Hats Off To The Magic Of Kitchen Gardens At Sarova Hotels Kenya

The Magic Of Kitchen Gardens

The sheer convenience of starting a kitchen garden is in itself precious. And if you find yourself living in suburbia where life is faster than in the countryside and gives you access to many other comforts, you may often have to sacrifice the extra space to dig into some dirt. But one does not need much to keep a kitchen garden. Most seed varieties are inexpensive. A small balcony or corridor space that receives adequate sunlight, a few minutes to water and weed, and some patience at the start, right about does it. Soon after, all you will do is just make a quick pop outside and clip a little bit of rosemary or grab a bunch of spinach for that hearty dinner with no hectic dash to the market.

Organic kitchen gardens are not only environmentally safe but can be a wonderful hobby, saving you a pretty penny in the long run. You get the opportunity to mix it all up in one space. The feeling of picking and biting into a juicy, sun-riped tomato, its tart flavor bursting in your mouth is unbeatable.

Sarova Hotels has embraced the farm-to-table concept under which kitchen gardens fall as a means of sustainable sourcing of organic ingredients. At the Sarova Mara, Sarova Lion Hill & Sarova Shaba lodges, the patches are the pride and joy of our kitchen staff. We are highly favored by the Kenyan tropical climate which makes it ideal to grow a wide range of fresh herbs, leafy greens, and colorful fruits, albeit on a small scale.

Tended to by enthusiastic farm hands who are locals hired from within the communities surrounding our hotels and lodges, each patch is a remarkable sight. From the fleshy squash to the fragrant spring onion, each harvest gives honest ingredients that produce a delectable symphony of flavors every time our chefs whip up a hearty spread in a culinary experience like no other.

It all begins with a tour of the garden. Guests get to explore the plants in season, learning about natural ways in which waste from the kitchen is converted into organic mulch, in a neat recycling system that conserves the soil’s moisture and improves fertility. All senses are indulged with a whiff here, a gentle squeeze there, and the ultimate taste test enjoyed after curating a menu from scratch with the chef and finally whipping up a meal from the harvested bounty.

Picking the best sun-kissed ingredients is an elaborate activity involving our guests. Like happy kids on a farm, frolicking without a care in the world, each guest carries with them the happy memories of the experience long after they’ve left us. Do make sure to ask for a tour when on your next visit.