On-site organic garden trend is expanding. A vast number of high-end hotels offer guests the opportunity to savor greens that comes fresh from their own gardens. The the science and art of organic gardening is much more than simply replacing synthetic commercial chemicals with those derived from natural sources. It is a philosophy of gardening that supports the health of the whole ecosystem.
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah is the latest top-end luxury hotel to launch of its own organic garden, which recently completed its first successful soil cycle. The garden is home to a wide variety of fresh vegetables and herbs. The garden’s vegetables along with herbs like parsley, coriander, young spinach, spring onions, cherry tomatoes and bok choy are already incorporated into the menu. It remains to be seen if this little organic garden can offer the necessary supply of herbs.
The initiative is championed by the luxury property’s Executive Chef Jens Muenchenbach.
“In an effort to educate team members about sustainable food practice and better serve our guests at Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, we hope to incorporate organic ingredients at our on property Vietnamese restaurant, LAO, and convert it into a completely sustainable dining experience,” explained Chef Jens Muenchenbach.
The next phase of the sustainability project will place an increasing importance on composting, which will be used throughout the hotel grounds, for its invaluable effect on the soil. The property hopes to incorporate composting because the process, unlike other waste management practices, does not produce methane, meaning it, does not contribute to global warming. The hotel will employ the Agriculture Box technology for turnkey urban vegetable garden and composting system. This is a process that reduces environmental impact by quickly recycling organic kitchen wastes in a third of the time aerobic composting takes. The process is quick and safe and enriches the soil with plenty of nutrients that support plant growth and healthy soil.
This week, the hotel announced its Waldorf Astoria Spa has won the award for The Best Destination Spa in the 2016 World Luxury Spa Awards.
