VR Green Farms

Welcome to VR Green Farms . . . the first Italian farm to be planted on a private golf course in America. The challenge: how to reposition "your father's country club" into healthier land use and a more family-friendly experience; and, in the process, change the way kids view the source of food, strengthen the ancestral ties of an immigrant nation, and provide flavorful, nutritious vegetables that lead the way to a simpler American lifestyle. Our idea was simple . . . reclaim the open acreage of a private golf course in San Clemente, California (renamed Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club) and grow Old World Italian vegetables from seeds imported from Italy. We started with 33 Italian vegetables, naturally amended hardened clay soil, and now share the results with members of the club and local southern California residents who see the value of eating local and healthier. Today we have 65 weekly basket members, monthly cooking classes, a Club Acqua Terra event, and a FarmChef Kids program that includes a true farm-to-table experience. We have attracted all ages and all walks of life. We want to share our concept with the 6700 private golf courses nationally and 8400 courses internationally, not to mention municipal land reclamation projects, inner city land development programs, and young people education. A nice surprise: our Italian-American fans have brought us seeds from their family home garden that were originally started by their grandparents in the early 1900's. They ask (and we readily accept) their dream of sharing family culinary traditions with the "outside world" through our VRGF rows of crops. We honor their family heritage by naming their seeds/transplants with their namesake, e.g. our Commardi Roma Tomatoes were grown from seedlings from Joe Commardi's family garden in San Jose, CA. Our motto: "When you find your roots, you find your center." What people say about us . . . "What a wonderful idea your farm!! It's certainly one of the most creative concepts and should be a runaway success. Wishing you all the best (God knows our world desperately needs people like you.)" Ferenc M�?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¿ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¯�¯�¿�½?�?�¿�¯�¿�½?�?�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¡t�?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¿ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¯�¯�¿�½?�?�¿�¯�¿�½?�?�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�©, author of "Wisdom of Tuscany" book "Every Saturday morning, my girls can't wait to get to the farm and pick out our fresh vegetables. They really do enjoy the hills of the golf course and discovering a new herb or vegetable they haven't noticed before. Once we get home, they now actually help with preparing dinner with me." Melissa H., MD, VRGF weekly basket member What people say about our industry . . . "Over 17,000 new products are introduced in our grocery stores each year. Most are designed for an eight-year-old to microwave. Some kids think food comes from a white frozen box." Michael Pollan, author of "In Defense of Food" and "Omnivore's Dilemma" books Our mission statement: �¯�¿�½?�?�¯�¯�¿�½?�?�¿�¯�¿�½?�?�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¢ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¿ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¿ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�½?To harvest the cycle of life by growing fresh Italian vegetables from naturally amended soil while experiencing an Old World escape and celebrating our human existence.�¯�¿�½?�?�¯�¯�¿�½?�?�¿�¯�¿�½?�?�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¢ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¿ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¯ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�¿ï¿½?�¯ï¿½?�¿ï¿½?�½?�¯�¿�½?�?�½? Nic Romano, Founder VR Green Farms