One goal for the Hospitality Garden is to provide fresh- from -the -neighborhood vegetables to the culinary program at City Tech. Seeds have been planted in the hopes that they will produce edibles after classes start, at the end of August. Like a ballet, or souffle, so much depends on Timing.
According to the seed catalog, Striata d’ Italia needs 50 – 60 days to reach maturity; but Shellita and Dah wei poked a half dozen seeds into a few hills on June 20.              This Wednesday, just 40 days after going into the ground, these great sprawling plants have produced a pair of mature, lovely, green-stripped zukes. Apparently they thrive in the heat and humidity that wilts us.  Delicious. As are the early maturing mustard greens.
Some plants are born into greatness, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Where does Striata fall in this?
I spent a glorious morning on the rooftop at Brooklyn Navy Yard helping out in the Hospitality Garden with Professor Mark Hellermann, Shelita and Jocelyn. You can’t beat the view and it was not too hot, not too humid, the garden is thriving with the help and the dedication of the gardeners.
There is so much to see and learn on the “12th” story of Building #3. I watered the plants in their special rooftop blend soil and then I had the privilege to sprinkle ground cocoa husks around the little kale plants…we were told it is like steroids for the plants. The cocoa husks smell like chocolate and leave your hands feeling soft, as if you just put lotion on. Mast Brothers (they are chocolate manufacturers in Brooklyn) bring their “spent” cocoa husks to the garden instead of just having them go to a landfill. I was told that coffee grounds are also used and they come from a local coffee manufacturer also (Brooklyn Coffee?).
Although not ours, chickens and bees are also on the rooftop farm. They belong to Brooklyn Grange and their farmers/gardeners are always pleasant and helpful with advice and happy to share their knowledge.
I look forward to another morning on the rooftop to see how the garden grows and flourishes and various crops will end up on various meals in our Janet Lefler dining room come fall.
It has been lovely reading about Chef Hellerman’s new garden for City Tech. I’m looking forward to more missives from the rooftop, and hoping to see more pictures too. I can’t wait to read about the bounty for the Fall classes!