Herb garden coming to Main Street

There’s a fresh herb garden coming to Lakewood Ranch Main Street this Saturday.

USF Culinary Innovation Lab Chef Joe Askren said the USF Sarasota-Manatee Edible Garden will teach USF College of Hospitality & Technology Leadership students how to tend to a garden on a seasonal basis and keep it sustainable.

“Using sustainability practices improves the nutritional content of the food we eat in our homes and in our restaurants,” Askren said. “Also, it is more economical to use the resources of your own backyard and reduces the carbon footprint. Things our food management students will learn include sourcing all natural foods and using recycling and sustainable water removal methods. It is important for our students to grasp this concept as they are our future restaurant and hospitality industry leaders.”

The Observer Media Group is the presenting sponsor of the garden that’s being planted Saturday in front of the USF Sarasota-Manatee Culinary Innovation Lab, 8130 Lakewood Ranch Main St. Local farms and chefs are partners in the new garden, including Echo Farms, Gulf Coast Farms and Sweetgrass Farms.

Herbs to be planted Saturday include collards, callalo, pumpkin, arugula, spinach, dill, arugula, kale, okra, chives and assorted other herbs. |

For more information on the herb garden, check www.yourobserver.com for updates and pick up a copy of next week’s East County Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].