5 Reasons why we love our Hotel Verde veggie garden (+ tips to start your own!)

We are proud to announce that our vegetable garden project is up and running at Hotel Verde, and we are loving the results. Here are 7 reasons why this little patch of greenery gives us so much joy:

1. It’s fresh! Growing a selection of fresh herbs and vegetables allows us to serve up amazing, fresh foods in our restaurant.
2. We feel amazing. Gardening can reduce stress, improve mood, and provide a sense of accomplishment, and our team has certainly been reaping these benefits.
3. There’s so much to learn. Gardening teaches valuable skills and encourages an understanding of where food comes from.
4. It’s good & green. Growing food reduces carbon emissions and conserves resources.
5. Amazing flavour & health-boosting nutrition! Serving seasonal produce we grow ourselves allows us to pick it at peak ripeness and serve foods with better flavour, and higher levels of vitamins and minerals. It also encourages our kitchen team to spread their wings and try new recipes with our fresh ingredients.

Keen to start growing at home? Here are a few pointers to get you thinking in the right direction.

• Climate. Consider the climate and growing conditions in your area, such as the average temperature and amount of sunlight.
• Space. Determine the amount of space you have for a garden and choose vegetables that will fit within that space.
• Personal taste. Plant vegetables that you and your family enjoy eating.
• Maturing time. Consider the length of your growing season and choose vegetables that will mature within that time frame.
• Maintenance. Some vegetables require more maintenance and attention than others, choose based on your level of commitment and experience.
• Pest & disease resistance. Choose vegetables that are resistant to pests and diseases in your area to reduce the need for chemical controls.
• Companion planting. Consider companion planting, where certain vegetables grow well together and can enhance each other’s growth and health.

Check back soon for more wonderful inspiration from the Hotel Verde team. In the meantime, we also invite you to join us for our daily walks around the premises when you visit us next. From February 2023 onwards, guests will be able to explore our carbon-neutral premises with a member of our team at 11:00 each morning, in order to learn more about how Hotel Verde is designed and operated to be Africa’s Greenest Hotel.