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"Planting Seeds in the New Year"
January 4, 2012
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Dear Gardening Bug,
How did you spend your New Year's Eve? I spent mine planting seeds ... 864 of them, to be exact. For me it was a symbolic and very exciting activity. You see, we are getting ready to launch into a whole new venture in 2012: The Farm at Rockledge Gardens!
You might say it all started in 2010 when Kevin and I took a "Behind the Seeds" tour at The Land pavilion at Epcot. Tucked in amidst all of the elaborate hydroponic systems was a very simple vertical tower for hydroponic vegetable production. We have spent this past year researching this system in depth, attending classes and visiting other hydroponic farms. And we are now ready to start our own hydroponic vegetable farm!
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The Farm at Rockledge Gardens
Our goal is to produce enough fresh vegetables to stock a farm market here at Rockledge Gardens. We will use natural methods for growing this food, with no harmful pesticides or chemicals. Our plants will be grown in a sterilized medium of coconut fiber and vermiculite, which will allow for the distribution of the nutrient-rich water.
This method of farming uses only 10% of the water that conventional farming uses. It's a very clean and efficient method of farming, and the end product is absolutely delicious and nutritious!
The farm will be located across U.S. 1 in our growing facility. Over the next few weeks you will be able to watch the progress, as we install the towers, commence the planting, and hopefully, around the middle of March, begin harvesting!
 Recently while we were touring another farm in the process of researching ours, I became teary-eyed as I thought of my father. Before he started Rockledge Gardens more than 50 years ago, my dad got his start in Florida farming cabbages in St. Augustine. It seems that we're now coming full circle. I know my dad would be very excited about this new venture and this modern, environmentally sustainable method of farming.
Right: Harry Witte, in the early days of Rockledge Gardens. Above: Laying the ground cloth at The Farm at Rockledge Gardens; Kevin at the irrigation control panel; planting seeds; the organized seeds; our new overalls. See more photos of The Farm at Rockledge Gardens.
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 Introducing Farmer Diana
"My main objective in work and life is to successfully learn the most efficient way possible to grow food that will benefit my family and community, therefore encouraging our current and future generations to sustain health, vitality and happiness."
Needless to say, when we decided we needed to hire extra help for our new venture, Diana was a natural choice. Her experience in farming includes growing herbs and vegetables in North Carolina, helping to run a farmer's market, and working with restaurants to provide locally grown produce. We are very pleased to welcome Diana to our Rockledge Gardens family!
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The First Sprouts!
When we first came in yesterday (Tuesday) morning, all our energy was focused on cold protection. We were quickly formulating our plan of action for moving tender plants into the greenhouse and warehouse, and deciding what needed to be covered up. NOT exactly our favorite kind of day!
So you can imagine my joy and delight when I passed by our seed trays and saw that our first sprouts had emerged. In just three days, the arugula had developed their first tiny leaves! Can you spot them in the photo below?
Farming is certainly a risky business; there are so many elements that are simply beyond our control. However, the benefits seem to far outweigh the risks, and we are truly looking forward to the challenges and the rewards. We hope you will enjoy the venture as well!
We wish you all the best in this New Year. May you sow your very own seeds of health and joy!
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See you in the garden,
Theresa & Kevin
phone: 321-636-7662 |
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Rockledge Gardens "Quick Links"
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FREE packet of seeds with your purchase of $10 or more
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| Please present coupon. Click here for printable version, or if you don't have a printer, mention coupon FS011412. Coupon good until January 14, 2012. Limit one per Gardening Bug.
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