Miami Dade College’s Miami Culinary Institute and Natural Greenscape Launch Seed-To-Table Organic Garden on July 14th

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Miami Culinary Institute, the newest addition to Miami Dade College’s downtown Wolfson Campus and Natural Greenscape, are proud to announce the grand opening-harvest day of the institute’s on-site culinary garden on Thursday, July 14^th 2011 at 10 AM. The partnership aligns their mutual vision of the seed-to-table concept by building a living organic garden positioned in the heart of downtown Miami’s urban landscape. Created on approximately a one-third of an acre site, this living pantry provides the culinary enthusiasts and student chefs with a perfect blend of technology, sustainability, and world-class education.

“We incorporated distinct garden circles, each containing carefully selected vegetables, greens, flowers, and herbs surrounded by a lush backdrop of tropical fruit trees, plants, and edible flowering vines”

The unique garden design by Natural Greenscape welcomes students and visitors into its inspirational ambiance via a walking path that extends past intimate picnic tables and benches. “We incorporated distinct garden circles, each containing carefully selected vegetables, greens, flowers, and herbs surrounded by a lush backdrop of tropical fruit trees, plants, and edible flowering vines,” says Gabriele Marewski Lead Designer for Natural Greenscape. Focused on providing a stimulating yet soothing environment, this greenscape seeks to inspire a deep relationship between the culinary students and the source of their ingredients, while creating a vibrant and fresh backyard pantry for the institute’s instructional kitchens and on-site restaurant.

The organic edible garden supports the Miami Culinary Institute Director John Richards’s vision to build community, conscience, and culture at the core of culinary education. “Fresh thinking can change the world,” says Richards. This garden, and the collaborative team bringing it to fruition, articulate Miami Culinary Institute’s educational curriculum and entrepreneurial spirit through a strategically designed and executed ecosystem of sustainable plantings. In accordance with certified organic farming methods the institute is committed to a soil-to-soil program by recycling waste and appropriate refuse into nutrient-rich compost that will be returned to the garden to condition and fertilize the soil, creating a truly self-sustaining environment.

Gabriele Marewski will teach a series of classes on the culinary garden as part of Miami Culinary Institute’s Enthusiasts Program. Upcoming program details can be found at http://www.MiamiDadeCulinary.com.

About Natural Greenscape

Natural Greenscape (http://www.NaturalGreenscape.com) is a South Florida eco-friendly organization rooted in organic farming and edible landscapes. The company is the brainchild of two friends – Gabriele Marewski of Paradise Farms (http://www.ParadiseFarms.net), a respected organic farmer and Diane Sugimoto, a CPA and business strategist. Together, they have assembled an expert team of professionals who share their passion for an environmentally sustainable and socially conscious relationship with the world. Through the visionary talents of Natural Greenscape’s gardening specialists, they provide a variety of organic and eco-sensitive products, reliable installation and service, and ongoing educational opportunities for commercial and residential customers.

About the Miami Culinary Institute

A front-runner in the seed-to-table movement; Miami Culinary Institute is the first public culinary school to install and integrate a farm fresh garden into its core curriculum. The institute is housed in a Leed certified building and offers a comprehensive curriculum centered on cuisine and food innovation, top quality food and beverage enthusiast programs, and customized professional development courses for students and educational partners around the globe. Featuring a professionally run restaurant, organic food lab, top-of-the-line instructional kitchens, and food and wine demonstration studios, Miami Dade College’s rich history will continue to take root in South Florida’s educational landscape.