More from the Bahamas -- Holey Farm

As I mentioned the other day, while I was in the Bahamas, I cooked a fabulous meal with Frederic Demers at Jean-George Vongerichten’s, Café Martinique.  I wanted to know where this top chef finds all his beautiful produce and he told me about a wonderful gem of a farm called Holey Farm.  I wanted to visit in the worst way, so I grabbed the television crew and off we went.  We were greeted by Maria-Therese E. Kemp, who created this amazing place.  Holey Farm gets its name because the growing areas are actually situated in the holes of limestone formations.  It was very challenging to grow produce at first, in such rugged terrain, but Therese had perseverance and developed many special techniques.  Take a look at these photos to see a most unusual garden that many local chefs rave about! 

Holey Farm is a really magical place.

Between narrow flat walls of limestone and cement, herbs and vegetables grow - these are in great demand by the local restauranteurs who are in the know.

Superbly grown and extremely tasty, this cilantro is the basis of the cilantro sauce for Chef Freddie Demers - he uses it on his signature dish - grouper with aromatic black beans, at Café Martinique.

The flower garden is prolific - red amaryllis, impatiens, hibiscus, datura, and passiaflora grow in profusion.

These beautiful goats are raised solely for their manure - they are not for meat.

Holey Farm is called such because of the very unique limestone craters that comprise the landscape. Not far from the Nassau Airport, this land is rich in minerals, sparse in soil, but everything that grows here grows well and has deep flavors - the only thing that is challenging is the scarcity of water. An irrigation system has been installed by the owner, Maria-Therese Kemp.

The white pipes carry water. Consistent and constant composting, along with goat manure applications, make up the soil that fills the craters.

This is a tropical cherry tree.

These are the local cherry tomatoes - a real favorite of Jean-Georges

Here are some baby avocados just starting to form.

This mango tree is covered with mangoes - not yet ripe.

Therese has made a concrete walkway to make planting and harvesting a bit easier in this rugged landscape.

This lettuce is going to seed - a planned event, as it will reseed itself.

Kim, Sae and Gary studying the situation.

Here are several types of leaf lettuce growing well and beautifully amidst the limestone craters.

Here are young thyme plants which will soon cover the earth.

Maria-Therese and I hit it off right away - we understand, all too well, that to make a garden takes effort, ingenuity, and persistence.

Comments

[JBrennan]

Martha:

What a great place Holey Garden is; essentially a rock garden for vegetables. It is so interesting to look at, that you almost forget it is as functional as it is beautiful. Necessity truly is the Mother of Invention.

Thanks for sharing the pictures. I'm looking forward to this segment on future shows.

If you're not back home yet, I hope you have a safe trip.

God Bless,

Joseph

[ShopLittleGifts]

Beautiful! I would love to have a garden like this. Although it does seem tricky navigating the terrain. I've never seen lettuce grown admidst limestone. Growing up in asia, I love tropical fruits, looks like the Holey Garden has a mix of delicious tropical flavors. The chefs there are so lucky to have access to these ingredients. Thanks for showing us Martha!

[KellySchwark.com]

I love when creativity shows itself in fruitful ways! Therese seems like such a doll, and kudos to her for making the garden work for her needs, and not giving up! (A lesson we all need from time to time!)

Kelly

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the glimpse into the gardens of Terese Kemp, Holey Gardens. It is beautiful. I can understand why Jean Georges Vongerichten uses this produce. I enjoyed seeing the plants peek out of the holes of the limestone formations. Your photos---of herbs, vegetables, fruits, trees, goats, crew, and women of "effort, ingenuity, and persistence---are wonderful.
Kathy

[Andrew Ritchie]

What a fascinating place! How fantastic to live in a place where such diverse things grow, from cherries to mangoes to amaryllis, to that wide variety of salad greens. Therese does great work!

-Andrew

[Terriaw]

What a gorgeous garden! And a wonderful way to use tricky terrain. It must have been truly a treasure to see that in person.

[Oatmealcookie.Typepad.com]

Ha! Goats in a garden. Reminds me of what my grandmother used to say about the the younger generation surviving another Great Depression: "You kids wouldn't know what to do with a goat!"

[Jennifer]

Martha: Thank you so much for the pictures and desriptions of such a truly unique place. What a wonderful thing to share with those of us that might never get to see such a treasure were we to travel there. I was so amazed at the lettuce growing up in all those rocks!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, What a beautiful, colorful, fascinating place Holey Farms is. Your photos are absolutely stunning. The vegetables all look delicious and very healthy. It is amazing what people can do through persistence and creativity. Maria-Therese certainly fits that bill. Thanks again for sharing your fantastic blog. Jan

[Coldspringmike]

Amazing to see such a diverse group of lettuces growing and thriving in a tropical environment. I would have thought this impossible due to the heat. I learn something new everyday!

[Jeana]

What a TRULY GREAT Life you have made for yourself. Thank you for sharing, to make a better earth.

[Kathy]

Martha,
Thanks to you and to chef Yasuhiro Honma for the tofu recipe. Some of my Japanese friends are here visiting and we watched your program together. They especially enjoyed the segment about the tofu. Later we tried the recipe. It is delicious!
Thanks again.
Kathy

[mire]

Love the new trees, just beautiful! I wanted to share another great way to celebrate the Earth and Mothers in general. Go to the website: www.nonprofitshoppingmall.com and first choose a nonprofit you would like to support, then go to the "green shops" or "Mother's Day" links and you will find Organic Bouquet and other GREEN stores. Make your purchase and a percent of your sale will go to the nonprofit you chose. It is so easy and a completely revolutionary way to shop on line. Also for everyday MARTHA shopping go to http://www1.macys.com/search/index.ognc?SearchTarget=*&Keyword=martha+stuwart&KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON.x=0&KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON.y=0&KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON=KEYWORD_GO_BUTTON and every time you shop MARTHA you can be a philanthropist. Enjoy!

[Anna Adams]

Martha
Greetings from a Canadian neighbour. How wonderful that you had the opportunity to meet my dear friend Maria-Theresa and visit her inspired and inspiring farm. My husband and I recently visited Theresa,(as I have known her for 33 years), at her farm. My husband grew up on a traditional farm in the mid west US and has degrees in Farm Management and Agronomy. He has a true understanding and appreciation for the hard work that Theresa has done and continues to do at her farm. Thank you for featuring such a wonderful place and the woman of inspiration who makes all those wonderful organic culinary dishes possible.

[Francis Plakaris]

I was so proud to see a fellow Bahamian being featured by Ms. Srewart. Everything I ever learned about farming came from Ms. Kemp. I have seen her turn the most baron enviroments into beautiful landscapes. She is truly a remarkable person. Thank you.

[Rae Turnquest]

I was delighted to see your coverage of the Holey Farm, being a Bahamian myself I was very proud of the work done on the farm and the use of the land.

[MILDRED BLAKEMAN]

WE HAVE A ROCKY FARM AND I REALLY WAS INSPIRED BY THE HOLEY FARM VISIT. I'M GOING TO TRY SOME OF MARIA'S GARDENING TIPS.

THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT PROGRAM EVERY DAY.

[Carfmen brown]

martha,HOLEY FARMS is truly a heavenly place. You have such great opportunities to visit such places. Lucky you,GOD has to like you,and so do I carmen

[HELEN C.]

MARTHA, JUST WANTED TO SAY BEFORE WATCHING YOUR SHOW ON ATLANTIS,I WAS WEEPING FOR THE POOR PEOPLE OF CHINA. ONE OF THE MORNING SHOWS HAD INTERVIEWED A CHINESE MAN WHOM HAD SURVIVED WITH HIS SON, BUT WAS TRYING SO HARD NOT TO CONVEY THE LOSS OF HIS WIFE WHOM DIED TRYING TO SAVE HER YOUNG STUDENTS. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW UPLIFTING YOUR SHOW WAS! SOMETIMES, WORLD TRAGEDY CAN BE SO DEBILETAING,YET NATURE'S GRANDEUR CAN BE ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING. THANK YOU,MARTHA, SO MUCH FOR TAKING MY BREATH AWAY!!!!!

[Michael S]

I saw the farm today (aug 13 2008 and thought it was amazing. I know of folks here who give up under less adverse conditions. I think the thing that bothers me the most about america is we are so prone buying at the supermarket rather than the neighborhood farm. Folks fly by mine at great speeds, far above the speed limit, using up oil like crazy ? I had read a paper that said we could save over a 100,000 barrels (not gallons) a week by eating locally produced Meats and vegetables ONE day a week. Anyway, that farm is amazing. I'd like to run away to it, care to join me ?
California Kayaker

[Michael S]

PS my local station does not carry you in HD ? Redding California KRCR. Are you available in HD ?

[SweeThomp]

What a truly awesome segment Holey Farm. Who would have thought that such lush and tasty crop could come from a terrain riddled with limestone? Many accolades to Ms. Kemp and her hard work!! I anticipate seeing this segment again. Truly a triple Wow! - From a viewer in Bermuda-

[Brian]

Loved the program, as I live in Nassau and would like to visit the farm, are there anyone who can can give me any directions of how to find the farm, or any postal address.
Many thanks
Brian