Tea-In-The-Garden at Fruitful Fields, Pompano, Fla.

How would you like to attend a fundraiser set in a six-acre garden? That's exactly what the Fruitful Field Community Garden arranged for a hundred or so people with their Tea-In-The-Garden event this past February. Along with fundraiser speeches there were garden tours, finger sandwiches, and chocolate tastings.

Table at Tea In The Garden Fundraiser, The Fruitful Field
Community Garden, Pompano Beach, Fla. 

"Would you like some hot water for your tea bag?" Maria, my table hostess asked. I was seated at one of the colorfully decorated tables, on the far side of the garden, near the United Methodist Church.

Kevin "Flavio" Sloat, The Fruitful Field Executive Director and founding member, stood up and introduced the theme to this year's fundraiser: grow, gather, give.

Steve Werthman, HOPE South Florida Director of Program Development, talked about gathering. He gave an inspiring speech on local food trends, Florida community, and what the Fruitful Field meant to him.

Sloat talked about giving by first thanking everyone for buying a ticket, adding the money would be put to good use. He spoke about past Tea-In-The-Garden fundraisers and how the contributions were used for the garden.

Sloat also spoke about the 2012 funding goals and request list: money to hire two part-time interns and a professional consultant ($12,000); money to buy more storage space for rain water capture ($2000); money to promote the Fruitful Field to the public, through seminars and other activities ($1000).

In keeping with the give theme. Everyone that attended got a gift bag and a package of seeds. Each packet contained several varieties of sunflower seeds. The idea was to plant the seeds either at home or in the Fruitful Field Garden and then watch the diverse mix grow together.

Fruitful Fields Community Garden started three years ago to help the homeless children, at the Parkway United Methodist Church's soup kitchen, get fresh fruit and vegetables into their diets.

Some money was collected on the day but more is still needed for the Fruitful Field Community Garden to continue. To find out how you can help go to http://thefruitfulfield.org/

 

Schnebly's Beer: Tropical Fruit Meets Hops

Schnebly Redland's Winery, Homestead, branched out this year into beer brewing. But their brews come with a tropical twist just like their wines. They infuse their beers with tropical fruits like guava and mango.

Big Rod Ale, Schnebly Redland's Winery and Brewery,
Homestead, Fla.

On a recent trip with a friend, I got to take an $8 tropical tasting tour of: coconut, mango, passion fruit, and guava beer. We paid an extra $10 for a souvenir pint glass.

Big Rod Ale in front and Shark Attack in back, Schneblys
Redland's Winery and Brewery, Homestead, Fla.

The Big Rod Ale made with European hops and coconut was a delightful start to our tour. It had a nice toasted coconut flavor followed by strong hops after two to three sips.

Next was Shark Attack made with mango and European hops. It was a smooth, ruby colored beer. Unfortunately the mango flavor got lost in the brew. But it was still a good comfort-food/drink.

Passion Fruit IPA at the front, and Gator Tail Ale in back,
Schnebly's Winery and Brewery,
Homestead, Fla.

The Passion Fruit IPA beer was made with American citrus hops and passion fruit. It was pale in color like a wheat beer and had a very perfume like citrus taste upfront. It had a strong bitter finish and aftertaste. My friend did not mind this but I found too bitter.

The last type, Gator Tail Ale, was made with English hops and guava. It was the closest in style to an Irish Red. It had an earthy, chocolate, coffee flavor. It would go really well with meat dishes.This was a favorite.

Our bartender, Mauricio Mejia, asked what type of beer we wanted in the souvenir pint glass. We chose coconut because it was the most unusual.

If you find yourself in the Homestead area of Florida, drop into Schnebly Redland's Winery and Brewery. And if Mauricio is there, make sure you take a tasting tour with him, he is very knowledgeable when it comes to all things beer.

They are located at 30205 S.W. 217 Ave., Homestead, FL 33030
Phone 888-717-WINE

Higher Than Fair-Trade Coffee at Cool Beans Boquete Coffee Shop

I was not aware that there were higher purchasing standards for coffee than Fair-Trade. I dropped by Cool Beans Boquete Coffee shop in Ft. Myers, Florida, in mid-April and found out more.

Sherry Brennaman, the daughter of the owners, told me often companies that pay Fair-Trade prices are still paying very little money.

Her parents visited the high mountains Boquete area of Panama, over two years ago, to see how coffee was grown. They discovered several farms paying above average wages (higher than Fair-Trade), and sponsoring educational programs for their Ngobe Bugle Indian workers.

Her parents were so impressed they decided to open a coffee shop featuring shade grown coffee from this region of Panama.

When Brennaman found out I was not local to the area she gave me a web contact for the coffee at www.geishacoffee.com

Unfortunately, after just two years, the business closed their doors on April 21.