Photo by Marie Freeman
Our organic gardens are filled with flowers, herbs, vegetables, and native plants...
| The Mast Farm Inn vegetable and flower gardens have been organically grown since the summer of 1997. We have chosen to grow without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides for a variety of reasons. Primarily, we are aware that the use of chemicals on agriculture is damaging both to human populations as well as to all other life around us. Photo by Marie Freeman. |
| Secondly, with the use of organic practices, including raised beds and companion plantings, we have created mini ecosystems in the garden that are full of animal and plant diversity. Our soil is healthy and therefore our plants are as well, and we are able to serve the freshest and highest quality food to our guests. Photo by Marie Freeman. |
| Our vegetable garden and berry orchard encompass approximately one-quarter of an acre. In them, we grow a wide variety of primarily heirloom and open pollinated plants including such staples as lettuce, spinach, carrots, peas, beets, basil and other herbs, raspberries, tomatoes, beans, squash, and potatoes. We also have a famous rhubarb patch and flowers galore throughout the garden and the rest of the grounds. Photo by Marie Freeman. |
| The main strategy we use in growing organically is creating healthy soil. By having healthy soil, beautiful inviting flowers and lots of variety, we attract a wide array of life to the garden: frogs, birds, tons of worms, and may insects, both good and bad. Because the gardens are healthy, we rarely have bad insect infestations. Photo by George Gardner. |
| Guests at the Inn and passersby are more than welcome to tour the garden. Many folks swing by asking questions and gathering ideas. In a recent summer, the Inn and grounds were featured on a tour to benefit the Daniel Boone Native Gardens, hosted by the Boone Area Garden Clubs. Photo by George Gardner. |
| Many guests at the restaurant also wander through the garden after a meal. All of the herbs and vegetables make their way into meals at the Inn. Our salads are made from garden grown greens when in season and many of our specials revolve around the harvests of other vegetables. Photo by George Gardner. |
| By focusing some of our efforts towards growing safe and healthful food, we hope to bring positive change into our local community of Valle Crucis, and beyond to the homes of all our guests. Photo by Marie Freeman. |
 | Look for this special photograph by Marie Freeman from our 2000 garden on our own bottled spring water, available at the Inn. |
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