Sunday, September 8, 2013

Taste History coordinated Student Volunteers who Sowed first Planting at the Urban Farm Project


As a community service project, the popular non-profit food tour Taste History adopted the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-planting that was held on the first Saturday in September 2013. 
Students volunteers  from American Heritage School and the National Honor Society at Palm Beach Lakes High School raking the soil at the Urban Farm for the new harvest.  Students volunteered for the first planting at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach.  Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.
The seeds were sowed at the Urban Farm with sweat equity from student volunteers from Palm Beach and Broward Counties representing the American Heritage School of Boca/Delray in West Delray Beach; the National Honor Society at Palm Beach Lakes High School in West Palm Beach; and Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach


Student members of the National Honor Society at Palm Beach Lakes High School carry soil for the re-harvesting of the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach. Students volunteered for the first planting at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach.  Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.
 
The students tilled the soil and helped to usher in the re-harvesting season with the first planting at the Urban Farm. They raked, shoveled, pulled weeds, laid soil and planted seeds. It was an invaluable educational experience for students who were exposed to the agriculture,  growing organic fruits and vegetables and they learned about the Slow Food movement.  Taste History's re-planting project has also joined First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign to fight childhood obesity. The teachable mission of that campaign involves creating community gardens or urban farms.

Student members of the National Honor Society at Palm Beach Lakes High School lay the soil for the re-harvesting of the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach. Students volunteered for the first planting at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach.  Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.
The Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach is operated by the non-profit Boynton Beach Community Caring Center which runs the farm-to-table eatery the Secret Garden Café. The fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in the Urban Farm services the café. From there, the organic farm provisions are used for farm-to-fork cuisines created by local chefs and bakers who are members of the Center’s Culinary Incubator Program.   The Secret Garden Café opened in 2008, the Urban Farm was established in 2009 and in 2010 the Senior Veggie Mobile was developed with the purpose of also delivering the fruits and vegetables grown in the Urban Farm to physically limited and economically challenged senior citizens.



Student from American Heritage School of Boca/Delray help to lay soil for the new crop season at the Urban Farm. Students volunteered for the first planting at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach.  Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.


Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Preparing to plant. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

The Urban Farm and Secret Garden Café in downtown Boynton Beach are highlights on the Taste History Culinary Tour where tour guests experience the Urban Farm followed by tastings and cooking demos in the café infused with fruits, vegetables and herbs from the Urban Farm. 
'Farmer' Sherry Johnson at the Urban Farm guided students on the re-harvesting process at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

'Farmer' Sherry Johnson at the Urban Farm guided students on the re-harvesting process at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.
The "farm-walk."  Tamping down the soil for the new crop planting at the Urban Farm. 'Farmer' Sherry Johnson at the Urban Farm guided students on the re-harvesting process at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Student from American Heritage School of Boca/Delray tilling the soil at the Urban Farm for its new harvest.Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.  

National Honor Society student from Palm Beach Lakes High School tilling the soil for the re-planting at the Urban Farm. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Students from American Heritage School of Boca/Delray cultivating the soil for the new harvest at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

National Honor Society Ssudent from Palm Beach Lakes High School tilling the soil for the re-planting at the Urban Farm. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.
National Honor Society student from Palm Beach Lakes High School preparing the soil at the Urban Farm. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

National Honor Society Students from Palm Beach Lakes High School tilling the soil for the re-planting at the Urban Farm. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

National Honor Society student from Palm Beach Lakes High School  volunteering for the re-planting at the Urban Farm. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Student volunteers tilling the soil for the re-planting at the Urban Farm. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Student volunteers tilling the soil for the re-planting at the Urban Farm. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.
Urban farms represent a rising agricultural movement of returning to better nutrition and taste by growing foods locally.

Student from Atlantic Community High School preparing the Urban Farm for its re-planting. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Student (right) from Atlantic Community High School preparing the Urban Farm for its re-planting. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Student from American Heritage School of Boca/Delray laying fresh soil for the new harvest at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Student from American Heritage School of Boca/Delray prepping the soil for the new harvest at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

A friend of the farm, the worm on fresh soil at the Urban Farm. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.
Vegetable seedlings for the harvesting at the Urban Farm in Downtown Boynton Beach. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013.

Sowing the seeds at the Urban Farm. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013

The re-planting volunteers.Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013

Students from American Heritage School of Boca/Delray Beach with Lori J. Durante (center) Executive Tour Director of the Taste History Culinary Tours.
“Volunteering for the re-planting of the non-profit Urban Farm in Boynton Beach was a joyful opportunity to connect with the earth, support a local farm and give back to the community,” says Lori J. Durante, Executive Tour Director of the Taste History Culinary Tours.

Following the first planting in the Urban Farm, a brunch was prepared for the student volunteers.  

The Secret Garden Café prepared a hot brunch for the student volunteer farm workers. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013

Chef Arthur of the Secret Garden Café prepared a hot brunch for the student volunteer workers. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013 

The Secret Garden Café prepared a brunch for the student volunteer farm workers. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013

The Secret Garden Café prepared a brunch for the student volunteer farm workers. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013

Toast and the Secret Garden Cafe's house made marmalade were served for the brunch hosted for the student volunteer farm workers. The Secret Garden Café prepared a hot brunch for the student volunteer farm workers. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013  
Brunch in the patio at the Secret Garden Café. The Secret Garden Café prepared a hot brunch for the student volunteer farm workers. Taste History adopted the Urban Farm with the purpose of coordinating volunteers for its re-harvesting on the first Saturday in September 2013
Urban Farm Re-Planting Project makes the news:
"Students dig in to help..." in the Neighborhood Post of The Palm Beach Post. Click here to read.

Click here to read cover news story in Boynton Forum of the Sun-Sentinel.

To read the Society Sun-Sentinel ...."get down and dirty..."editorial click here.

Click here for the "...goes a-planting" blog in the Dish of Palm Beach Daily News (aka 'Shiny Sheet').

Click here to read Amy Wood's blog about the Urban Farm re-planting.


The Urban Farm Re-Planting Project has been selected Best Bets by The Palm Beach Post. Click here.

The Taste History Culinary Tours of Historic Palm Beach County program is a food eating, art and history experience offered by the non-profit Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History (MLFH) and sponsored by Macy’s.  This culinary tour consists of travels to historic Lake Worth and Lantana on the second Saturday of each month; and historic Delray Beach and Boynton Beach on the third and fourth Saturdays of each month, year-round at 11am plus private tours are offered during the weekday. The tour partners include family-owned eateries and bakeries; and non-profit cultural centers highlighting local artists.

The Taste History Culinary Tours of Historic Palm Beach County premiered in October 2011 as the first food tour of its style in Palm Beach County, Florida. Originally, this gastronome tour program was designed to visit historic Delray Beach and Boynton Beach but when the first seven-months sold-out it was expanded to offer more dates and in April 2012 to include historic Lake Worth and Lantana, Florida. As a result of the inclusion of Lake Worth and Lantana, Taste History has been a leader in introducing new audiences to that city and town which has created an economic benefit for them.  In downtown Lake Worth, the featured art galleries are the Maryanne Webber Gallery, the non-profit Lake Worth Art League Gallery, and the non-profit Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery in addition to visiting restaurants for cultural eating experiences. 

Taste History incorporates a rotation of cuisine tastings representing varied cultures that are African American, Southern American, Brazilian, Caribbean, Greco-Roman, Italian, English, French, French Canadian, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, Hungarian, Turkish and Ancient Mexican along with farm-to-table and organic tastings. Taste History combines history, culture and cuisine therefore this gastronomy tour infuses food tastings with the history of the State of Florida and local area along with visits to historic buildings and art galleries.

The non-profit Taste History Culinary Tours of HistoricPalm Beach County, Florida has been designated one of the official community event partners for the State of Florida’s 500th anniversary, VivaFlorida.

The quality programming of Taste History has garnered many accolades including an “Approved” designation from the famed culinary website Tasting Table. The culinary journey visits an assortment of restaurants, markets, an urban farm, art galleries, cultural centers and historic buildings.

Taste History is sponsored, in part, by Macy’s. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Additional support for Taste History has been received from bequests from the late Patricia Ann Ravo and the late Boris & Edith Rueger.
Click here for reservation information for the Taste History Culinary Tours.


Email: tour@tastehistoryculinarytours.org
Click here for private group tour information.
To purchase tickets on-line for the Taste History Culinary Tour of Historic Palm Beach County, visit tastehistoryculinarytours.org or call 561-243-2662 or 561-638-8277. Pre-payment is required. The Taste History Culinary Tours are open to the general public on the 1st2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of each month. Private group tours are also available.

Brief Facts about Taste History:
  • Offered year-round
  • Held on the first, second, third and fourth Saturdays at 11am. Pre-payment is required
  • At least 3 to 4 locally owned and family-owned bakeries and eateries are visited for food tasting. Some cuisines may be culturally-specific.  The food portions are hearty.
  • Cultural centers or emerging art and craft shops are visited
  • Tour travels through historic neighborhoods, downtowns, main streets and off the beaten path.
  • Bus riding and 4 to 6 blocks of walking
  • Some eating experiences are standing-only. 
  • Tour is at least 3 to 4 hours
  • Food and Florida history are narrated by a guide
  • To maintain an element of surprise, each tour is different and never an exact duplication of any previous tour hosted. 
  • Private group tours are also available during the weekday
  • Pre-payment is required. Fees are inclusive
  • Tour takes place Rain or Shine.
  • Dietary Restrictions Cannot be Accommodated. Click here to read about types of foods served on the tour.  
  • Taste History is a food tasting tour, with art and history combined, and although there is some sitting it's not a sit-down luncheon but many of the food portions are hearty and most people are full by the end of the tour.

Click here to read News Media Reviews 

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 About MLFH

The Museum of Lifestyle& Fashion History (MLFH) is a non-profit 501c3 organization as designated by the IRS. MLFH was established in year 1999 in Palm Beach County, Florida. The Mission of MLFH is to offer educational programs, and history and retrospective anthropology exhibits showcasing lifestyle, cultures, people, places, fashion trends, clothes, architecture, furnishings, decorative arts, interior designs, locomotives and toys, and information about popular uses of artifacts by people/events of various periods of time. In year 2001, MLFH became the first cultural organization in Palm Beach County be to approved host traveling exhibitions from the Smithsonain Institution of Washington, D.C. In year 2004, MLFH premiered the Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach, Florida. The tours have been hugely popular and rated the Most Unique Travel Gem by AAA Travel Home & Away Magazine. The Historic Tours have hosted more than 8,000 passengers. The mission of the tours is to showcase the historic cultural lifestyle, people, and places. American Express was a sponsor of the Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach in year 2007. In October 2011, MLFH premiered its newest program the Taste History Culinary Tours of HistoricPalm Beach County. The purpose of the Taste History Culinary Tours is to infuse food history, food culture, foodways and food tastings into facts about the historic districts and pioneer people of Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, and Lantana, Florida (Palm Beach County) along with highlighting art galleries, historic buildings and showcasing the contributions of early settlers. There are more than thirty culinary partners for this program that include restaurants, cafes, an urban farm, historic buildings and art galleries.


Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at more than 800 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Macy's stores and macys.com offer distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy's is known for such epic events as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks(R) and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade(R), as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Building on a 150-year tradition, Macy's helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities that make a difference in the lives of our customers.



Viva Florida 500 is a statewide initiative led by the Florida Department of State (FDOS) to highlight the 500th anniversary in 2013 of the arrival of Juan Ponce de Leὀn to La Florida. The FDOS is working very closely with several core partners and leveraging public and private partnerships with many engaged individuals and organizations at the state and grassroots level to showcase Florida’s Spanish Colonial history and the many different cultures including Native Americans that have shaped Florida and contributed to its diverse heritage.
Florida’s 500th anniversary presents a unique opportunity to strengthen tourism, spur economic development and educate the world about the state’s significant history and heritage. Viva Florida 500 is a once-in-our-lifetime opportunity to reposition and rebrand Florida by highlighting 500 years of history and unmatched cultural diversity.
This anniversary will educate children and adults worldwide about Florida’s significant “firsts” in the foundation of the United States. Viva Florida 500 will acknowledge and promote the state’s history to establish a legacy that will foster a better understanding of where we came from and inspire an even greater pride in Florida heritage. Every American should know that the nation’s identity began in Florida. From the first practice of traditions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, to the establishment of powerful economic industries like cattle ranching and citrus farming, Florida’s Spanish settlers paved the way.
By commemorating Florida’s history and heritage, Viva Florida 500 will generate new tourism opportunities on a global scale long after 2013. Commemorative activities will contribute to Florida’s unique tourism landscape – a clean, safe, family-friendly environment that appreciates the state’s cultural heritage, history and natural resources. Expanding Florida’s tourism marketing efforts to include 500 years of rich cultural diversity and history (that no other state can claim) will raise the state profile to increase resident, domestic and international travel.
By reminding the world of the state’s historic role in international trade, Viva Florida 500 will promote the state’s business-friendly environment. Viva Florida 500 will reintroduce Florida as the Gateway to the America’s and the place where the nation’s cultures first came together. Business incentives in Florida are improving, and international investment further strengthens Florida’s economy. With over 400 Spanish businesses in Florida, and the expansion of the Panama Canal in 2014, opportunities are opening up for more global business and cultural exchanges.
Spanish and Hispanic contributions to Florida in particular are deeply woven into the historic tapestry of the beautiful Sunshine State, though Florida’s cultural heritage is inextricably connected to many nations. This is passionately evident in the art, architecture, culture, cuisine, language and music shared throughout the state. Viva Florida 500 will share the distinct flavor of Florida with the nation and the world, strengthening the ties - the very old ties - between the Old and New Worlds.