Bates' Hilltop Troqué Garden is an eco-market garden situated on 11.5 acres of land consisting of 9000 square feet of raised beds and 5088 square feet of high tunnels all working towards deriving a comfortable subsistence from the smallest area of soil.
As a eco-market garden all production is sustainable and chemical free, the soil is fed to raise earth worms that produce castings five times richer in soil nutrients than the soil in which they live. To produce worms the soil needs lots of organic matter and micro-organisms to feed them. So a lot of mulch and cover crops are used to feed the soil so it can feed the plant. Compost tea is used to boost the microbes needed to break down the organic matter. Annual soil tests keep track of whats going on.
The end result is Nutrient Dense produce which is tastier and 1500 mi fresher than store bought produce. Not to mention, Nutrient Dense produce stays fresher longer! A testimonial from a tomato customer all the way in Houston, TX reports that she has kept Bates' Hilltop Troqué Garden tomatoes in good eating condition for 30-40 days with them just setting on her concrete counter tops.
Public Service Announcement: Please be kind to your homegrown tomatoes and do not put them in the refrigerator. Unless you HAVE to have them cold to eat, the refrigerator will ruin the flavor.
As a eco-market garden all production is sustainable and chemical free, the soil is fed to raise earth worms that produce castings five times richer in soil nutrients than the soil in which they live. To produce worms the soil needs lots of organic matter and micro-organisms to feed them. So a lot of mulch and cover crops are used to feed the soil so it can feed the plant. Compost tea is used to boost the microbes needed to break down the organic matter. Annual soil tests keep track of whats going on.
The end result is Nutrient Dense produce which is tastier and 1500 mi fresher than store bought produce. Not to mention, Nutrient Dense produce stays fresher longer! A testimonial from a tomato customer all the way in Houston, TX reports that she has kept Bates' Hilltop Troqué Garden tomatoes in good eating condition for 30-40 days with them just setting on her concrete counter tops.
Public Service Announcement: Please be kind to your homegrown tomatoes and do not put them in the refrigerator. Unless you HAVE to have them cold to eat, the refrigerator will ruin the flavor.