Hank and Pamela grew up in Mansfield, Ohio, surrounded by family farms and gardens. Although they went to the same school and later found out that their families had known each other for decades, it
wasn’t until Pamela caught Hank’s attention at a ten-year class reunion that they became a couple. During a trip to Egypt, Hank proposed to Pamela in one of the chamber rooms of the Great Pyramid of Cheops and they’ve been on a fantastic journey together ever since. Talk about setting the bar high for other bachelors planning to propose. Thanks Hank!

We first learned about the farm when we interviewed chef Chris Ponte. Pamela sent him a goodie basket with a sample of their garden’s bounty. That led to a visit by the esteemed chef and his staff. Soon therafter, Ponte made a return trip and this time brought along some friends, including Tyson Grant of St. Petersburg’s Parkshore Grill, and legendary chef Tom Pritchard of Clearwater Beach’s Island Way Grill.

Pamela stated that they would love to have this 1/4 mile tract of land be an all edible landscape. When Elaine asked what the favorite thing they grow right now is, both
Hank and Pamela enthusiastically stated
that the red mustard greens were probably their preffered choice. Tasting it right off the plant, we noticed  the faintest hint and heat of wasabi, and Hank said they love to have it on sandwiches in place of regular lettuce. Chef Tyson Grant recently feature this on his menu at Parkshore Grill in St. Pete, and it seems to be one of his favorites as well.

One of the great ventures that Hank and Pamela are in the process of bringing to fruition, and one that we at Gourmet Girl Magazine are eagerly looking forward to, is their transformation of one of the greenhouses into a dining room called 'The Gathering House'. It will overlook the garden and feature local chefs like Tyson and chef Matt Tracy of the St. Pete Yacht Club, who think the idea equally as wonderful as we do, who will come in and cook. I doubt you'll be able to get more fresh than that.

Below is a great pictorial tour of the gardens, greenhouses and the fantastic variety of produce being grown at this local 'jewel' right here in our own back yard.

Elaine and Pamela in the field

Farm animal 'Gateway style'

Pamela has a great sense of humor and she explained that when area children come with their class to tour the farm, they are sometimes expecting farm animals. While she tells them that this is not "that type of farm," she has offered up the Clearwater version of those animals for pictures, and our amusement.