tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46909871368416576112024-03-14T05:52:16.893-04:003 BOYS FARM3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-52506724679631517482015-06-16T11:54:00.003-04:002015-06-16T11:57:46.436-04:00Check out our beautiful new website: 3BoysFarm.com!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuEL6IySlBlLdAiA9V878_g5b8Q0A4S8CbLNkn6B7VO1JAhjWu3g9KHRy1kGuJReZqI51MhuAVbh4md74PqocRXTiGQejlcuKRa0lqIePs-bv7E7waB8cuUXh5FnpXCC4IyRZtGfo3QA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-16+at+11.43.33+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuEL6IySlBlLdAiA9V878_g5b8Q0A4S8CbLNkn6B7VO1JAhjWu3g9KHRy1kGuJReZqI51MhuAVbh4md74PqocRXTiGQejlcuKRa0lqIePs-bv7E7waB8cuUXh5FnpXCC4IyRZtGfo3QA/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-06-16+at+11.43.33+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Note: this ^^ is just a screenshot of our front page!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Click <a href="http://3boysfarm.com/">here</a> to visit the actual 3BoysFarm site.</i></span></div>
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Greetings, all!<br />
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3 Boys Farm is proud to announce that our gorgeous new website, <a href="http://3boysfarm.com/">3BoysFarm.com</a>, is up and running.<br />
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Many thanks to <a href="http://lifeelsewhere.co/">Norman B</a>. for all his web design help and logo-refresh; shout-outs also to Karen (who painstakingly created our beautiful and iconic veggie peace sign); to Robert, responsible for most of the photography you'll see on the site, and Deborah, our copywriter; and of course Rick Lurding, who produced, directed, and narrated <a href="http://3boysfarm.com/video/">our video</a>.<br />
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Check it out and let us know what you think in comments.<br />
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Warmly,<br />
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The 3 Boys Team3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-84476871152281612952015-04-01T13:44:00.000-04:002015-06-16T13:45:09.732-04:003 Boys Farm tomatoes on the cover of Edible Tampa Bay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW8l6yzF3BsHw-jV4JZHVDN2YnRBgYjr2kQ-iOmCFDbCtbKfqVzfRWp-8yX8d8CKBLx4gc8eTRX_D0RYaWBettKgZE8NggB9HmUbcqn4XerXv2yKZjHNh2lxP1zPOtjdOG-U3xUVayPo/s1600/3BFEdibleCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW8l6yzF3BsHw-jV4JZHVDN2YnRBgYjr2kQ-iOmCFDbCtbKfqVzfRWp-8yX8d8CKBLx4gc8eTRX_D0RYaWBettKgZE8NggB9HmUbcqn4XerXv2yKZjHNh2lxP1zPOtjdOG-U3xUVayPo/s320/3BFEdibleCover.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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3 Boys Farm is terribly proud of our organic hydroponic tomatoes.</div>
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Aren't they pretty? Delicious, too.</div>
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Here they are on the cover of the spring issue of <a href="http://edibletampabay.com/read/spring-2015/spring-2015-table-of-contents/">Edible Tampa Bay</a> magazine, which features <a href="http://edibletampabay.com/read/spring-2015/a-chef-driven-locale/">a story</a> about the lovely <a href="http://www.localegourmetmarket.com/">Locale Market</a> in downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida.</div>
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<i>Buon apetito!</i></div>
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<br />3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-1482981001964557042013-08-14T13:52:00.000-04:002013-08-14T15:40:18.061-04:003 Boys Gazpacho<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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August is the perfect time for chilled soup, don't you think? We found a great recipe for a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/05/health/gazpachos-minus-the-bread.html">no-bread gazpacho</a> in the New York Times recently, and we decided to make it our own (practically a law itself when it comes to things like gazpacho, salsa, and relishes, which unlike cakes and bread are quite flexible, calling out for experimenting and using what's fresh and available). For one thing, we doubled the quantities, and as we wanted a silky texture, we completely omitted the celery, which we felt would make the soup a little too fibrous. We also sautéed the garlic rather than using it raw, which we felt would have overwhelmed all the other flavors. And we used lemon-infused olive oil, the lovely, bright flavor of which we're hopelessly addicted to in the 3 Boys kitchen; you can substitute plain extra-virgin olive oil, of course.<br />
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The results, shown above, were brilliant (if we say so ourselves): it's a cool, spicy, and extremely "more-ish" gazpacho. And it's quite substantial--certainly it's filling enough to be a main course at lunch. If you're making it as an appetizer, we wouldn't recommend serving enormous bowls, or guests won't have room for your other dishes.<br />
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We will also mention that this is (obviously) a wonderfully healthy and reasonably low-fat, low-calorie dish. Enjoy!<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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4 slices of a large Vidalia onion<br />
4 pounds of <i>3 Boys Farm</i> heirloom tomatoes (we like a blend of traditional red and a few Sungold cherry tomatoes tossed in for extra sweetness) coarsely chopped<br />
6 fat garlic cloves, coarsely chopped<br />
About 1 cup of <i>3 Boys Farm</i> basil leaves, coarsely chopped<br />
4 tablespoons lemon-infused olive oil (plus a bit more for sautéing the garlic)<br />
3 tablespoons Champagne or white-wine vinegar<br />
1 heaping teaspoon Hungarian sweet paprika<br />
A scant 1/2 cup ice water (to thin the soup a little)<br />
Sea salt<br />
Fresh black pepper (have the pepper mill handy)<br />
1 cup of very finely chopped cucumber<br />
1 cup very finely chopped green bell pepper (we like the dice quite small, as you can see in the photo)<br />
Optional: crispy plantain chips--vertically sliced, if possible--for garnish (they're available in the Latino section of most Florida supermarkets)<br />
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Put the onion slices in a bowl, cover them with some cold water, and add a few drops of vinegar. Let them sit for five minutes, then drain and rinse them with cold water. Cut into smaller pieces.<br />
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Sauté the garlic in a little oil over very low heat until it's soft and caramelized. Don't allow it to brown! Set aside to cool.<br />
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Then combine the tomatoes, cooled sautéed garlic (along with its oil), onion, the four tablespoons of lemon olive oil and three of vinegar; the paprika, ice water, and a good pinch of salt in a blender. Puree everything until it's smooth (unless you have an enormous blender, you'll probably need to divide everything up and do this in two batches). Add the basil leaves and puree until they appear as finely distributed throughout the soup as you wish (we like to see fine but visible green specks). If you've done two batches, as we did, now combine the two purees in a large glass bowl and mix well. Taste your puree and then add some ground pepper and more salt, if necessary (don't overdo the salt, of course). Cover and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours to allow the flavors to blend.<br />
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Toss the chopped cucumber and green pepper together in a plastic storage bowl. Season this, too, with a little salt and pepper, and refrigerate.<br />
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When you're ready to serve the gazpacho, ladle it into chilled bowls, then place a couple of heaping spoonfuls of the chopped cucumber/green-pepper mix in the middle. Arrange one or two plantain chips on top. Yield: approximately six main course-sized or eight generous appetizer-sized servings.3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-42757932819410339942013-05-14T10:14:00.002-04:002013-05-14T10:29:32.726-04:003 Boys Farm's Robert Tornello on WMNF's Sustainable Living<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv-qnvczSuh__jkR3V2ob2qedPV6vJhWcoV5p6btdy1uaD1oAOUUq_NIb0CdY3bz-4FMSyk9NvYqlF1RvgLMUetBDsfRTwsd7WcF_WYyIdhTRnTiMg9RSqxvoXzetNRvVj_X9385mtKI/s1600/roberttornellosptimes2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv-qnvczSuh__jkR3V2ob2qedPV6vJhWcoV5p6btdy1uaD1oAOUUq_NIb0CdY3bz-4FMSyk9NvYqlF1RvgLMUetBDsfRTwsd7WcF_WYyIdhTRnTiMg9RSqxvoXzetNRvVj_X9385mtKI/s320/roberttornellosptimes2010.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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If you're a fan of WMNF Community Radio, you've probably already listened to Robert talking eco-farming, as he's a regular on Norman B's Life Elsewhere radio show (every Monday at 9 a.m.).<br />
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This Monday, Robert was further honored to be invited to talk hydroponics on the venerable Sustainable Living with Jon Butts program, which airs Mondays at 10 a.m.<br />
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Novice gardeners and pro-level growers alike will enjoy this one. You can listen to the fascinating discussion via <a href="http://www.wmnf.org/programs/392">Sustainable Living's page on WMNF</a>. The direct link to Monday's show isn't posted as of this writing, but you can easily access it by going to <a href="http://www.wmnf.org/programs/392">the page</a>, and in the Archives: Select a Date box, choose May 13.<br />
<br />3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-17070089754134025062013-02-01T08:59:00.004-05:002013-02-01T08:59:54.075-05:00Robert Tornello and 3 Boys Farm are featured in Blu Tampa Bay magazine Our latest media appearance: in <b><i>Blu Tampa Bay</i></b>, a beautiful new luxury lifestyle magazine. <a href="http://www.blutampabay.com/0113farm/3boys.html">Check it out</a>!<br />
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Here's just one of the great photos they took of our greenhouses (and Robert):<br />
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3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-71176378531962544792013-02-01T08:42:00.003-05:002013-02-01T09:02:09.106-05:003 Boys Farm at The Sysco "Savings Speedway" Food ShowWe were honored to be invited to Sysco's annual show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. It was great meeting some of Florida's most talented chefs and showing off our gorgeous produce!<br />
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Below, Sales Director Michael Bresnahan mans the 3 Boys display:<br />
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<br />3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-36263499522892602192013-01-25T08:41:00.000-05:002013-01-25T18:07:10.197-05:00A Warm New Year's Welcome to Sysco<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Another new tomato crop begins</i></div>
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3 Boys Farm is honored to welcome <a href="http://www.sysco.com/">Sysco</a> to the growing family of discriminating customers who recognize the value of organically and sustainably grown produce, and who appreciate the superb, unequalled flavor of the tomatoes, lettuces, herbs, and vegetables that we grow year-round at 3 Boys Farm.<br />
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We look forward to a successful and growing relationship. <i>Benevenuti!</i>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-90687296080031881502012-12-16T09:16:00.004-05:002012-12-16T09:17:54.732-05:00Feasts of Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The crew at 3 Boys Farm extend a <span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>warm holiday welcome</b></span> to our newest customers:<br />
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<a href="http://www.emerilsrestaurants.com/emerils-orlando"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Emeril's Orlando</b></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/attractions/canada-pavilion/">The Canada Pavilion at Epcot, Walt Disney World</a> </b></span></div>
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We're honored and excited! Be sure to look for 3 Boys Farm organic greens, tomatoes, herbs, and more when you visit these wonderful establishments.</div>
3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-25633404082359785712012-12-06T09:25:00.005-05:002012-12-06T09:57:39.925-05:00Lettuce Celebrate!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the holidays approach, Robert and the crew at 3 Boys Farm want to express their appreciation to<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">loyal customers</span></b> </span>for their continued support, and to say "Welcome!" to <span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>new friends</b></span> who are joining the tasty, healthful world of farming re-imagined. And, of course, to wish everyone peace and joy--now, and in the year to come.<br />
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Speaking of which, <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">may 2013 be a prosperous, magic-filled year for all!</span></b><br />
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In no particular order, warm wishes and sincere thanks go out to our colleagues at:<br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Centerplate</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Rosen Hotels</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Loews Resorts</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Hyatt Resorts</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Restaurant Partners</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">The Great Irish Pub</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">The Walt Disney World Company...</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">...and all who buy produce from 3 Boys Farm</span></b> and support our unique, innovative, and sustainable methods of growing organic hydroponic foods.<br />
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<br />3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-65223167381105585492012-10-27T08:03:00.000-04:002012-10-27T08:03:00.819-04:00Come on down to Downtown St. Pete: 3 Boys Farm's got the goods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb4pKSHGNhA8T6_ynqrR6k0xzJKg86Ky6R_dySiM4u7DAOMRQQgaTyOugQpsRjrrhiu_TbK8xYsIyv_7IwuTFzMtlZHH9QEs72hucddZO0cXR-AVB53gzVPpi1shhB7mLviQ9uHPlWCQ/s1600/3bffarmersmarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb4pKSHGNhA8T6_ynqrR6k0xzJKg86Ky6R_dySiM4u7DAOMRQQgaTyOugQpsRjrrhiu_TbK8xYsIyv_7IwuTFzMtlZHH9QEs72hucddZO0cXR-AVB53gzVPpi1shhB7mLviQ9uHPlWCQ/s320/3bffarmersmarket.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Deborah and Tyler--and lots of delicious organic hydroponic lettuces, tomatoes, and herbs--will be at the<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><a href="http://www.saturdaymorningmarket.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">Saturday Market</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> today in downtown St. Petersburg (corner of 1st Avenue S. and 1st Street SE), between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">See you there!</span>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-8353816368903827152012-10-17T10:38:00.000-04:002012-10-17T10:39:44.412-04:003 Boys Farm now at St.Petersburg's Saturday Market!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb7t7L1a_9FMhVq1VcnTwuUBKqtFv82ipjM8SJttInRaEQqlOLEbWWmqdaZL0uDQdrm9v5BLjt2OOFbelyJT08r1Pc3jv8rt6nn76YZAqr6bYuTht69cL1FvlKlqHjEsy9vq5gSeME2o/s1600/3boysfarmlettuces3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb7t7L1a_9FMhVq1VcnTwuUBKqtFv82ipjM8SJttInRaEQqlOLEbWWmqdaZL0uDQdrm9v5BLjt2OOFbelyJT08r1Pc3jv8rt6nn76YZAqr6bYuTht69cL1FvlKlqHjEsy9vq5gSeME2o/s320/3boysfarmlettuces3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At long last, the weather is gorgeous--our fall and "winter" seasons are why so many people live here (or at least, why they come south for a few months).<br />
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And by popular demand, we're now offering select 3 Boys Farm organic and hydroponic goodies--including several varieties of ultra-fresh lettuce, herbs (like our highly-demanded Genovese basil), and Italian heirloom tomatoes--at our booth at the <a href="http://www.saturdaymorningmarket.com/">Saturday Market</a> in downtown St. Petersburg (corner of 1st Avenue S. and 1st Street SE), between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm every Saturday.<br />
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We invite residents of the Tampa Bay area to stop by and see why local, sustainably-grown organic hydroponics are the best thing since sliced bread. (Of which, incidentally, there are plenty of delicious varieties sold by our fellow vendors at the Saturday Market.)<br />
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Come and say Hello to Tyler, Deborah (mother of the 3 Boys), and on low-homework weekends, at least one or two of the 3 Boys themselves.<br />
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And if you're out walking with a four-legged friend, we'll have plenty of fresh water and dog treats on hand.<br />
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See you on Saturday!3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-42426717251381120512012-08-10T11:47:00.000-04:002012-08-10T11:52:00.925-04:00Water, water...well, nowhere. But 3 Boys Farm can handle the drought.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2vWzBx7w_fFvsruviSwshd8m7P9TG8AwosPEYaLUe2OP5kFt8z-BjbKUGwhst47zsTvmZ4KZ-yHbgEgY6uG7cW1wuTZHP_oIV4E1YhyB9SzdCmfFykMP0_XOVzDAq9iA3SD0pozjwFw/s1600/dried_corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2vWzBx7w_fFvsruviSwshd8m7P9TG8AwosPEYaLUe2OP5kFt8z-BjbKUGwhst47zsTvmZ4KZ-yHbgEgY6uG7cW1wuTZHP_oIV4E1YhyB9SzdCmfFykMP0_XOVzDAq9iA3SD0pozjwFw/s200/dried_corn.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Drought-stressed corn <span style="font-family: inherit;">(Image: <em style="line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://secure.flickr.com/photos/70377872@N04/7684852868/" style="color: #007ca5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">CraneStation</a>/Flickr</em></span>)</span></div>
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As severe drought conditions destroy record numbers of crops and endanger yet more across the United States, farmers are understandably reassessing the bill of goods they were sold by multinational Big Biotech companies who pushed GMO (genetically modified) seeds, always promising greater yields, no matter what conditions were, no matter what was sprayed on them. The truth about those products, as usual, turns out to be much more complicated than the superficial claims dreamed up by advertising copywriters.</div>
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We're reminded of a television ad from the 1970's in which a tiara-wearing fairy goddess scolds people who've just given her a muffin slathered with margarine that she is supposed to have mistaken for real butter:</div>
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<i><b>It's not NICE to fool Mother Nature!</b></i></blockquote>
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No, it isn't. Fooling Mother Nature is also a feat that, in the long run, is pretty much impossible to pull off--something Big Ag and Big Biotech companies would do well to realize.</div>
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From Wired's Science section comes <a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/08/drought-resistant-corn/">this sobering post</a>, entitled <i>Why King Corn Wasn't Ready for the Drought</i>. Apparently, even as GMO seeds--ones designed to tolerate, say, massive applications of weedkiller or pesticide--wind up causing unintended consequences (you guessed it: they're <a href="http://www.nationofchange.org/first-super-weeds-now-super-insects-thanks-monsanto-1338362046">breeding Super-Weeds and Super-Bugs</a>), biotech companies are still trying to fool Mother Nature, creating seeds they claim will handle drought. The benefits will be limited, however, and one agricultural economist says it's because Big Biotech has not, to date, viewed drought-tolerance as a moneymaking thing into which to pour research dollars:</div>
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If they work as advertised, the varieties could be quite useful in droughts of low to moderate intensity. Their utility in the crucible that much of the central and western United States is expected to become, however, will likely be limited. </blockquote>
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It’s a far cry from traits like Bt pesticide production and Roundup herbicide tolerance. Those are powerful and ubiquitous, the agricultural analogues of blockbuster drugs, and have dominated company research efforts. “They are incredibly large products, and that’s why the companies have emphasized them,” said agricultural economist Greg Graff of Colorado State University. </blockquote>
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<b>Given the costs of developing new products, agriculture companies, just like drug companies, focus on those with the biggest payoffs. As for drought tolerance, said Graff, “We haven’t been trying that hard for that long.</b>”
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As you know, 3 Boys Farm is a largely hydroponic facility--we are, by definition, water-users.<br />
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But--and this is important--we never try to fool Mother Nature. We much prefer listening to her, learning from her, and working alongside her.<br />
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Which is why we grow from organic, heirloom seeds. And rather than ask <i>"What manipulations can we make to the DNA of a plant in order to make it tolerate low-water conditions?"</i> we instead think:<br />
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What can we do to ensure the water we DO get from our environment is put to its highest use? </blockquote>
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Can we significantly reduce the amount of water we drain from the earth by capturing it from the sky, and saving it? </blockquote>
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How can we prevent wasting water?</blockquote>
For answers to those questions, take a peek at the video at the top of the sidebar.--><br />
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The solution to growing food in dry conditions does not lie within lab-altered seeds, especially given that such seeds then become the patented properties of corporate interests, ones that don't always align with human interests.<br />
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The solution to growing food for a growing world is to maximize yields within available resource limits. And you do this by combining simple, time-tested conservation methods (like rainwater catchment) with modern materials, such as light-filtering fabrics and solar-powered cooling systems.<br />
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Just as we've been doing at 3 Boys Farm.3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-40949494402427987532012-08-03T12:40:00.000-04:002012-08-03T12:40:21.980-04:00Demand for locally-grown produces continues to rise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbozEVfCSeQseT2cNtyU0PXV1J54dPjQ1Opg-zNGGynhYj2vD5WsAjaVa_xkndqX45JVOj2HuXf3EMhhztALm4vgeJ3h52aUmC4VbZz8Fm-6uS9ArOGJbiUMwW5sIJjOLQYcVnipE7jqo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-03+at+12.17.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbozEVfCSeQseT2cNtyU0PXV1J54dPjQ1Opg-zNGGynhYj2vD5WsAjaVa_xkndqX45JVOj2HuXf3EMhhztALm4vgeJ3h52aUmC4VbZz8Fm-6uS9ArOGJbiUMwW5sIJjOLQYcVnipE7jqo/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-03+at+12.17.17+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The number of American farmers' markets continues to climb. (Photo <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/03/2929747/apnewsbreak-number-of-us-farmers.html">via</a>.)</i></div>
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Whether it's asking their local supermarket manager to please stock more produce grown close-to-home--and thus reduce the carbon footprint associated with their dinner plates--or visiting one of a growing number of farmers' markets cropping up around the country (see what we did there?!), Americans are voting with their wallets: clearly, they appreciate the superior fresh flavor and nutritive value of vegetables that spend as little time as possible in storage and transit.<br />
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Professional chefs are leading the way, too. As diners become more selective about the food they put on their own tables, so too are they asking for local-and-fresh when they go out to eat.<br />
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Chefs have long led the way when it comes to introducing new flavors and kicking off trends in cuisine--remember when the only kind of salad one could get at a steakhouse, say, was iceberg lettuce strewn with a few tough bits of tomato and drowned in Thousand Island dressing?<br />
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Creative cooks in forward-leaning regions--particularly those blessed with both the climate and terrain that supports a strong agricultural community, like northern California--helped introduce America to the range of delicious and wildly different salad greens we take for granted these days. The "Eat Local" movement is happening in large part because professionals led the way, one baby arugula salad with Meyer lemon vinaigrette at a time. It's only logical that diners would eventually want to make those fresh, unique salads themselves--hence, <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/03/2929747/apnewsbreak-number-of-us-farmers.html">farmers' markets</a>:<br />
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"Farmers markets are a critical ingredient to our nation's food system," USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said. "These outlets provide benefits not only to the farmers looking for important income opportunities, but also to the communities looking for fresh, healthy foods."<br />
<br />After 18 years of steady increases, the number of farmers markets across the country now registered with the USDA is 7,864. In 1994, there were 1,744.
Organizations such as Slow Food, founded in 1989 to counter fast-food, junk-food lifestyles, first ignited consumer demand for fresh, local produce.</blockquote>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-41292171491372749932012-07-22T17:34:00.000-04:002012-07-22T17:34:40.287-04:00Meanwhile, back at the farm...(after the ACF Convention)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaH0g2BFqGRDQYVGCwDA_f4HmhNepnZ29YAZl3al-pY361HK1mW5ynVywV0vIeY0CntfcXsY5qAeiLzW0rpPyOobxHVEjfvwiogqi9Zbp1LUGrPuSo07vJkyS9Rawb7__tI3EtAgRnwE/s1600/3bfRainbow.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaH0g2BFqGRDQYVGCwDA_f4HmhNepnZ29YAZl3al-pY361HK1mW5ynVywV0vIeY0CntfcXsY5qAeiLzW0rpPyOobxHVEjfvwiogqi9Zbp1LUGrPuSo07vJkyS9Rawb7__tI3EtAgRnwE/s320/3bfRainbow.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Returning home inspired!</i></div>
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Sales Manager Michael Bresnahan and Robert Tornello returned home this week from a very successful industry trade show: the ACF Convention, in Orlando. <span style="background-color: white;">We were delighted to finally be able to meet the people behind the names, that is, the top professional chefs--in Florida and beyond--with whom we have been working this past year.</span></div>
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And we have to say, we were inordinately pleased to meet executive chefs from across the country who already knew about 3 Boys Farm, and who had read about our leadership in sustainable agriculture.</div>
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In addition to having made new friends--and of course realized new business for the farm, thanks to the show--Robert was asked by executive chefs in Florida to assist them with their farm-to-school programs.</div>
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We'd like to thank the local ACF chapters for inviting 3 Boys Farm to participate in this superb trade show--we will definitely be at the next Florida ACF Convention.</div>
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And finally, we want to let you know that both Michael and Robert are available, at no charge, to speak about sustainable farming at your chapter meetings. (Please contact Michael-- Mike@3BoysFarm -- to schedule this.) </div>
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<br /></div>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-28984533653473478022012-07-15T14:34:00.000-04:002012-07-15T15:52:34.607-04:003 Boys Farm at annual ACF Chefs' Convention in Orlando--Visit us today & tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsmBELEV6Wi8PwwHC7Pj-5QoJoQ9idW-3qWjDcnbDyFYnRlVaoLLiSjm4UFze9OuYjCCjkVTr80hAt2WUdh6C9IbLPJ35ZscHL9HuZusLXW50vAQWr6d9ciboholiGXMfXK0glQuJ2HA/s1600/3boysfarmtradeshow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsmBELEV6Wi8PwwHC7Pj-5QoJoQ9idW-3qWjDcnbDyFYnRlVaoLLiSjm4UFze9OuYjCCjkVTr80hAt2WUdh6C9IbLPJ35ZscHL9HuZusLXW50vAQWr6d9ciboholiGXMfXK0glQuJ2HA/s320/3boysfarmtradeshow.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Sales Manager Michael Bresnahan discussing salad and sustainability</i> </div>
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Calling all chefs: Be sure to stop by 3 Boys Farm's booth (#122) at the <span style="background-color: white;">ACF Chefs' Convention, taking place right now (and tomorrow) at the <a href="http://www.marriottworldcenter.com/">Marriot World Center</a> in Orlando, Florida.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Got greens? Why, yes we do--delicious, </span><i style="background-color: white;">living</i><span style="background-color: white;"> greens at that. Come taste for yourself!</span><br />
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<br /></div>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-78138664233180521742012-07-11T19:26:00.000-04:002012-07-11T19:26:54.154-04:00Robert Tornello & 3 Boys Farm on the cover of In The Field<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldBGNKUhVcChBb9GsjrB3pRritFx9e6ocRxr8lGG0BdEJLdKM-B48Toa-y7OjvmhShIEorBb8ruSnWQJXbvsYv_-4Lqu2i_JPpwEiZf4nx0ONewyrlV22DdN6vw9CCkp-P57lqqYyIcg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-11+at+7.19.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldBGNKUhVcChBb9GsjrB3pRritFx9e6ocRxr8lGG0BdEJLdKM-B48Toa-y7OjvmhShIEorBb8ruSnWQJXbvsYv_-4Lqu2i_JPpwEiZf4nx0ONewyrlV22DdN6vw9CCkp-P57lqqYyIcg/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-07-11+at+7.19.42+PM.png" width="249" /></a></div>
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Click <a href="http://issuu.com/inthefield/docs/hill_may12_web/1">here</a> to go to the online version of In The Field, Hillsborough County's monthly agriculture periodical. 3 Boys Farm is featured on pages 54-56.<br />
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Congrats, Robert!3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-24869544514516400042012-06-27T17:10:00.002-04:002012-07-09T22:06:31.699-04:00Organic farming in America today: A picture says a thousand words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZA3Hk3JUFWF35190Pm1oboYw2NqL55FHz7FMT_zvfE6fXE8ibHvrSMGdQH9KqLGK5xKAws-EwbJePASY5QK99qtAtbRUvL9tv7ax4goI1msjfzeLEM9DEdXuFET5htCy1lWgSSITJmU/s1600/organicGraphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZA3Hk3JUFWF35190Pm1oboYw2NqL55FHz7FMT_zvfE6fXE8ibHvrSMGdQH9KqLGK5xKAws-EwbJePASY5QK99qtAtbRUvL9tv7ax4goI1msjfzeLEM9DEdXuFET5htCy1lWgSSITJmU/s320/organicGraphic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>(Click to enlarge)</i></div>
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At 3 Boys Farm, we're obviously 100%-PRO-organic farming, and not just because that's what we do here in western Florida. We love cooking <span style="background-color: white;">for our own family using</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">fresh, local ingredients; </span><span style="background-color: white;">our family are both consumers </span><i style="background-color: white;">and</i><span style="background-color: white;"> producers of organics.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">It's gratifying to see the movement taking hold--in areas beyond California, too--and with good reason: Customers want nutritious, high-quality produce that comes from time-tested, heirloom seeds, that's grown with care, that's harvested locally (or as close-to-locally as possible), and most importantly, that's free from dangerous pesticides and chemical fertilizers.</span></div>
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We've got your salad plates covered.</div>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-68418062125892361982012-02-01T14:06:00.005-05:002012-02-01T14:32:54.884-05:00Live greens equal lively taste: Eating is believing!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Tf4dUegPIPBsfOA9GyqOfr_Kf2TJ_yVS7abA8QQnT67wz7pWuPntIYmZls7AIxq5Bop23XylOnUkc9mMFnOHnse_tOh5Dc2yWhWyIIe6nWF5Qd2ZTOX07BvsvVavQ5xxnTmaOYQ3QW0/s1600/3boysfarmtour1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Tf4dUegPIPBsfOA9GyqOfr_Kf2TJ_yVS7abA8QQnT67wz7pWuPntIYmZls7AIxq5Bop23XylOnUkc9mMFnOHnse_tOh5Dc2yWhWyIIe6nWF5Qd2ZTOX07BvsvVavQ5xxnTmaOYQ3QW0/s400/3boysfarmtour1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704250507700774834" /></a><br />Since we last posted, we've been crazy-busy here at 3 Boys Farm, what with test-plantings, crop harvests (almost a daily event now that production has reached a truly impressive level and continues to grow--so to speak!) and, of course, with taking area chefs on tour.<div><br /></div><div>As people who truly love good food, we always enjoy showing off to the professionals whose life work involves creating delicious dishes. And when chefs visit the farm, we can just sit back and let our lettuces, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and herbs sell themselves. (Well, there might be a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar involved.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Time and again, we've found that the best advertising is "taste of mouth"--in other words, we sit our visitors down, toss a lovely fresh salad, and show them how our product will work for them. Sometimes, chefs will just grab the utensils themselves and play for a while, which we're more than happy to let them do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Produce and lettuce are harvested and prepared, and everyone enjoys a wonderful <i>al fresco</i> lunch. Visiting chefs, once they taste real, organic produce--and know they will be getting it directly from the farm--tend to say they'll never go back to using traditional distributor-supplied produce, given its inferior taste and nutritive values thanks to the long storage times (sometimes weeks) involved.</div><div><br />Chefs' tours can be arranged by contacting 3 Boys Farm via e-mail or phone (in the sidebar); you'll need to schedule your visit at least 3-4 weeks in advance during Florida's off-season. (During peak season, visits will necessarily be limited as we are a working farm.)</div>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-20608360370555564332011-07-03T18:03:00.010-04:002011-07-03T19:13:29.102-04:00Here Comes the Sun: A photo essay<p></p><p></p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEz3h3rV03lxKlcrAh2K8_EPTutszfcgZ1uY8s7NvD_C1nKYfzTgHSfHQit-nU9eSIJoA_lAEfnMacWtkYG_QM5pfS_yvugndP-9EgNGOrNJXsbegNJow1CFfbXYOTUgwoN7spGLIpyw/s1600/3boysfarmsolar1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEz3h3rV03lxKlcrAh2K8_EPTutszfcgZ1uY8s7NvD_C1nKYfzTgHSfHQit-nU9eSIJoA_lAEfnMacWtkYG_QM5pfS_yvugndP-9EgNGOrNJXsbegNJow1CFfbXYOTUgwoN7spGLIpyw/s400/3boysfarmsolar1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625252402883629682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>The first phase of our solar array project: heavy concrete foundation piers ground the galvanized steel support structure. Weight, loading, and wind factors were considered throughout the design-build stage of this project. The array is designed for 48 panels and covering 1200 square feet @ 20' high. Model 702 windmill is in the background (water-pumper); there are 3,000 gallon water (rain) storage tanks nearby.</blockquote><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8duowDihUxPNntkQqPgGg1j3wjsMODNER9cg_-82tqIU6Ari79M1zYZXymL5hj0RVtVX8-3QCJtn7Ronr6Cp0gZqsEVZ9yoYR9bY-DEGvSUPkIx_lCQ-J5SxjhFOJTEsppo0MZIM43YE/s1600/3boysfarmsolar2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8duowDihUxPNntkQqPgGg1j3wjsMODNER9cg_-82tqIU6Ari79M1zYZXymL5hj0RVtVX8-3QCJtn7Ronr6Cp0gZqsEVZ9yoYR9bY-DEGvSUPkIx_lCQ-J5SxjhFOJTEsppo0MZIM43YE/s400/3boysfarmsolar2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625255887499052050" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote>First phase complete: 6 strings of 8 panels, in place and hot. Solar energy is an important part of 3 Boys Farm energy program; it will run submersible pumps for back-up water when the main power grid is down.<br /><br />These panels, and the pumps they'll supply power to, are also part of our overall USDA water recovery program. We will be recycling spent nutrients from hydroponics and using them--in addition to rainwater--in the organic outdoor bench section as well as the seasonal high-tunnel test programs. Our combined efforts with SWFWMD and USDA are to further reduce peak ground water withdrawal.<br /><br />Water conservation's importance obviously cannot be overstated--life requires water.<br /><br />We must conserve our remaining resources now: they are under pressure as never before.<br /><br /></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbh61b7ywkWwMKiKqQsbm6aH-TdE7qb0eLA-wFl6R1r0lSECfwZo9VWmGuZ622xaXnoiRcLlW6CHSzbK04y7cRbiQ7UIPq1QfWFMb8fXiYS1yOoCu0X2CiKBWXVG-5hoSX5WDPJlpKtN8/s1600/3boysfarmsolar3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbh61b7ywkWwMKiKqQsbm6aH-TdE7qb0eLA-wFl6R1r0lSECfwZo9VWmGuZ622xaXnoiRcLlW6CHSzbK04y7cRbiQ7UIPq1QfWFMb8fXiYS1yOoCu0X2CiKBWXVG-5hoSX5WDPJlpKtN8/s400/3boysfarmsolar3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625263015248427890" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote>We want to say a huge Thank You to James Tornello, builder and fabricator extraordinaire as well as uncle of the three boys. He took Robert's drawings and turned them into this impressive solar array. Even to the untrained eye, his months of efforts--from custom fabrication work to the mounting and wiring of the array--are obvious. We will be harvesting first power this week.</blockquote>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-1593170880757368142011-07-03T15:39:00.004-04:002011-07-03T16:13:38.456-04:00Toward growing a better world: 3 Boys Farm welcomes agronomists from Haiti<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXklQ3xgKnNNjH92cjxyhjxrgvWyhSrIMsei4DHn7vqwpQWezPMQThOWOG8igPo1FJFuQgW9dgZ3-91mye51tsSHdMdVjOUf6nCeqDKOh9PWsVSG9QPwxmjPgIDiULEZSUew7LXQPbBA/s1600/Unknown.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXklQ3xgKnNNjH92cjxyhjxrgvWyhSrIMsei4DHn7vqwpQWezPMQThOWOG8igPo1FJFuQgW9dgZ3-91mye51tsSHdMdVjOUf6nCeqDKOh9PWsVSG9QPwxmjPgIDiULEZSUew7LXQPbBA/s400/Unknown.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625221490583321842" border="0" /></a><br />The WINNER project is a five-year program designed to rebuild Haiti's agricultural infrastructure by providing "concentrated and transformative support". Brian Boman, Florida BMP (Best Management Practices) coordinator for UF/IFAS and WINNER project team member, wanted his team to see a strong example of resource management, energy efficiency, and most saliently, the level of sustainability afforded by cleverly-designed water catchment systems. Accompanied by UF's Jemy Hinton, the agronomists, shown above, toured the facilities at 3 Boys Farm; Robert thoroughly enjoyed discussing methods and practices that will help Haiti successfully grow and produce food for its people, and do so in the face of conditions that many traditional farmers Stateside would consider insurmountable.<br /><br />Some <a href="http://www.growingproduce.com/floridagrower/?storyid=5668&style=1">more information</a> about WINNER from Florida Grower:<br /><br /><blockquote>The earthquake that devastated Haiti last year brought more troubles for a land that has long suffered from issues related to systemic poor governance, regular upheavals, and coup d’états. Farming, for example, has faced major problems long before the quake hit, making successful commercial agriculture in the country virtually non-existent. <p>With its location and various climates at different elevations, Haiti has the potential to grow many different crops and become a more self-sustaining country. USAID is funding the Watershed Initiative For National Natural Environmental Resources (WINNER) project, which is focused on sustainable agricultural development in Haiti. Chemonics International is managing the project and has subcontracted UF/IFAS to help resurrect agriculture there.</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="subhead">Unintended Results</p> <div>Years ago there was a commercial agricultural sector in Haiti. But, when the U.S. and other countries began shipping in humanitarian food aid beginning in the 1960s, it killed the ag economy.<br /><br />“When the free food aid started coming in, it destroyed agriculture,” says Brian Boman, Florida BMP coordinator for UF/IFAS and WINNER project team member. “Local farmers couldn’t compete with free. All of those farmers had no jobs, so they moved to the cities like Port-au-Prince and a whole other set of urban problems rose out of that migration.<br /><br />“Haiti has lost a couple of generations of farmers and the knowledge of how to grow. We are here to reintroduce modern ag practices, so people can learn how to produce their own food in a sustainable way and have viable commercial agriculture.”</div></blockquote><div></div>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-73623539554415514092011-06-23T15:43:00.005-04:002011-06-23T16:00:32.769-04:003 Boys Farm, the video<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FnRpv4rlClg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />We've just uploaded Rick Lurding's gorgeous video about 3 Boys Farm--the one that debuted at the Florida Agriculture Commissioner's Environmental Leadership Awards--to our brand-new YouTube channel.<div><br /></div><div>Hooray for technology!</div><div><br /></div><div>Please enjoy, and of course, feel free to like, comment, and share.<br /><br /></div>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-2759829733180732882011-06-02T14:53:00.002-04:002011-06-02T15:18:39.127-04:003 Boys Farm and Robert Tornello featured in Oceanfront Magazine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3Z04JjDdoCaE1B9CI7vMJ23a5gD6mYoMpa217Husx608_wrnirUkZhFujX-V4B2sQRdpd9-zlO7mgYdAxvQsJFqp7JaIUlY530L-hNZlCPNSTFi4l3HAvwVYE7dN0UxIfONukHo4AVc/s1600/thegreenlife3boysarticle.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3Z04JjDdoCaE1B9CI7vMJ23a5gD6mYoMpa217Husx608_wrnirUkZhFujX-V4B2sQRdpd9-zlO7mgYdAxvQsJFqp7JaIUlY530L-hNZlCPNSTFi4l3HAvwVYE7dN0UxIfONukHo4AVc/s400/thegreenlife3boysarticle.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613702012475776018" border="0" /></a><br />Robert Tornello recently met with Tampa-area writer Mary Jo Melone and showed her around the growing (and ever-growing!) facilities at 3 Boys Farm. The result was a terrific article in this month's issue of Oceanfront Magazine, shown above. You'll save your eyesight if you head over to the magazine's website to read it, though (click the link, then enter page 9 at the bottom): <a href="http://www.oceanfrontmagazine.com/June2011/">Oceanfront Magazine</a>.3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-61586300659279171282011-01-08T10:01:00.000-05:002011-04-08T10:09:58.325-04:00On the cover of Florida Grower!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QGVtihp-FXCXDCLk01PAYRM6_NGYmLWC_GwS_Lc-1-rUH9avSUv1w6AgNEZwoMzfBh_0Rzdo6OxFKGMvSFUktTy3J5WbT6SJFVyH7WbuUb11jhtvBjyVZ3cudvRE_DK4iYXHUec87HU/s1600/robertcoverFLGrower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QGVtihp-FXCXDCLk01PAYRM6_NGYmLWC_GwS_Lc-1-rUH9avSUv1w6AgNEZwoMzfBh_0Rzdo6OxFKGMvSFUktTy3J5WbT6SJFVyH7WbuUb11jhtvBjyVZ3cudvRE_DK4iYXHUec87HU/s400/robertcoverFLGrower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593212751435706130" border="0" /></a><br />Robert Tornello's 3 Boys Farm was the cover story of the December 2010 issue of Florida Grower magazine (a popular trade periodical serving the produce industry). <a href="http://www.growingproduce.com/floridagrower/?storyid=4683">From the accompanying article</a>:<br /><blockquote><br />When arable land is scarce and climate is a challenge, growing food becomes threatened — if not impossible. That’s why countries like Israel and Japan have become pioneers growing crops under protected structures like greenhouses.<br /><br />In Florida, during the summer months, fresh produce production pretty much shuts down. But, in the greenhouses of 3 Boys Farm in Ruskin, winter greens flourish while the heat of summer sizzles outside. Robert Tornello, 3 Boys owner, has channeled his passion, ingenuity, and knowledge gained by studying other greenhouse pioneers into establishing an operation that could be a model future farm.<br /><br />The project, which started two years ago, combines old and new to produce hydroponic crops with an eye toward conservation and energy efficiency. So much so that this year, 3 Boys was among those awarded the 2010 Agricultural Environmental Leadership Award from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time Tested</span><br /><br />While in some ways a visit to 3 Boys might feel like a scene out of “The Jetsons,” one of its most important tools used to conserve water dates back to ancient times. Cisterns have been used for millennia to collect rainwater, and Tornello has installed them to supplement water requirements.<br /><br />The cisterns have 150,000 gallons of storage capacity, which are fed by industrial gutters that collect rainwater from the greenhouse buildings. This water, along with groundwater, is used for the greenhouse cooling pads and as the base for the nutrient-rich solution that feeds the plants. If the main well goes offline due to a weather event, the stored water alone could keep the greenhouses in operation for a minimum of three weeks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pristine Waters</span><br /><br />A reverse osmosis plant is being installed at 3 Boys Farm to ensure pure waters are used as the base for carrying the nutrients of the hydroponic solution. The plant will be capable of treating 15,000 gallons per day.<br /><br />“If you start with 100% pure drinking water for the crops, you are less likely to ever have water borne contamination,” says Tornello. “So we want to start out with purified neutral pH water and the plant allows us to do that. In certain crops, this also will help us lower the costs of nutrients.”<br /><br />“Hydroponics is a water-intensive practice,” says Tornello. “When I bought the property here, the water permit was for 98,000 gallons per day. But, as pressures have come on, our permit is now for 42,000 gallons per day. That is when we went totally to Netafim microjet and cycle irrigation. With that change, we found we were nowhere near our permit threshold just by proper water management.”<br /><br />Those adjustments and the use of cisterns have allowed Tornello to cut his draws from the aquifer by 10 million gallons annually.</blockquote><br />Read more <a href="http://www.growingproduce.com/floridagrower/?storyid=4683">here</a>.3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-63961028336412644522010-10-27T14:35:00.012-04:002010-10-27T15:44:19.863-04:003 Boys Farm welcomes Hawai'ian Fusion Cuisine innovator Roy Yamaguchi<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY6Lcu07Nh9z6-fEOSqUfKRI1gl_9VhucgQ7ugBSzBmZUABgxYGSvzIWZ-_L1SYAzmOlU0X1-wcXnMQyfepBAAf7DPKzaJgq0kDTMFxpM5yh0zCAWNMAoF4MnidSAcVHEaYDS8wl4y70/s1600/3boysfarmkielrobertroy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY6Lcu07Nh9z6-fEOSqUfKRI1gl_9VhucgQ7ugBSzBmZUABgxYGSvzIWZ-_L1SYAzmOlU0X1-wcXnMQyfepBAAf7DPKzaJgq0kDTMFxpM5yh0zCAWNMAoF4MnidSAcVHEaYDS8wl4y70/s400/3boysfarmkielrobertroy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532806045259106418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">L-R: Roy's Restaurants Corporate Chef Kiel Lombardo;<br />Robert Tornello;<br />Roy Yamaguchi</span><br /></div><br />It has been an exciting and busy October at 3 Boys Farm. Last week, we had the honor of welcoming Roy Yamaguchi (of <a href="http://www.roysrestaurant.com/">Roy's Restaurants</a> fame) to the hydroponic facilities in Ruskin.<br /><br />Yamaguchi, along with Corporate Chef Kiel Lombardo, Robert Tornello, and 3 Boys' Greenhouse Manager Michael Lenas, toured the wildly productive shadehouses, where our guests were able to see the kind of quantity--and, most importantly, <span style="font-style: italic;">quality</span>--that 3 Boys Farm can produce, consistently and year-round, without needing to use dangerous pesticides or genetically-modified seeds; without draining Florida's threatened aquifer; and without the large carbon footprint traditionally associated with the vast majority of commercial food-growing operations.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v_3Q4howSoHSENADlWyRmeX4mIBwZDpljlNTvm0j3rCEvkshFHX9ZFoLhmuxtGO13n2hzOZlf6j0br8507UdOLg2IZGSq2w8pIfTJpcaMy1FJ6-oi48JwpXmfVDW1ZF4Wm33JMo32vY/s1600/3boysfarmkielmichaelroy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v_3Q4howSoHSENADlWyRmeX4mIBwZDpljlNTvm0j3rCEvkshFHX9ZFoLhmuxtGO13n2hzOZlf6j0br8507UdOLg2IZGSq2w8pIfTJpcaMy1FJ6-oi48JwpXmfVDW1ZF4Wm33JMo32vY/s400/3boysfarmkielmichaelroy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532808104412647154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Chef Kiel Lombardo;<br />3 Boys Farm Greenhouse Manager Michael Lenas;<br />Roy Yamaguchi</span> </div><br />One of the many nice things about growing hydroponically and organically is that visitors can sample a crispy, sweet pepper, a juicy cucumber, or a firey arugula leaf <span style="font-style: italic;">right where they're standing</span>--there are no worries about soil or pesticides needing to be rinsed off.<br /><br />Yamaguchi was especially impressed with the current eggplant crop:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGGngJahQz-LxVjgZoW8gdAtIdgK18PMDxsaPYoUxm-TjTwS5G2HY5ybZd8alNT9ix75QrQbtHzoGBAGTKePS02lkGtBfY7Tn4XVP0c0Ci-5IBA8minmYG4Cbep-vgFhXDr5TM7RF4U0/s1600/3boysfarmeggplant1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGGngJahQz-LxVjgZoW8gdAtIdgK18PMDxsaPYoUxm-TjTwS5G2HY5ybZd8alNT9ix75QrQbtHzoGBAGTKePS02lkGtBfY7Tn4XVP0c0Ci-5IBA8minmYG4Cbep-vgFhXDr5TM7RF4U0/s400/3boysfarmeggplant1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532809761397785682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYclBv1DEhrOuGjamwgpXnBWwESrQwRRrPX3M3j3BdR4gcIvopO-oBPMUqIsFHqnPYzPjH49AjyoPKM5UlsZQBc-UYYFV8F8H2MH8GS-w1o3DH9u6GSJSHSEStj_qt9NqxFZomi0leY-A/s1600/3boysfarmeggplants.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYclBv1DEhrOuGjamwgpXnBWwESrQwRRrPX3M3j3BdR4gcIvopO-oBPMUqIsFHqnPYzPjH49AjyoPKM5UlsZQBc-UYYFV8F8H2MH8GS-w1o3DH9u6GSJSHSEStj_qt9NqxFZomi0leY-A/s400/3boysfarmeggplants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532807646883371202" border="0" /></a><br />Still, it's hard to not be in the mood for a lovely fresh salad after walking through rows of tables like these:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEV7hBeC-gnUJNyyvwHxajD5Xju8Gjr82ULW8TV7M5yEtE_9Zg63za7jeWp0QlTE8EWZRLXGjcLnFhEGxHG1hsvvFI5F36Ycj8ya7A3cXKhm8TXZre8ZJE3pWo_gwxvNorfpzRdzLuQU/s1600/3boysfarmlettuces3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEV7hBeC-gnUJNyyvwHxajD5Xju8Gjr82ULW8TV7M5yEtE_9Zg63za7jeWp0QlTE8EWZRLXGjcLnFhEGxHG1hsvvFI5F36Ycj8ya7A3cXKhm8TXZre8ZJE3pWo_gwxvNorfpzRdzLuQU/s400/3boysfarmlettuces3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532811297803318450" border="0" /></a>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690987136841657611.post-10911371344878495722010-10-22T14:02:00.008-04:002012-06-19T09:49:00.162-04:00Congratulations Robert! 3 Boys Farm receives Environmental Leadership Award (with VIDEO link)Last week, Robert and Deborah Tornello traveled to sunny Daytona Beach, and at a breakfast ceremony on Friday, October 15, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson recognized <a href="http://www.florida-agriculture.com/news/agen_tornello.htm">3 Boys Farm</a>, <a href="http://www.florida-agriculture.com/news/agen_saturiwa.htm">Saturiwa Conservation Area</a>, and <a href="http://www.florida-agriculture.com/news/agen_spyke.htm">Arapaho Citrus Management</a> with his 2010 Environmental Leadership Awards.<br />
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Be sure to see <a href="http://www.florida-agriculture.com/videos/flash/Ag_Environ_Award_2010_Tornello.htm">the fantastic video</a> that Rick Lurding--Radio & TV Producer/Director for the Florida Department of Agriculture--made of 3 Boys Farm, which premiered at the breakfast (in Flash). You'll be so impressed, with both the farm itself and the lovely filmography and well-written narrative.<br />
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Of course, we're terribly proud of Robert, who's been tirelessly working toward this very green dream for many moons. And in addition to thanking Commissioner Bronson, we'd also like to thank Rick Lurding, as well as Gemy Hinton, and of course, our intrepid crew at the farm.<br />
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A couple of snapshots of the breakfast:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NG5BRfs-qwYhIhdIN7_Lnzr1Bj6MglwDSyRsJe_sIkOlEjNEn9SqXt_6bbEsfs_rAYkI5rwFkHKp6apA3HPQIZt0HGjDHyI3aDtX0rIKFtcNRhu1CVg0p0tDPg5ZEd1D9DYArbFiUjo/s1600/3boysfarmrobertdaytona2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530936089158703170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NG5BRfs-qwYhIhdIN7_Lnzr1Bj6MglwDSyRsJe_sIkOlEjNEn9SqXt_6bbEsfs_rAYkI5rwFkHKp6apA3HPQIZt0HGjDHyI3aDtX0rIKFtcNRhu1CVg0p0tDPg5ZEd1D9DYArbFiUjo/s400/3boysfarmrobertdaytona2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Robert speaks about the importance of growing locally and<br />sustainably--not just in terms of Florida's farms,<br />but for the agriculture industry writ large</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGF4uZDKcQXl_oiXjD-dWbLkB3hMT9tK8IyMrXEBQO2Ge8X2pD0z56pAikDYcDoCjQM2IS3ccNV1vm79MjQpDaij-ImAxaCBRpfYVoLLveD7fQCR5wZ0Ufskbmynt7xqq4YRmXuqkjTFI/s1600/3boysfarmrobertdaytona1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530936237051411570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGF4uZDKcQXl_oiXjD-dWbLkB3hMT9tK8IyMrXEBQO2Ge8X2pD0z56pAikDYcDoCjQM2IS3ccNV1vm79MjQpDaij-ImAxaCBRpfYVoLLveD7fQCR5wZ0Ufskbmynt7xqq4YRmXuqkjTFI/s400/3boysfarmrobertdaytona1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 368px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Commissioner Bronson and Robert Tornello</span></div>3 Boys Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15216429671094575385noreply@blogger.com1