NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A west Nashville retirement community is rolling up its sleeves to make sure residents eat fresh, local produce.
The vegetables are grown in the organic garden, stay on the property, and end up in the kitchen.
"This is really cool because it is our little sanctuary," Chef Brandon Frohne told Nashville's News 2 as he walked to a 3,400 square foot organic garden Wednesday afternoon.
The garden is nestled among a seven story building and huge apartment complex on property at the Park Manor Retirement Center.
"We are a bunch of chefs passionate about food, and anything we can do to build a top notch food and beverage program for this community, we are going to do it," said Frohne.
It was his passion about food that led Frohne to start the organic garden at Park Manor.
Vegetables harvested from the garden are used by the chef and his staff to prepare fresh, nutritious meals twice a day for the 90 residents at the assisted living center.
"Typically, with the senior population, their tastes diminish as they get older, so we like to use really, really fresh ingredients to kind of stimulate their palettes," he said.
The organic garden has blossomed this year thanks to the hard work of community volunteers who have spent about 20 hours a week working in the garden.
Frohne is always looking for ways to improve Park Manor's culinary operations and hopes his program is an example in the community of what can be accomplish with organic vegetables.
"There is nothing like farm fresh ingredients that are picked literally hours before it is served in a meal," Frohne said.
Park Manor is hosting a volunteer day Saturday starting at 9 a.m., in which plans will be announced for expanding the garden.
Park Manor is located on Woodmont Boulevard. For more information, visit ParkManorApts.com.
