The
SEED Garden, Kitchen & Café has four components, a vertical garden, a
shared-use inspected commercial kitchen incubator, a café and a retail
outlet located in southeastern Hamilton County, Indiana.
The garden will raise organic vegetables, fruits and herbs that
will be used in the kitchen by food entrepreneurs to produce their
products that will be served in the café or sold in the retail outlet or
other locations. The SEED
Garden, Kitchen & Café mission is to provide the
Support and
Encouragement for
Entrepreneurial
Development (SEED)
for food entrepreneurs wanting to start a food related business or
expand an existing business. The goal is to provide herbs, fruits, and vegetables to be grown year round
in a controlled vertical garden environment.
The vertical garden will provide produce to the food
entrepreneurs who use the kitchen. Produce
from the garden will also be served in the café or sold to
restaurateurs. The year
round vertical garden will convert warehouse space into producing
planting space. The garden contents will be determined by the demands of the food
entrepreneurs and consumers.
The produce needed to produce their product will be the focus.
Excess produce will be donated to local food pantries and
non-profit organizations so there is minimal waste.
Produce will be planted in cycles as to provide fresh produce
year round. All produce from the garden will be organic and because of a controlled environment, diseases and garden pest are virtually eliminated. This growing method gives fresher, tastier, healthier, and less expensive produce. Vegetables in the vertical garden may include carrots, radishes, cucumbers, lettuce and other salad greens, various peppers, onions, and beans. Fruits may include tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and melons. Fresh year-round herbs may include basil, cilantro, sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley, garlic, ginger, lavender, marjoram, mustards, and chives. The
kitchen will allow food entrepreneurs use of an inspected and approved
kitchen without having to incur the expenses of setting up their own
kitchen. The kitchen is an
incubator for new food entrepreneurs starting their business or by
established companies that do not need a kitchen full time.
The kitchen will provide food preparation areas and a variety of
baking and cooking equipment to be rented by its users.
Users include bakers, cake decorators, candy makers, caterers,
cooking instructors, dietitians, personal chefs, specialty food
producers, and other food related businesses.
Secure freezer and refrigerated storage areas as well as secure
dry storage areas will also be available.
A small café and retail sales area, open to the public, will allow
users to introduce and sell their products. The SEED Garden, Kitchen & Café assists and encourages new
businesses to start up and expand in the food industry, helps businesses
grow, and builds networks of businesses and industry professionals.
The SEED Garden, Kitchen & Café will also create a number of new
jobs in the community directly and indirectly. The concept of vertical gardens and shared use kitchens is not unique. The SEED Garden, Kitchen & Café is unique because it brings together all the components of a food related venture. Some users have indicated only seasonal use while others are looking for a kitchen to use on a weekly or monthly basis. Some users are only looking for a kitchen for a one-time project while others want to operate part-time businesses. A continuing source of users is anticipated as new food entrepreneurs emerge. We are looking for those who would be interested in using the kitchen, café, retail store, and incubator. Those individuals are unique and special persons who are thinking about, wanting to start, or are already in a food related business either part time or full time that lack the financial resources to outfit a complete kitchen. Those entrepreneurs can come together and share our facility and services and save time and money. We need your help to spread the word. Please tell your friends about The SEED Garden, Kitchen & Café. Please click here to contact us with your questions and comments. Then we can get together, have a cup of coffee and explore how we can help each other. |
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