May 13, 2008—Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC), Ohio’s socially and environmentally brewer of award-winning craft beer, announces its partnership with Hale Farm & Village in Bath, Ohio, to organically farm vegetables, herbs and flowers for use in GLBC’s Restaurant. Surrounded by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Hale Farm, which is operated by the Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS), functions as a 19th century agrarian and village community with strong educational emphasis on the history, culture and development of the Western Reserve. A fallow, historic orchard field, appropriately dubbed the "Pint Size Farm", will be transformed by GLBC this season into an edible, culinary landscape using centuries-old gardening techniques combined with modern organic culture.

“The Society is excited about this unique opportunity to illustrate the strong ties between historical and modern traditions of farming,” says Dr. Gainor Davis, WRHS President and CEO. “We are also eager to partner with Great Lakes Brewing Company, a Cleveland-based business that promotes the value and tradition of agricultural sustainability—characteristics that mesh perfectly with our own mission at Hale Farm & Village.”

Having built on years of experience with greenhouse use and vegetable cultivation at Kentucky Gardens (an urban community garden in Ohio City), GLBC’s gardening expert Christine DeJesus is taking her expertise to the next level this season with the Pint Size Farm project. “This 6,000 square-foot farm will parallel a true culinary experience and feature a scent garden, edible flower garden, intensive herb garden, pollinator garden, medicinal tea garden and crop rotation areas with Asian cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, French filet green beans and more. The farm will use only biological and sustainable methods to create a place for education, enlightenment and natural entertainment,“ states Ms. DeJesus.

“As a country, we are far removed from any real involvement with the food we buy and consume. By utilizing our spent grain from the brewing process as compost, we will demonstrate that these organic farming techniques and materials make for a better tasting and more affordable product because the food does not have to be shipped across the country. In addition, these processes pay respect to the land and streams by avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Hale Farm and the energies of our brewery staff will give visitors the opportunity to learn more about organic gardening and its nourishing benefits,” adds Patrick Conway, GLBC Co-Owner.

No longer just a field trip destination for young children, Hale Farm boasts some of the most beautiful and fertile land in the area, as well as educational programming and events for guests of all ages. To further enhance the partnership and promote sustainability, GLBC and Hale Farm will be offering group packages that combine full admission with a tour of the Pint Size Farm. Hale Farm & Village officially opens to the public on June 7, 2008. Visit www.greatlakesbrewing.com for updates on this "budding" relationship.

See our photos of the garden's growth >

Pint Size Garden Expert, Christine DeJesus' Garden Sketch: