Sustainability
Pint Size Farm
Great Lakes Brewing Company announces its continued partnership with Hale Farm & Village in Bath, Ohio, to organically farm vegetables, herbs and flowers for use in GLBC’s Brewpub. Surrounded by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Hale Farm, which is operated by the Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS), functions as a 19th century agrarian and village community with strong educational emphasis on the history, culture and development of the Western Reserve. A fallow, historic orchard field, dubbed the "Pint Size Farm", has been transformed by GLBC into an edible, culinary landscape using centuries-old gardening techniques and modern organic agriculture including the use of spent brewer’s grain and worm castings as organic compost and fertilizer.
Pint Size Farm 2010 Progress:
In 2009, Pint Size Farm (PSF) expanded to 16,000 square feet, adding on to the 6,000 square feet cultivated in 2008. The plot features branching paths and wide large beds inspired by the gently sloping terrain of the fertile river valley. All operations at PSF are conducted under the strictest organic standards and consider at all levels the ecological role the garden plays in the delicate ecosystem of the Cuyahoga Valley. As detailed below, PSF supports the production of vegetables destined for the Brewpub and features a gathering area, or edible schoolyard, where GLBC kitchen, serving, hosting and bussing staff can gather and learn.
PSF expects its largest harvest to date in 2010. Richard Basich has been designated "Farm Chef" and will exclusively manage all farm produce used in menu specials at the Brewpub. PSF has also partnered with Sarah Hurt of "t by Sarah, Inc."; medicinal and culinary tea herbs will be crafted into teas for the Brewpub and for sale in the Gift Shop. Sarah's "Mint's da Balm" blend, which will exclusively feature all PSF herbs, will debut as the Brewpub's iced tea this summer. Lastly, thanks to Arabica Coffee Shop in Richfield, Ohio, PSF will use burlap coffee bags (normally a landfill product) for weed control.
Some exciting new crops in the 2010 lineup include Spanish pumpkins, padron peppers, San Juan melons, lemongrass and quinoa. Additional crops include:
- broccoli
- Swiss chard
- Chinese cabbage
- tuscano kale
- radishes, specialty
- cipollini "gold coin" onions
- storage yellow onions
- spring, pearl onions
- sorrel
- leeks
- butternut squash
- spaghetti squash
- acorn squash
- kabocha squash
- multi-colored watermelons
- cucumbers
- brussel sprouts
- patty pan, starship squash
- zucchini
- Anaheim chilis
- jalepenos
- purple and green eggplant
- heirloom tomatoes- orange, white, green, pink, strawberry cherry, yellow mini pear
- dill
- chives
- Greek oregano
- sweet basil
- epazote
- chervil
- lovage
Crops grown for "t by Sarah, Inc.":
- hyssop
- stevia
- chamomile
- mint
- lemon balm
- calendula
- bergamot
- skullcap
- feverfew
- nasturtium
Crops grown for Brewpub/Gift Shop decoration:
- amaranth
- sunflowers, many varieties
- statice
- cosmos
- pincushion flower
- zinnia
- African marigold
- false Queen Anne's lace
- bachelor button
- Indian paint brush
- poppies
- daisy and birdhouse gourds
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