Sunday, September 8, 2013

Creating Abundance for Our Guests......Aquaponics Greenhouse is Soon to be in Action!!!!

strawberry towerWe are excited about our next venture.... transforming the greenhouse into a closed cycle Aquaponics garden. No chemicals, not preservatives,  just nature at its best! 
 


Elm Creek Manor  just like Bright Agrotech is passionate about growing healthy, sustainable food for our customers and encourage people everywhere to do the same.

Can't wait for our guests to see the system in action.



Vertical Farming for the Future!




With our Goats producing gallons of fresh creamy milk a day, they are allowing us to create beautiful cheeses and delicious foods.  Let's also mention the record number of eggs  we are getting from our 63 happy free range chickens, which of course also produce beautiful healthy meat.  Plus our rabbits are producing lean tasty meat and our bees are giving us an abundance of honey.  Now we want to expand our growing capacity from the outdoor gardens to a greater bounty of beautiful organic fruits and vegetables.  You can't get purer than having all your food produced at the estate and seeing the results of healthy happy organic and chemical free animals, plants and bees!


See the Aquponic system we are putting in.  This guy is brilliant and we are committed to his pure farming techniques. 
Dr. Nate Storey inventor of ZipGrowTM Towers & Matrix Media

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Elm Creek Manor Spring Garden

 Is this winter in May??

Our wonderful South Garden has been planted with Squashes, Watermelons, Tiger Melons, Cantaloupe, Cucumbers, Potato, Corn, Beans & Ground Cherries!

Mother nature has come in with a vengeance and is sending a freeze our way in May!  I believe this is a record low.  May this for tell a cool summer?  One will hope so.









 Brad is diligently  saving our crop before the temperature drops.




New seedlings do not like freezing weather.



Brad has covered each plant with an insulated cup and then heaps of straw from the goat pen that is in our compost pile are mounded around each cup to create a thermal insulation method.  The decomposing straw creates heat, and insulation, thus warming the cup and keeping the plant from freezing.





Job well done Brad!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Drum Roll Please.......
Today on Smart Traveler...
At B&Bs, Culinary Travel is "Inn"
April 23, 2013 4:08 pm by Anne Banas

When it comes to staying in a bed and breakfast, sleeping is only half the equation. A morning meal can make the difference between an OK stay and a life-changing one. Needless to say, choosing the right inn is essential. That's why, coming off the heels of its Best B&B (full disclosure: I had the pleasure of serving as a guest judge), BedandBreakfast.com is revealing its Top 10 Culinary Inns in the world. And if breakfast isn't enough, there are plenty of other ways to bring out your inner gourmand, including gourmet dinners, cooking classes, wine tastings, and even welcome desserts right when you arrive.

Here's a quick synopsis of the inns that made the list and what culinary offerings make them stand out:


 Farm-to-Table Experiences
Elm Creek Manor in Gainesville, TX

Take a food-filled adventure at this BedandBreakfast.com Diamond Collection inn. Sated by the innkeepers, it's “much more than a culinary experience; it is about love and respect for whole foods.” Dining here is a complete farm-to-table adventure. They grow their own organic herbs, fruits, and veggies, in addition fresh eggs. They raise organic beef, and they have dairy goats whose milk they use to make cheeses and milk for cooking. Their bees provide fresh honey and wax for their cheeses. Take a six-hour cheese-making course to help prepare aged cheeses while snacking on fruit, wine and cheese. You’ll be sent home with a jar of fresh chevre. Regular cooking classes are available, which teach you basic techniques as you prepare a meal (and taste wine in the process). For a more in-depth experience, you’re able to collect vegetables in the gardens, gather eggs from the barns, milk a goat, and even dress out a chicken or rabbit. Add on a five-course gourmet dinner to your stay here, or order a delicious fondue dinner. If you have a sweet tooth, order the in-room chocolate fondue dessert tray served with complimentary wine.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Thursday, January 24, 2013
Mary White Talks Spa Getaways on Martha Stewart Live Radio

Is your mind, body and soul in need of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation? Have you been feeling scattered looking for your center? Perhaps a spa getaway is in order. From Thai massages and downward dogs to herbal facials and detoxifying baths, a spa escape can be a welcome respite from your busy life.

Mary White, founder of BnBFinder.com, spoke about some of these top spa getaways on Martha Stewart Live: She stated that to add a little European flair into your spa getaway when you visit Texas and the Elm Creek Manor Luxury Spa Resort. Set amongst 14-rolling acres of pecan trees, you’ll find your center in a facility designed specifically for wellness and harmony. Sip on delicious detoxifying hot milled wine before enjoying a Therapeutic Herbal Facial and a delectable light spa lunch prepared from ingredients from the inns working farm.



 Mary White and host, Betsy Karetnick, on Martha Stewart Radio