What a Farm Looks Like
Fields, containers, warehouses, backyards, abandoned lots – all of the places in this story have one thing in common: they grow food in South Florida. And each has a different mission.
Feeding Our Community in Many Ways
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and edible South Florida hosted the fourth annual Dinner for Farmers, a progressive dinner honoring local farmers and the work they do to feed the community, in the historic Vizcaya Village Jan. 22.
Every year, in the spirit of Vizcaya's agricultural origins, the event brings together farmers and agricultural organizations that support the farms and the grow-your-own movement for dinner using produce donated by local farms. Previously, local farmers received awards determined by a panel of judges honoring their efforts in building community, tech innovations and other criteria.
This year, we chose to honor local farms who not only grow food, but serve other needs in the community. Their stories made up the cover feature of the winter 2019 issue:
Empower Farms
Cerasee Farm
Fullei Fresh
Hammock Greens
Box Greens
Green Thumbs, Healthy Bodies
The Fruitful Field
Redland Community Farm and Market
Grow2Heal at Homestead Hospital
Each received a framed copy of their story featuring the new Dinner for Farmers artwork created by artist Jesse Peterson.
Chefs, farms, mixologists and food artisans generously gave of their time and efforts to make the evening extraordinary. Grow2Heal, Hammock Greens, Seasons Fresh Farm, Taste of Redland and Vizcaya's Kitchen Garden provided produce for chefs Niven Patel and his team from Ghee, Melanie Stewart from Crown Fine Wine & Spirits, Thi Squire from Grow2Heal, Drew Thomason from Homestead Hospital, Aaron Dreilinger from Hammock Greens, Carolina Quijano from Exquisito Chocolates and mixologist Gabe Urrutia.
Photo 1: The communal table for the main course
Photo 2: Abuela Mami Coffee's Kiki Valdes and his brother Humby with Pat Mackin
Earth and Sugar Bakery and Abuela Mami Coffee served desserts and coffee. Anthology Floristry & Event Design and Unearthed Rentals handled decor, while students from Johnson & Wales University assisted the chefs in serving the guests. Bamboo plates and other disposable materials used during Dinner for Farmers were eco-friendly, supporting Vizcaya's mission of sustainability and preservation of the environment.
The Vizcaya Village is an original part of James Deering's winter estate. Sheltered under large banyan trees, the Vizcaya Village features 11 architecturally significant buildings on 12 acres. In the 1910s and 1920s, laborers, gardeners and various staff lived and worked throughout the village. Produce, along with fresh milk and eggs from the cows and chickens onsite supported a farm-to-table lifestyle. A farm stand sold surplus eggs and produce to the community.
What a Farm Looks Like
Fields, containers, warehouses, backyards, abandoned lots – all of the places in this story have one thing in common...
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