Snap Peas, Green Arrow Peas, and Cherry Roma Tomatoes.  Then there is me...I'm interested in...Dragon Carrots, Watermelon Radishes, Alma Paprika, Mini Chocolate Bell, and Sheepnose Pimento Peppers, as well as Black Cherry, Blondkopechen, Isis Candy Cherry, Lemon Drop, Tasty Evergreen, and Ukrainian Purple Tomatoes.

Karen, Sam, and Casey have had garden's before and I know that Karen and Sam are very good at Gardening.  Casey said he would provide most if not all of the dirt, and Bill will help us out when ever he can, too!

This is just a Pre-Post of sorts to tell you what we are up to but I will be posting more pics very soon!